ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish the characteristic chromatogram of Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix and its decoction pieces by HPLC for the identification of authentic and counterfeit products. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used with Agilent Zorbax C18(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water with gradient elution. The detector was a secondary tube array (DAD). The column temperature was maintained at 35 ℃, the flow rate was 1.0 mL•min-1, and the injection volume was 10 μL. RESULTS: Fifteen batches of genuine crude drug and twelve batches of genuine decoction pieces were determined. Five common peaks were found, among which three peaks were 2-benzoxazolinone, indigo and indirubin. CONCLUSION: The established characteristic chromatogram of Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix can effectively distinguish the authentic from the counterfeit. The methodological demonstration shows that the method is accurate, stable and reproducible.