[Determination and fingerprint analysis of tetramethylpyrazine and ferulic acid in Ligusticum chuanxiong].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and ferulic acid in Ligusticum chuanxiong from different producing areas and seasons. METHODS: The contents of TMP and ferulic acid were determined by HPLC, and then analyzed by Chromatographic Fingerprints. RESULTS: The contents of TMP and ferulic acid from different seasons were obviously different from each other. It was much higher in "laoxiong" than that in "naixiong". The similarity of fingerprints was high if the samples were collected from the same season, or the same areas, but not different seasons. CONCLUSIONS: The contents of TMP and ferulic acid were different from different producing areas. The evident variety of Ligusticum chuanxiong's fingerprints from different collecting seasons, Laoxiong and Naixiong, was not relevant for clinical use as the same medicine.