ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish a method for the determination of total glycosides in Chinese materia medica (CMM)-differential anthrone-sugar hydrazone colorimetry. Methods: The content of total glycosides (including sugar) in CMM was determined by anthrone colorimetry, and then sugar hydrazone-sulfuric acid colorimetric method was used to determine the content of reducing sugars. The content of total glycosides came from the two subtraction. Results: Anthrone colorimetric reaction was completed within 6 h, detection wavelength was 620 nm, linear range was 80-180 μg/mL, correlation coefficient R2 = 0.994, and recovery was 99.2%, RSD was 1.35%. Sugar hydrazone-sulfuric acid color reaction method was completed within 4 h, detection wavelength was 412 nm, linear range was 2-12 mg/mL, correlation coefficient R2 = 0.991, and recovery was 99.5%, RSD was 1.98%. The total glycosides contents in five Chinese patent medicines such as Buyang Huanwu Decoction, Liuwei Dihuang Pill, Andrographis Tablet, Astragalus Injection, and Pachymaran Oral Liquid were 15.1, 26.0, 6.68 mg/g, and 21.3, 16.9 mg/mL. Conclusion: This method is firstly established for the quantitative determination of total glycosides in CMM, and the ingredient group analysis method is established by anthrone colorimetry and sugar hydrazone-sulfuric acid colorimetric method. The methods have better accuracy, and can be used for the determination of total glycosides ingredients group of CMM.