RESUMO
This study was aimed to establish an HPLC method to simultaneous determine 6 kinds of monoester and diester aconitum alkaloids. The content of alkaloids in aconite roots, black and white prepared lateral root of aconite and the compatibility of aconite roots with rhubarb were determined. This study provided reference for the interpreta-tion of the attenuation of processing and compatibility of medicines from chemical component aspect. The HPLC analysis was performed on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 (4.6 mm í 250 mm, 5 μm) with 40 mmol·L-1 ammonium ac-etate (adjusted to pH 9.8 with ammonia water) and acetonitrile as mobile phase, with a gradient elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1 and a detection wavelength of 235 nm. The results showed that 6 alkaloids in aconite roots achieved favorable separation and a good linearity relationship (r > 0.999) over the studied concentration range. The extraction recoveries were ranged from 96.9% to 102.4% for the 6 alkaloids. The content of diester alkaloids de-creased markedly in processed products and the compatibility of aconite roots with rhubarb compared with the raw a-conite roots. It was concluded that this method was stable, reliable, simple and practical. It can be used for the si-multaneous determination of 6 kinds of monoester and diester aconitum alkaloids in aconite roots. This processing and compatibility can significantly reduce the content of alkaloids in aconite roots in order to reduce its toxicity.