High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC- ESI-MSⁿ) has been applied to identify and differentiate the lignan constituents of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera. The data of retention time, UV spectra and molar masses were obtained. The ESI-MSⁿ data of the [M＋H]^＋ ions provide detailed structural information on the lignans. The major lignan constituents in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera were identified. Their difference was found in the special components and the contents of five common components. The experimental results indicated that Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera could be differentiated easily, rapidly and effectively by the HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ method.

Key words: Schisandra chinensis, Schisandra sphenanthera, lignan, HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ