Abstract

In the present paper, a simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was investigated for simultaneous determination of 11 components in Wu-Ji-San (WJS). The 11 identified components were ephedrine hydrochloride, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, ferulic acid, naringin, hesperidin, cinnamaldehyde, imperatorin, glycyrrhizic acid, honokiol and magnolol. The method was established using an Inertsil ODS-2 (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d. with 5.0 μm particle size, GL Sciences) column. The 11 components were separated in less than 75 min with gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.35% phosphoric acid in water at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r² > 0.9993) within the test ranges. The method was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision, and limits of detection. The proposed method not only enables in a single run the simultaneous identification and determination of the 11 multi-structural components from WJS which form the basis of its therapeutic effect for quality control, but can also be used as a reference for the other prescription.

Key words: Wu-Ji-San, traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (RP-HPLC-DAD), chemical constituents.