The methods of extraction, separation and analysis of alkaloids and indole glucosinolates (GLs) of
Isatis tinctoria
were reviewed. Different analytical approaches such as High-pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Liquid
Chromatography with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS), Electrospray Ionization Time-Of-Flight
Mass Spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were used to validate and identity of these
constituents. These methods provide rapid separation, identification and quantitative measurements of alkaloids and GLs of
Isatis tinctoria. By connection with different detectors to HPLC such as PDA, ELSD, ESI- and APCI-MS in positive and
negative ion modes, complicated compounds could be detected with at least two independent detection modes. The
molecular formula can be derived in a second step of ESI-TOF-MS data. But for some constituents, UV and MS cannot
provide sufficient structure identification. After peak purification, NMR by semi-preparative HPLC can be used as a
complementary method.
