Résumé
Object To determine the content of glycyrrihizic acid obtained when each individual ingredient in MAHUANG DECOCTION was decocted separately and then mixing the extracts with boiling water in comparison with that obtained by decocting the total composition together as a whole in the traditional way. Methods The contents of glycyrrhizic acid was determined by HPLC. Hypersil C 18 column was used, with acetonitrile∶0.1% acetic acid (33∶67) as the mobile phase and detected at the wavelength of 254 nm. Results The average recovery of glycyrrhizic acid when separately decocted was 102.43%, RSD=2.65%, while that of decoction in whole was 99.41%, RSD=3.11%. Conclusion The method was simple and accurate and was not interfered by other constituents in the prescription.