Comparative Analysis of HPLC Fingerprint Combined with DAD Detection between Bupleuri Radix and Bupleuri Herba

Abstract Bupleuri Herba is widely distributed and traditionally used for the similar clinical application of Bupleuri Radix in Jiangsu and Anhui province in China. To elucidate the difference of material basis between Bupliuri Radix and Bupleuri Herba, a HPLC fingerprint method combined with DAD detection was developed for effective components analysis of these two herb medicines. Both flavonoids and saikosaponins components were analyzed with a zorbax C-18 column by gradient elution using 0.1% (v/v) phosphoric acid – acetonitrile as the mobile phase, the column was maintained at 35°C, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, the detection wavelength was set at 360 nm for flavonoids and 203 nm for saikosaponins. Rutin and saikosaponin d were selected as reference compound, respectively. And correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient. The results showed that 18 major flavonoids were detected in both Bupleuri Radix and Bupleuri Herba with only 12 common components peaks; nine major saikosaponins were detected in these two herb medicines with only four common components peaks. Correlation analysis indicated that both Bupleuri Radix and Bupleuri Herb can be divided into two groups according to correlation coefficient difference. In addition, poor correlation was found between Bupleuri Radix and Bupleuri Herb. Comparative analysis of chromatographic fingerprint indicated that the difference of material basis between Bupleuri Radix and Bupleuri Herb was significant, which hinted that clinical application of Bupleuri Herb instead of Bupleuri Radix should be cautious.