ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS), to simultaneously determine the contents of four flavones in Yinhuang preparations. METHODS: Baicalin was used as the internal reference substance. The relative correlation factors(RCF) of wogonoside, baicalein and wogonin to baicalin were calculated and established. The contents of these four flavones were determined by the external standard method and QAMS respectively. The QAMS method was validated through comparison of the results obtained by the two different methods. RESULTS: Within the linear ranges, the values of RCF determined at 274 nm of wogonoside, baicalein and wogonin to baicalin were 1.20, 1.62 and 1.68 respectively. The RCF showed good reproducibility within the range of 1.7%-4.8% for the three studied compounds. The two methods did not show significant difference in assay results. CONCLUSION: The QAMS method is feasible, credible, and can be used to determine multiple flavones in Yinhuang preparations.