Systematic Characterization of Triterpenoids in Ganoderma lucidum by UHPLC-Q/TOF MS
Authors: Wang Bo , Yang Xia , Lin Jian-hao , Wang Guan-Hua , Chen Jian-Xin , Jin Tao , Zhang Feng-Xiang 
Published: June 2024

Background:
Ganoderma lucidum, which is widely used as “Ganoderma” in China or
other Asian countries (Japan, Korea, etc), exerts an important role in tonifying qi and calming the
mind in clinical applications. Triterpenoids are the main active components in Ganoderma lucidum,
with significant biological activities of hepatoprotective, anticancer, and anti-tumor, etc. However,
the current analysis of triterpenoids in Ganoderma lucidum by mass spectrometry is limited, restricting
its quality control and elucidation of its functional basis.

Objective:
This work aimed to systematically characterize the triterpenoids in Ganoderma lucidum.

Methods:
The Ganoderma lucidum powder was extracted by 50% ethanol/water and separated by
Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm). The data was obtained by
Waters G2-Q-TOF mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization ion (ESI) source, and
the MS data under positive and negative modes was acquired and analyzed.

Results:
A total of 43 triterpenoids were identified or tentatively characterized from the extracts of
Ganoderma lucidum, including 32 known compounds and 11 potential new compounds. Among
them, five triterpenoids were unambiguously identified by comparison with reference standards,
including ganoderic acid A(28), ganoderic acid D(36), ganoderenic acid D(34), ganoderic acid F(43),
and ganoderic acid G(16). The profiled triterpenoids could be divided into eight types according to
the substituents at the C3, C7 and C15 positions of the parent structure. The mass fragmentation rules
of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids were summarized. Under the positive ion mode, Ganoderma
lucidum triterpenoids easily lost CH3 at the C10 position and H2O at C3, C7, and C15 positions, and
the side chain bond at the C22(23) position was easily split. Under the negative ion mode, the split of
the C and D rings was the characteristic feature.

result:
A total of 43 triterpenoids were identified or tentatively characterized from the extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, including 32 known compounds and 11 potential new compounds. Among them, five triterpenoids were unambitiously identified by comparison with reference standards, including ganoderic acid A(28), ganoderic acid D(36), ganoderenic acid D(34), ganoderic acid F(43), and ganoderic acid G(16). These triterpenoids could be divided into eight types according to the substituents at the C3, C7 and C15 positions of the parent structure. The mass fragmentation rules of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids were summarized. Under the positive ion mode, Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids easily lost CH3 at the C10 position and H2O at C3, C7, C15 position, and the side chain bond at C22(23) position was easily cracked. Under the negative ion mode, the crack of the C and D rings was the characteristic feature.

Conclusion:
The mass fragmentation behaviors of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids under positive
ion mode were summarized and emphasized, and reliable scientific data and methods for systematic
characterization of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids were also supplied.