Simultaneous determination of multiple components in formula and preparations of Xiaoyaosan

Abstract

Xiaoyaosan is one of the famous formulas treating for liver, spleen and blood deficiency syndrome along Chinese history. Their five main components, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, and atractylenolide I are believed to partly representative of this formula. Ultra performance liquid chromatography method was newly established, UPLC BEH-C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile – 0.1% phosphate acid gradient elution system, in 0.4 mL/min and the temperature was 30 °C; Detection wavelengths were optimized separately. The five components were linear within their linear range (r ≥ 0.9991), average recovery 97.63%∼102.83%, RSD 1.88%∼4.38%. The newly established method is accurate, rapid, and convenient, with satisfied separation performance to quantify multi-components in formula and preparations of Xiaoyaosan. It will provide a reliable reference for the quality evaluation of both Xiaoyaosan formula and preparations during the process of manufacture, administration and clinical application in the future.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Xiaoyaosan
• formula
• preparations
• UPLC
• simultaneous determination

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Foundation of Educational Commission, Zhejiang Province of China (Grant No. Y201738438); National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81703707); Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Project, Zhejiang Province of China (Grant No. 2019ZA038); and financial support from China Scholarship Council (CSC No. 201908330362).