Screening of potential α-glucosidase inhibitors from <i>astragalus membranaceus</i> by affinity ultrafiltration screening coupled with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS method

<i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> is a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological research has found that <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> extract has an inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, however, which component can inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase and its degree of inhibition are unknown. To address this issue, this study used affinity ultrafiltration screening combined with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors in <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i>. Using affinity ultrafiltration technology, we obtained the active components, and using UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology, we quickly analyzed and identified them. As a result, a total of 8 ingredients were selected as α-glucosidase inhibitors.