Quality evaluation system for standard decoction of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish a quality evaluation system for standard decoction of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus (PF). Methods Fifteen batches of crude drugs were collected and processed into decoction pieces with salt complied with the 2015 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and then the standard decoctions of salt-processed PF were prepared as freeze-dried powders. Based on the established HPLC fingerprint, seven common peaks were recognized and the main chemical constituents were identified in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results Benzofuran glycosides and furanocoumarins turned out to be the main composition of standard decoction of salt-processed PF. The dry extract yielding rate varied from 16.31% to 20.59%, while the total contents of psoralen and isopsoralen were 1.17%—1.50% with a transfer rate ranging from 13.55% to 23.57%, and the fingerprint similarity of 15 batches of samples were all higher than 0.9. Conclusion This stable and reliable method of comprehensive quality evaluation for standard decoction of salt-processed PF may provide reference for quality control of salt-processed PF dispensing granules and related preparations.