RESUMEN
Polysaccharides from Chinese medicines are attracting increasing attention to their wide range of valuable biological activities. As these polysaccharides are mostly from edible materials, their safety can be greatly ensured. Therefore, the Chinese medicine polysaccharides have been the focus of research and development of new drugs and health products. However, there are rarely successful cases. Here, based on the authors' own research experience, the difficulties and challenges in chemical analysis and mechanism study of Chinese medicine polysaccharides are discussed, in the hope of eliciting more innovative ideas and solutions.
RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an HPLC method for determination of two polyacetylenes, lobetyolin and lobetyolinin, in Herba Lobeliae Chinensis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>C18 column was used with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water. Linear gradient elution from 10% to 40% acetonitrile in 25 min was applied, at the flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), the detection wavelength was at 267 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Lower contents of lobetyolin and lobtyolinin were found in collected samples of Herba Lobeliae Chinensis. The highest amounts of lobetyolin and lobetyolinin were found to be 0.461 and 0.436 mg x g(-1) in a sample procured from Hong Kong. However, there were no lobetyolin and lobetyolinin in some of the samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A simple and effective HPLC method to analyze the two polyacetylenes in Herba Lobeliae Chinensis was established. It could be applied for the quality control of this herb.</p>