Quantification of multianalyte by UPLC–QqQLIT–MS/MS and in-vitro anti-proliferative screening in Cassia species

Abstract Genus Cassia is widespread medicinal plants used in traditional system of medicines for the treatment of various ailments. A new, rapid and sensitive method has been developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry in negative electrospray ionization to determine content and distribution of eighteen bioactive compounds in different plant parts of five Cassia species. Multiple reaction monitoring was used for quantitative analysis. The calibration curve obtained good linear regression relationship ( r 2 , 0.9986–0.9999) over the wide concentration range of all analyte. The recoveries ranged from 97.75% to 105.09 % (RSD ≤ 2.42%). Relative standard deviations of intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 3.37%. The validated method was successfully applied to investigate chemical variations of anthraquinones, phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids in leaf, stem, seed/pulp, flower and root. Principal component analysis depicted remarkable chemical variation of bioactive compounds among Cassia species. The in-vitro anti-proliferative screening of methanol extracts were evaluated by SRB assay against the DLD1, A549, MCF-7, DU145 and FaDu cell lines which showed >50% growth inhibitory effect. The present comprehensive evaluation is of great importance for the application and quality control of studied Cassia species.