ABSTRACT
Objective To establish an HPLC method for determination of low-molecular-weight carbonyl compounds in the oil-containing herbs. Methods After carbonyl compounds in the samples were extracted with water, the solution reacted with 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) in an acidic medium to form 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives, which were separated on Kromasil KR100-5 C18 column (250 mm× 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase A was water-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-isopropanol (59∶30∶10∶1), mobile phase B was water-acetonitrile (35∶65), gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min, detection wavelength was 365 nm, and column temperature was 30 ℃. Results Good linearities were obtained in corresponding concentration ranges, with correlation coefficient over 0.999. The limits of detection of the eight DNPH derivatives were 0.002-0.008 μg/mL, and the average recoveries were 88.49%-93.65%. Conclusion The method is simple, accurate and reliable, with good reproducibility.