RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for the quantitative evaluation Trillium tschonoskii. METHODS: Selecting three penogenin saponins as indicators, a TLC assay was developed for the identification Trillium tschonoskii, and a RP-HPLC assay was established for the content determination. RESULTS: Three penogenin saponins were clearly distinguished by TLC (CHCl3-MeOH-HCOOH-H2O, 6.5:3.5:0.5:1) and well separated by RP-HPLC (CH3CN-H2O, 42:58). The TLC method showed clear spots, and the RP-HPLC method had good linear relationship within the ranges 0.115-0.690 mg · mL-1 for Paris VIII (1) (r=0.9998), 0.135-0.810 mg · mL-1 for penogenin-3β-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-O-β-D-gluco-pyraboside(2) (r=0.9996), and 0.225-1.350 mg · mL-1 for Paris VI (3) (r=0.9999). The average recoveries were 99.3%, 98.3%, and 97.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The established method is rapid and sensitive for controlling the quality T. tschonoskii.