ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a method of quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) for simultaneous determining six lignanoids in Schisandra chinens(S. chinensis). METHODS: A HPLC method was set up. Lichrosphere C18 column(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μn) was used. Acetonitrile-water was used as gradient mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL · min-1. The column temperature was 30°C and detection wavelength was 217 nm. A method was developed for QAMS to determine schizandrol A, schizandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, schizandrin B, and schizandrin C in 5. chinensis. Schizandrol A was selected as internal standard; the relative correction factors (RCF) of schizandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, schizandrin B, and schizandrin C to schizandrol A were calculated. The contents of the six lignanoids in 12 different batches of S. chinensis were determined by both external standard method and QAMS. The QAMS method was evaluated by comparison of its assay results with that of external standard method. RESULTS: The linear range of schizandrol A, schizandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, schizandrin B, and schizandrin C were within 0.09-1.62 μg(r=0.9999), 0.0408-0.7344 μg (r=0.9999), 0.0208-0.3744 μg(r=0.9999), 0.0242-0.4356 μg(r=0.9999), 0.0532-0.9576 μg(r=0.9999) and 0.0258-0.4644 μg(r=0.9999), respectively. No significant differences were found between the quantitative results of external standard method and QAMS. CONCLUSION: The developed method is accurate, feasible, and can be used for quality evaluation of S. chinensis.