Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of 11 active compounds in rhubarb using two reference substances by UHPLC

Abstract

Multi-component analysis is one of the key techniques for the overall quality control of traditional Chinese medicines. However, the shortage and high cost of reference substances are the greatest obstacles. The substitute method is an alternative solution. In the present study, 11 compounds of rhubarb were simultaneously determined by a method named "two reference substances for determination of multiple components", which includes a qualitative method with linear calibration using two reference substances and a quantitative method with a relative correction factor combined with ultra high performance liquid chromatography. Using aloe-emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and chrysophanol as reference compounds, chromatographic peak identification was performed. The results demonstrated that linear calibration using two reference substances method showed higher accuracy, less deviation, and better column adaptability compared to the relative retention time method. Using chrysophanol as a reference compound, the relative correction factors were determined and showed good reproducibility and stability in different laboratories with different instruments, columns, and wavelength fluctuations. The results had no significant difference compared with the external standard method. The strategy of two reference substances for determination of multiple components coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography is economical, efficient, accurate, reliable, and environmentally friendly and is suitable for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicines.

Simultaneous Determination of Six Chromones in Saposhnikoviae Radix via Quantitative Analysis of Multicomponents by Single Marker

“…Meanwhile, the proportion of aglycons (C, V, and H) was greater than 10%. In this study, 9 batch samples (6,31,25,22,45,53,17,49,52) were the superior medicine with the six chromone content which was greater than 8 mg•g −1 , and meanwhile, the total content of C, V, and H was greater than 0.8 mg•g −1 .…”

“…On the one hand, Cluster 1 consisted of 45 batch samples (34,55,14,54,1,11,4,15,36,39,10,40,41,42,35,18,47,7,28,43,46,23,27,50,16,29,2,3,5,21,9,12,8,38,19,44,13,37,24,48,26,20,32,33,30), in which their total content of six components was not more than 8 mg•g −1 . On the other hand, the remaining 9 batch samples (6,31,25,22,45,53,17,49,52) were classified for second category, which were greater than 8 mg•g −1 of the...…”

“…e details are shown in Table 7 and Figure 6. Cluster 1 included 41 batches (32, 54, 14, 19, 20, 4, 33, 15, 48, 25, 30, 51, 49, 52, 26, 1, 6, 31, 45, 24,41,11,42,27,10,17,50,34,44,53,55,22,2,18,3,7,39,29,40,36,35), in which the ratio was greater than 10%. Meanwhile, the remaining 12 batch samples (12, 23, 5, 38, 9, 8,47,28,46,21,16,43) were attributed to Cluster 2, where the ratio was less than 10%.…”

“…Meanwhile, the remaining 12 batch samples (12, 23, 5, 38, 9, 8,47,28,46,21,16,43) were attributed to Cluster 2, where the ratio was less than 10%. It was indicated that these three chromone aglycones were so important that they could be used as quality indicators for the quality evaluation of SR. Last but not least, based on the results of the twice cluster analysis, samples of the Cluster 2 (6,31,25,22,45,53,17,49,52) in the first HCA were all contained to the Cluster 1 (32,54,14,19,20,4,33,15,48,25,30,51,49,52,26,1,6,31,45,24,41,11,42,27,10,17,50,34,44,53,55,22,2,18,3,…”

“…According to the record of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition), prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (GC) and 4′-O-β-Dglucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (GV) were selected as quality-control indicators. However, each Chinese herbal medicine is an integrated complex with diversity of active components, contributing to particular efficacy through synergy and mutual effect based on the theory of TCM [17].…”