ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a HPLC quantitative method for determination of schisandrin, schisandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyschisandrin and gamma-schisandrin in Fructus Schisandrae.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with methanol (A) and water (B) as mobile phases, in gradient elution. The gradient program was as follows: 0-36 min, changed from 60% A to 66% A, 36-65 min, to 80% A, 65-70 min, kept for 80% A, 70-75 min, to 100% A. The flow rate was 0.5 mL x min(-1) and detection wavelength was set at 254 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The linearities of schisandrin, schisandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyschisandrin and gamma-schisandrin were in the ranges of 0.0214. 160 (r = 0.9999), 0.020-4.000 (r = 0.9999), 0.021-4.240 (r = 0.9999), 0.020-3.960 (r = 0.9999) and 0.021-4.200 (r = 0.9999). The average recoveries were 104.8%, 104.2%, 102.7%, 104.6%, 104.5%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method developed in this study was reliable, and can be used for the quality control of the fruits of S. chinensis.</p>