Recent advances and trends in the characterization of triterpenoids in traditional Chinese medicine utilizing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Triterpenoids are one of the main active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have attracted significant attention due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, the structural complexity and low content of triterpenoids in TCM bring major challenges to the effective characterization of these compounds. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology has greatly facilitated the qualitative analysis of triterpeneoids. Advances in computer technology and data analysis have significantly enhanced data processing tools, offering high efficiency and accuracy. This review summarizes the latest advances and trends in characterizing triterpenoids in TCM using LC-MS technology, with a systematic elaboration on related data acquisition, post-processing, and derivatization strategies aimed at addressing key challenges in mass spectrometry, such as low ionization efficiency and poor detection response. To further support efficient analysis, this review also outlines the fragmentation patterns of common triterpenoids to facilitate their rapid identification. Given the prevalence of isomerism in this compound class, three specialized identification methods are also evaluated: ion mobility spectroscopy (IMS), ion dissociation (ID), and energy-resolved mass spectrometry (ER-MS). Finally, challenges associated with analyzing triterpenoids in complex matrices are discussed, along with strategic approaches to address them. Overall, this review provides a structured framework to guide researchers in understanding and systematically optimizing LC-MS analytical strategies for triterpenoid compounds.