Sequential ultrasonic extraction of a Chinese coal and characterization of nitrogen‐containing compounds in the extracts using high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

Dongming lignite was sequentially extracted with petroleum ether, carbon disulfide, methanol, acetone, and isometric carbon disulfide/acetone mixed solvent at room temperature to afford extracts 1–5, respectively. High‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was used to separate and characterize heteroatomic species in the extracts at molecular level. Molecular mass of compounds in the extracts is mainly distributed from 300 to 800 u, and the relative abundance of compounds with molecular mass over 800 u in the carbon disulfide extract is 135 times of that in the petroleum ether extract. The acetone extract has the highest relative abundance for organonitrogen compounds. Double bond equivalence numbers of detected species indicate that most of the organonitrogen compounds contain N‐heterocyclic aromatic rings, including pyridine, quinoline and pyrrole. Some organonitrogen isomers in Dongming lignite were separated and identified by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and the corresponding structural information was proposed.     

Ultrafiltration‐LC–MS combined with semi‐preparative HPLC for the simultaneous screening and isolation of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors from Belamcanda chinensis

Stroke represents the fourth leading cause of death in the USA and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of ischemic stroke and natural products are considered a promising source of novel lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors. In this study, we used PC12 cells to determine the protective effect of extracts from the herb Belamcanda chinensis following toxic challenge. Using ultrafiltration high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo‐diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, we screened and identified isoflavonoids from Belamcanda chinensis extracts. Semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography was then applied to separate and isolate the active constituents. Using these methods, we identified six major compounds in Belamcanda chinensis as lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors: tectoridin, iristectorin A, iridin, tectorigenin, irigenin, and irisflorentin, which were then isolated to >92% purity. This is the first report that Belamcanda chinensis extracts contain potent lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that the systematic isolation of bioactive components from Belamcanda chinensis guided by ultrafiltration high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo‐diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry represents a feasible and efficient technique that could be extended for the identification and isolation of other enzyme inhibitors.     

Identification of chemical constituents and rat metabolites of Kangxianling granule by HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS

A high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass tandem mass spectrometry method was established to characterize the chemical constituents of Kangxianling granule (KXL), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, and the metabolic profile in rat urine and plasma after oral administration of KXL. A total of 27 compounds in KXL extract and 13 prototype compounds with 12 metabolites in rat urine and plasma were identified. Among the 27 detected compounds, 15 were identified by comparing the retention time and MS data with that of reference compounds and the other 12 compounds were tentatively assigned based on the MS data and reference literature. The main prototype components absorbed in rat were amygdalin, salvianolic acid B, tanshinones and anthraquinones. Hydroxylation, glucuronidation and sulfation were the principal metabolic pathways in rat. The results revealed that the 25 compounds identified in rat urine and plasma were the potential active ingredients of KXL, which provides helpful chemical information for further study of the pharmacology mechanism of KXL. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of major constituents from Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule by UPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS/MS combined with UPLC/QQQ‐MS/MS

In this work, a sensitive and efficient method was established and validated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of major bioactive constituents in Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 32 compounds were tentatively identified using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Furthermore, 12 constituents, namely gallic acid, 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid, salidroside, p‐ coumaric acid‐4‐O ‐β ‐d ‐glucopyranoside, bergeninum, 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, 4‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid, syringate, 6′′‐O ‐galloylsalidroside, rhodiosin, rhodionin and kaempferol‐7‐O ‐α ‐l ‐rhamnoside, were simultaneously quantified by the developed ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method in 9 min. All of them were analyzed on an Agilent ZorBax SB‐C₁₈ column (3.0 × 100 mm, 1.8 μm) with linear gradient elution of methanol–0.1% formic acid water. The proposed method was applied to analyze three batches of samples with acceptable linearity (R , 0.9979–0.9997), precision (RSD, 1.3–4.7%), repeatability (RSD, 1.7–4.9%), stability (RSD, 2.2–4.9%) and recovery (RSD, 0.6–4.4%) of the 12 compounds. As a result, the analytical method possessing high throughput and sensitivity is suitable for the quality control of Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule.     

Analysis and Identification of the Chemical Constituents of Ding‐Zhi‐Xiao‐Wan Prescription by HPLC‐IT‐MSn and HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS

Ding‐Zhi‐Xiao‐Wan (DZXW) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, which is composed of four herbs, Ginseng Radix, Poria, Polygala Radix and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma. It has been popularly used for the treatment of emotional disease, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, anxiety, forgetfulness and neurasthenia. In this research, a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐IT‐MSⁿ) method along with a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS) method in negative ion mode was established to investigate the major constitutions in DZXW. The extracts were prepared by ultra‐sonication in ethyl acetate, n‐butanol, 95% ethanol and deionized water sequentially as well as in deionized water directly. A Kromasil C18 column was used to separate the extracts of DZXW. Acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (V/V) were used as the mobile phase. A total of 64 components were characterized, including 16 triterpenoids, 14 Polygala saponins, 10 oligosaccharide esters, 6 sucrose esters, 2 xanthone C‐glycosides and 16 ginsenosides.     

Identification of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine formula using HPLC coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap MS from high doses of medicinal materials to equivalent doses of formula: Study on Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules

High‐resolution mass spectrometry has been a powerful tool for the research of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. However, the chromatographic peaks were difficult to discriminate clearly in data collection or analysis because of the complexity and the greatly different content of the constituents in TCM formula, which increased the difficulty of identification. In this study, a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry based strategy focused on the comprehensive identification of TCM formula constituents was developed. Identification was carried out from a high dose of medicinal materials to equivalent dose of formula. Meanwhile, combined with mass spectrometry data, chromatographic behaviors, reference standards and previous reports, the identification of constituents in Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules was described. 169 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively characterized, mainly including flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenic acids, triterpene saponins, lactones, sesquiterpenoids and some other compounds. Among them, 11 compounds were unambiguously confirmed by comparing with reference standards. These results demonstrated that the method was effective and reliable for comprehensive identification of constituents of Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules extracts and reveal the material basis of its therapeutic effects. This strategy might propose a research idea for the characterization of multi‐constituents in TCM formula.     

Application of characteristic fragment filtering with ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry for comprehensive identification of components in Schisandrae chinensis Fructus

An integrated strategy of characteristic fragment filtering combined with target database screening based on ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry was proposed for comprehensive profiling of components in Schisandrae chinensis Fructus. The strategy consisted of following five steps: (1) Representative standards were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap mass spectrometer for characteristic fragments and fragmentation rules of each structure type. (2) The raw data of 70% methanol extract was collected by ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. (3) The chemical components database that consisted of names, chemical formulas and structures of potential components in Schisandrae chinensis Fructus was established by summarizing previous literature to screen the collected liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry data and obtain matched compounds. (4) Characteristic fragments, literature, and reference standards were used to verify the matches. (5) Characteristic fragment filtering combined with online database querying was used to deduce potential new compounds. As a result, a total of 94 compounds were identified or characterized and 16 of them were potential new compounds. The study provided a reference for comprehensive characterization of ingredients in herbal medicine and formed the foundation for pharmacodynamic study of Schisandrae chinensis Fructus.     

Rapid characterization of chemical constituents and metabolites of Qi‐Jing‐Sheng‐Bai granule by using UHPLC–Q‐TOF‐MS

Qi‐Jing‐Sheng‐Bai granule is an effective traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been widely used for the treatment of leukopenia post radiotherapy or chemotherapy. However, its chemical constituents were still unclear, which hindered interpreting bioactive constituents and studying integrative mechanisms. In this study, we developed a three‐step strategy to characterize the chemical constituents and metabolites of Qi‐Jing‐Sheng‐Bai by using ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. As a result, a total of 143 compounds, including 56 flavonoids, 51 saponins, and 36 other compounds, of which contained six pairs of isomers, were tentatively identified and characterized via reference standards and by comparing mass spectrometry data with literature. After oral administration of 15 g/kg Qi‐Jing‐Sheng‐Bai, a number of 42 compounds including 24 prototype compounds and 18 metabolites have been detected in the serum of rats. This work serves as the first reference for Qi‐Jing‐Sheng‐Bai chemical components and metabolites. Moreover, it provided a rapid and valid analytical strategy for characterization of the chemical compounds and metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine formula.     

Multiconstituent identification in root,branch, and leaf extracts of Juglans mandshurica using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

As a traditional medicinal plant, Juglans mandshurica has been used for the treatment of cancer. Different organs of this plant showed anti‐tumor activity in clinic and laboratory. Comparative identification of constituents in different plant organs is essential for investigation of the relationship between chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. For this aim, the roots, branches, and leaves of J. mandshurica were extracted with 50% v/v methanol and then subjected to ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis conducted under low and high energy. As a result, we have to date identified 111 compounds consisting of 56 tannins, 29 flavonoids, 13 organic acids, 8 naphthalene derivatives, and 5 anthracenes. Five compounds, namely, diquercetin trihydroxy‐truxinoyl‐glucoside, two quercetin kaempferol dihydroxy‐truxinoyl‐glucosides, syringoyl‐tri‐galloyl‐O‐glucose, and dihydroxy‐naphthalene syringoyl‐glucoside, were tentatively identified as new compounds. Of the compounds identified, 76 were found in the root extract, 67 in the branch extract, and 37 in the leaf extract. Only six compounds including four organic acids and two tannins were found in all three extracts. We developed a rapid and sensitive ultra high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry approach to identify multiple constituents of complex extracts without separation and ion selection. The results presented provide useful information on further research of the bioactive compounds of J. mandshurica .     

Development of a method to screen and isolate bioactive constituents from Stellera chamaejasme by ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography combined with semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography and high‐speed counter current chromatography

A simple and efficient method based on ultrafiltration with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry was used for the rapid screening and identification of ligands in the extracts of Stellera chamaejasme. The bound ligands, i.e. daphnoretin, isopimpinellin, chamaechromone, neochamaejasmin A, and chamaejasmine (purity of 96.8, 90.75, 91.41, 93.98, and 98.91%, respectively), were separated by semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the detection of potent lipoxidase and lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors in Stellera chamaejasme extracts. The results demonstrate that our method of ultrafiltration with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry combined with mixed chromatography can be used to screen and confirm the bioactivity of all isolated compounds. This method also eliminates the need for separation of inactive compounds, thereby improving efficiency when studying bioactive substances. For some complex mixtures, neither semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography nor high‐speed counter‐current chromatography can purify all the target active compounds with high purity in a one‐step separation. The combination of the two methods allow for efficient purification of target bioactive compounds with different polarities and physicochemical properties based on their complementary properties.     

Extraction and identification of matrine‐type alkaloids from Sophora moorcroftiana using double‐templated molecularly imprinted polymers with HPLC–MS/MS

Double‐templated molecularly imprinted polymers with specific recognition of three matrine‐type alkaloids were prepared using matrine and oxymatrine as the template molecules. An approach based on double‐templated molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was then developed to extract and purify matrine, oxymatrine, and sophocarpine from Sophora moorcroftiana in the Tibetan plateau herbs. The polymers were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Their adsorption characteristics were evaluated using adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, and recycling experiments. This polymer exhibited excellent molecular recognition ability and good selectivity. The obtained polymers as adsorbent was further used for the determination of three matrine‐type alkaloids coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, the recoveries of three matrines spiked at three concentration levels in samples were 73.25–98.42% (n = 5) with a relative standard deviation less than 6.82%. The limits of detection for the method were 9.23–15.42 μg/kg (S/N = 3). This proposed method was assessed to be an effective method for simultaneous extraction, isolation, and identification of matrine, oxymatrine, and sophocarpine from Sophora moorcroftiana.     

LC‐MS analysis for the components captured by ECV304 cell from extract of Aconitum szechenyianum Gay.

A novel method of cell affinity screening (CAS), cell affinity capture coupled with LC‐MS analysis, was developed for screening the bioactive compounds related to cardiovascular diseases from the natural product libraries. One of the major characteristics lies in its function in affinity‐capturing and separating the bioactive components from the natural product libraries in vitro. Another characteristic is its use in analyzing and identifying the target compounds, by employing high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. CAS was used for screening the bioactive components from the alkaloid extract derived from Aconitum szechenyianum Gay. Of the five components found to be bound to the oxidative‐damaged endothelial cells, the two compounds identified, mesaconitine and aconitine, were recognized in the literature as being related to cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Screening and analysis of potentially active components in Shenxiong glucose injection using UHPLC coupled with photodiode array detection and MS/MS

Shenxiong glucose injection, a pharmaceutical preparation containing a water extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhizae and ligustrazine hydrochloride, is widely used in clinical to treat cardiovascular diseases in China. The chemical components of the water extract have been reported and the cardioprotective effects of the injection have been evaluated. However, the chemical constituents of the injection and their correlations with its pharmacological effects have not been established. In this study, 13 chemical constituents of the injection have been identified or characterized by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. Besides, the potentially active compounds of this preparation that directly act on cardiac cells have been screened by cell extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography targeted multiple reaction monitoring. As a result, eight potentially active compounds, danshensu ( 1 ), ligustrazine hydrochloride ( 4 ), salvianolic acid I/H ( 7 ), lithospermic acid ( 8 ), salvianolic acid D ( 9 ), rosmarinic acid ( 10 ), salvianolic acid B ( 12 ), and salvianolic acid C ( 13 ), were obtained and structurally characterized from the 11 target compounds used for screening. The liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with multiple reaction monitoring tandem mass spectrometry combination method has demonstrated its potency for the screening, detection, and structural identification of bioactive compounds in a complex matrix.     

Profiling of grape monoterpene glycosides (aroma precursors) by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF)

A ‘suspect screening analysis’ method for grape metabolomics by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and high‐resolution quadrupole‐time of flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry was recently developed. This method was applied to study grape monoterpene glycosides, the main grape aroma precursors. Since standard compounds were not available, they were tentatively identified by overlapping various analytical approaches, in agreement with the indications recommended in mass spectrometry (MS)‐based metabolomics. Accurate mass and isotopic pattern, MS/MS fragmentation, correlation between fragments observed and putative structures and between liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry signals were studied. Seventeen monoterpene glycosides were identified without performing the hydrolytic artifacts commonly used to study these compounds which may affect sample profile. This is the first time that a detailed study of these aroma precursors has been carried out by direct LC/MS analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of a new modified QuEChERS method for the monitoring of carbamate residues in high‐fat cheeses by using UHPLC–MS/MS

A simple and efficient method for the determination of 28 carbamates in high‐fat cheeses is proposed. The methodology is based on a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe procedure as sample treatment using a new sorbent (Z‐Sep⁺) followed by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry determination. The method has been validated in different kinds of cheese (Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Camembert), achieving recoveries of 70–115%, relative standard deviations lower than 13% and limits of quantification lower than 5.4 μg/kg, below the maximum residue levels tolerated for these compounds by the European legislation. The matrix effect was lower than ±30% for all the studied pesticides. The combination of ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with this modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe procedure using Z‐Sep⁺ allowed a high sample throughput and an efficient cleaning of extracts for the control of these residues in cheeses with a high fat content.     

Screening anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection by using rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with HPLC–ESI‐TOF‐MS

MaiLuoNing injection is a traditional Chinese medicine that used clinically since the 1950s in China. However, anaphylactic reactions, through the potentiation of mast cell degranulation, have been reported. In the present study, a rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization‐ion trap‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry method was established for screening, analyzing, and identifying the potential anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection. Harpagoside, a potential degranulator of rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cells, was retained in rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography. We aimed to evaluate the retained components to determine which of those were capable of inducing degranulation of basophilic leukemia cells. A β‐hexosaminidase assay revealed that harpagoside can induce rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell degranulation in a dose‐dependent manner. BLBA/c mice also exhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in response to harpagoside. These results indicate that rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry is effective in screening for the anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection.     

Liquid chromatography coupled with time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry for comprehensive phenolic characterization of pomegranate fruit and flower extracts used as ingredients in botanical dietary supplements

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit and flower extracts, which are rich sources of bioactive phenolics, are widely utilized as ingredients in botanical dietary supplements. While the phenolic characterization of extracts of pomegranate fruit has been previously studied by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, there is lack of similar data for pomegranate flowers. Herein, liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry was utilized to comprehensively characterize the phenolics present in two pomegranate extracts, previously studied for their in vitro and in vivo biological effects, namely, a patented commercial pomegranate fruit extract (Pomella®), and a pomegranate flower extract. Seventy‐one phenolics were characterized in the pomegranate fruit extract with the vast majority identified in the flower extract. However, only the pomegranate fruit extract contained tannin‐glucuronides and two punicalagin isomers (a characteristic pomegranate phenolic) were identified in this extract while four were identified in the flower extract. The previously reported compounds, pomellatannin and punicatannins A/B, were identified as unique chemical markers in the pomegranate fruit and flower extracts, respectively. This study will aid in the quality control, authentication, and standardization of these botanical ingredients to evaluate their potential health benefits in future planned pre‐clinical and clinical studies. Also, this is the first phenolic characterization of a pomegranate flower extract using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.     

Quantitative determination of 15 bioactive triterpenoid saponins in different parts of Acanthopanax henryi by HPLC with charged aerosol detection and confirmation by LC–ESI‐TOF‐MS

Triterpenoid saponins are difficult to analyze using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV/vis spectrophotometry due to their lack of chromophores. This study describes the first analytical method for the determination of 15 triterpenoid saponins from the leaves, stems, root bark, and fruits of Acanthopanax henryi, using a high‐performance liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detection coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method. The separation was carried out on a Kinetex XB‐C18 column with an acetonitrile/water gradient as the mobile phase, followed by charged aerosol detection. The operating conditions of charged aerosol detection were set at 24 kPa for nitrogen pressure and 100 pA for the detection range. Liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is described for the identification of compounds in plant samples. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method involved the use of the [M + Na]⁺ and [M + NH₄]⁺ ions for compounds 1 – 15 in the positive ion mode with an extracted ion chromatogram. The developed method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability, and recovery, then subsequently applied to evaluate the quality of A. henryi.     

Rapid screening,identification, and purification of neuraminidase inhibitors from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. by ultrafiltration with HPLC–ESI‐TOF‐MS combined with semipreparative HPLC

We put forward an efficient strategy based on bioassay guidance for the rapid screening, identification, and purification of the neuraminidase inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines, and apply to the discovery of anti‐influenza components from Lithospermiun erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. Ultrafiltration with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was employed for the rapid screening and preliminarily identification of anti‐influenza components from Zicao. Semipreparative high‐performance liquid chromatography was used for the rapid separation and purification of the target compounds. NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy were used for further structural identification, and the activity of the compounds was verified by in vitro assay. Five compounds were found to have neuraminidase inhibitory activity by this method. Subsequently, the five compounds were separated by semipreparative high‐performance liquid chromatography with the purity over 98% for all of them by high‐performance liquid chromatography test. Combined with the NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy data, they were identified as alkannin, acetylalkannin, isobutyrylalkannin, β,β‐dimethylacryloylalkannin and isovalerylalkannin. The in vitro assay showed that all five compounds had good neuraminidase inhibitory activities. These results suggested that the method is highly efficient, and it can provide platform and methodology supports for the rapid discovery of anti‐influenza active ingredients from complex Chinese herbal medicines.