ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the theories and methods to determine solubility parameters of multiple components for the traditional Chinese material medica (TCMM) with HPLC.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The mathematical expresses to determin the solubility parameters were established according to chromatographic and Hildebrand-Scatchard theories, The HPLC experiments were carried out at 40 degrees C on an Alltech Apollo C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetone and water in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1), and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The injection volume was 1 0 microL.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The mathematical expresses between the retention time and the solubility parameters were established and used to determin caffeine solubility parameter as 28.31 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) in accordance with 28.84 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) reported by literature, and those of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, physcione as 39.70 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 39.08 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 38.37 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 36.42 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The retention time of HPLC can be used to determine the solubility parameters of multiple componets. The established method is useful for the compatibility rule study of traditional Chinese medicine.</p>