ABSTRACT
Objective: To develop a method for the quantitative determination of several salvianolic acids by HPLC and investigate the influence of danshensu and protocatechuic aldehyde on the degradation process of salvianolic acid B (SaB). Methods: HPLC method was applied to quantitative analysis on four components in the degradation sample of SaB. HPLC-MS method was applied to tentatively characterizing the structure of the degradation products. The effect of danshensu and protocatechuic aldehyde on the degradation of SaB were found out by the analysis of chromatogram and mass spectra of degradation samples. Results: Nine degradation products were found in the degradation samples of SaB, including danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, isomers of SaB, lithospermic acid, and its isomers. Protocatechuic aldehyde had stronger protective effect on SaB compared to danshensu at the same mass concentration. Additionally, the peak area of lithospermic acid isomers I and II increased when the initial concentration of protocatechuic aldehyde was increased. Conclusion The mild acidity of protocatechuic aldehyde might account for its stronger protective effect on SaB, and the connection between protocatechuic aldehyde and lithospermic acid isomers I and II might relate to the change of reaction balance.
ABSTRACT
In this work, a rapid analysis method basing on ultraviolet spectroscopy was established for the determination of danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, rosmarinci acid, lithospermic acid and salvianolic acid B in the extraction process of Danhong injection. In the extraction process of Danshen and Honghua crude drugs, 44 extraction solution samples were collected and the contents of the five components were determined by HPLC analysis. The ultraviolet spectra of the samples were collected. Partial least square regression was used to establish the multivariate calibration models between the ultraviolet spectra and the contents of the five components. The results showed that the established models could predict the contents of the five components in the extraction solution accurately. The ultraviolet spectroscopy method established in this work can be used for rapid analysis of the intermediates of Danhong injection, which may be applied for the quality control in the manufacturing process.