ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an HPLC method for content determination of protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in Zhuang medicine Blumea megacephala (Randeria), and explore the content variation of the 3 components of the herbs harvesting in different months, and provide the scientific basis of reasonable application.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The determination was carried out on a Shimadzu VP-ODS column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% phosphoric acid in a linear gradient elution. The flow rate was 1 mL min(-1), and the detected wavelength was set at 258, 327nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The peak areas and the concentrations of the three components had good linear relationship in the range of 1.7-17 mg x L(-1) for protocatechuic acid, 15.6-156 mg x L(-1) for chlorogenic acid, 3.96-39.6 mg x L(-1) for caffeic acid. The average recoveries were 103.4%, 102.2%, 98.5%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was proved to be simple, accurate and used for the quality evaluation of Blumea megacephala (Randeria).</p>