Characterization of estrogenic active ingredients in Cuscuta chinensis Lam. based on spectral characteristics and high‑performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‑of‑flight mass spectrometry.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is an efficient method that is widely used to assess the quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is well known that the quality of TCM has a direct effect on its efficacy; therefore, in order to thoroughly explain how TCM exerts its efficacy, it is necessary to characterize its active ingredients and assess their quality. The application of the spectrum‑effect method is crucial for determining the pharmacological basis of materials. The aim of the present study was to examine the correlation between chemical spectra and estrogenic activity of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., in order to reveal active compounds with potential therapeutic effects. The spectra of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. were recorded using HPLC, and estrogenic activity was determined using a uterus growth test and MTT assay. Combination of the results of bivariate analysis, principal component analysis and Gray relational analysis identified 19 active compounds, as follows: Quercetin‑3‑O‑(2'‑O‑α‑rhamnosy‑6'‑O‑malony)‑​β‑D‑glucoside, ka-empferol‑3‑O‑β‑D‑aplosyl‑(1→2)‑​[‑α‑​L‑rhamnosy‑(1→6)]‑β-wD-glucoside, 6‑O‑(E)‑P‑coumaroyl)‑β‑​D‑fructofuranosyl‑(2→1)‑α‑D‑glucopyranoside, kaempferol‑7‑rhamnosy, kaempferol‑3‑β‑D-glucuronide, apigenin, 4‑caffeoyl‑5‑coumaroylquinic acid, kaempferol‑3‑arabofuranoside, quercetin‑3‑O-β‑D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β‑D‑galactoside, dicaffeoylquinic acid, hyperin, quercitin, isorhamnetin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quercltrin‑2''‑gallate, quercetin‑3, 7‑α‑L‑dirhamnoside and stigmasterol, as well as one unknown compound. The present study laid a foundation for in vivo metabolic studies regarding Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and for the development of its clinical application.