Abstract: The structures of proanthocyanidins from the root, stem and leaves of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg were analyzed with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The results showed that the proanthocyanidins from T. hemsleyanum were mainly composed of procyanidin (PC) and prodelphinidin (PD). The terminal units were mainly composed of catechin while epicatechin and epigallocatechin were the dominant extension units. The mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of proanthocyanidins from the root, stem and leaves of T. hemsleyanum were found to be 4.89 ± 0.33, 3.77 ± 0.19 and 4.45 ± 0.48, respectively. Trimers to decamers of proanthocyanidins were detected from the root and stem, while trimers to undecamers of proanthocyanidins from the leaves of T. hemsleyanum by MALDI-TOF MS. (epi) Catechin and (epi) gallocatechin monomer units individually and together with galloyl substituents and a-type linkages prevalently existed in each polymeric cluster. The proanthocyanidins from the root, stem and leaves of T. hemsleyanum were structurally similar. The results of this study may provide useful data for the fundamental study and further development of T. hemsleyanum.

Key words: Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, proanthocyanidins, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-ESI-MS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)