ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the reference extraction method for determining five components contained in Pueraria labta decoction and detecting the applicability and feasibility of the application of reference extracts according to the quality standard of traditional Chinese medicine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Zorbax C18 chromatographic column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used, with methanol-0.02% phosphoric acid (25:75) as the mobile phase and the detection wavelength was set at 250 nm. Self-prepared reference extracts of P. labta was used for determining the content of 3'-hydroxy puerarin, puerarin, 3'-methoxy puerarin, isoflavoues aglycone-8-C-apiose-(1--> 6) glucoside and daidzin and compare with the experimental results obtained with the single reference substance determination method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The reference extraction determination method showed high precision, stability and reproducibility, with coincident determination results with the results obtained with the single reference substance determination method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reference extraction determination method of P. labta can be used for quality control of P. labta herbs. The study preliminarily proves the feasibility of the application of P. labta in traditional Chinese medicine.</p>