Abstract: An analytical method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established for the detection of 59 illegally added drugs in health foods with hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antihypertensive activity. Samples were extracted with methanol, and the extract was purified by the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method and blown to dryness under nitrogen gas. The residue was dissolved in 1 mL of 40% (V/V) methanol aqueous solution. The chromatographic separation was performed using reverse-phase chromatography on an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column through gradient elution using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (containing 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate). The mass spectrometer was operated in both the positive and negative ion modes using multi-reaction monitoring (MRM), and quantitative analysis was performed using a matrix-matched external standard method. The results showed that the calibration curves for the 59 illegally added drugs were linear with coefficient of determination (R2) greater than 0.980. Recoveries ranged from 60.2% to 119.5%, and relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 1.2% to 15.0%. This method is characterized by simple pre-treatment, short analysis time, good sensitivity, high accuracy, and low impurity interference, and can be used to the detection of multiple illegal drugs in health foods with hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antihypertensive activity.

Key words: health foods with hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antihypertensive activity; quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe purification; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; illegal addition of drugs