Quantitative Analysis of Twelve Active Components Combined With Chromatographic Fingerprint for Comprehensive Evaluation of Qinma Prescription by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Diode Array Detection.

A combination method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with diode array detection has been developed for quality evaluation of Qinma prescription (QMP), based on chromatographic fingerprint technology with the similarity analysis (SA) and the quantitative analysis of 12 components by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The established method has been validated by linearity, precision, repeatability, stability and recovery tests. The UPLC fingerprints with 17 common peaks of 5 QMP samples prepared by different extraction methods including water decoction extraction, water extraction-ethanol precipitation method, ethanol reflux extraction, ethanol extraction-water precipitation method and methanol ultrasonic extraction were obtained, and the SA results indicated that similarity index was greatly influenced by the large peak. The similarity index ranged from 0.816 to 0.999 basing on 17 peaks, which has been decreased to 0.683-0.999 basing on 16 peaks without the large peak of baicalin (BA). The results of simultaneous quantification of 12 components in these 5 QMP samples proved that BA, gallic acid (GA), wogonoside (WOG) and gentiopicroside (GEN) were the major ingredients in QMP with high contents >1.44 (mg/g), indicating that ethanol reflux was the most effective extraction method. Integrating fingerprint analysis, simultaneous determination and HCA, the established method is rapid, sensitive, accurate and readily applicable. All the results indicated that the combination method can control the quality of QMP and its related traditional Chinese medicinal compounds more comprehensively and scientifically.

pH-sensitive and biocompatible quercetin-loaded GO-PEA-HA carrier improved antitumour efficiency and specificity.

A novel drug carrier was designed based on a new biomaterial, that is, graphene oxide (GO), to improve the efficiency and specificity of anticancer drug. In this study, GO was successively modified with polyetheramine (PEA) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The carrier was utilized to load an antitumor component, that is, quercetin (Que), which was derived from traditional Chinese medicine, namely the pagoda tree flower bud. This drug delivery system (DDS) exhibited pH sensibility under subacid condition and good biocompatibility even when GO concentration reached 350 µg/mL. Moreover, the antitumor efficacy was doubly improved and more long-acting compared with Que alone. Results show that the GO-based material has potential clinical applications for antitumor drug delivery.

Chemical Fingerprinting and Quantification of Chinese Cinnamomi Cortex by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Chemometrics Methods.

To rapidly clarify and quantify the chemical profiling of Cinnamomi cortex a reliable and feasible strategy of chromatographic fingerprinting with a suite of chemometrics methods was developed and validated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. Furthermore, to identify more meaningful chemical markers, the chemometrics methods including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and similarity, which all generate quality evaluations and correlation classifications of Cinnamomi cortex, were used to improve the Cinnamomi cortex quality control standards. A total of 12 characteristic peaks were confirmed, seven of which were identified by comparing their retention times, UV and MS spectra with authentic compounds. Moreover, 11 analytes were accurately determined, as a complementary quantification method of chromatographic fingerprinting. For quantitative analyses, selective detection was performed at 254, 280 and 340 nm. The tested samples were separated and determined using UPLC and a series of methodologies including linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection and quantification and extraction recoveries were validated. Meanwhile the method bias for all the analytes did not exceed 5%. A total of 42 samples were acquired in China and analyzed. The results demonstrated that chromatographic fingerprinting in combination with chemometrics methods provides a promising and practical method to more effectively and comprehensively control the quality of Cinnamomi cortex from various sources, which would be a useful reference for the development and further study of Cinnamomi cortex and related formulations.

Simultaneous quantitation of 14 active components in Yinchenhao decoction with an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector: Method development and ingredient analysis of different commonly prepared samples.

J. Sep. Sci. 2016, 39, 4147-4157 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201600284 Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) is a famous Chinese herbal formula recorded in the Shang Han Lun which was prescribed by Zhongjing Zhang during 150-219 AD. A novel quantitative analysis method was developed, based on ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector for the simultaneous determination of 14 main active components in Yinchenhao decoction. Furthermore, the method has been applied for compositional difference analysis of the 14 components in eight normal extraction samples of Yinchenhao decoction, with the aid of hierarchical clustering analysis and similarity analysis. The present research could help hospital, factory and lab choose the best way to make Yinchenhao decoction with better efficacy.

Simultaneous quantitation of 14 active components in Yinchenhao decoction by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection: Method development and ingredient analysis of different commonly prepared samples.

We developed a novel quantitative analysis method based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection for the simultaneous determination of the 14 main active components in Yinchenhao decoction. All components were separated on an Agilent SB-C18 column by using a gradient solvent system of acetonitrile/0.1% phosphoric acid solution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min for 35 min. Subsequently, linearity, precision, repeatability, and accuracy tests were implemented to validate the method. Furthermore, the method has been applied for compositional difference analysis of 14 components in eight normal-extraction Yinchenhao decoction samples, accompanied by hierarchical clustering analysis and similarity analysis. The result that all samples were divided into three groups based on different contents of components demonstrated that extraction methods of decocting, refluxing, ultrasonication and extraction solvents of water or ethanol affected component differentiation, and should be related to its clinical applications. The results also indicated that the sample prepared by patients in the family by using water extraction employing a casserole was almost same to that prepared using a stainless-steel kettle, which is mostly used in pharmaceutical factories. This research would help patients to select the best and most convenient method for preparing Yinchenhao decoction.