Simultaneous quantitation of five Panax notoginseng saponins by multi heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography: Method development and application to the quality control of eight Notoginseng containing Chinese patent medicines

J Chromatogr A. 2015 Jul 10:1402:71-81. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2015.05.015. Epub 2015 May 18.

Abstract

Current China Pharmacopoeia (ChP) standards employ diversified and case-dependent assay methods to evaluate the quality of different Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) that contain Panax notoginseng as the monarch drug. These conventional, HPLC-based approaches, utilizing a complex sample preparation procedure, can easily result in low analytical efficiency and possible component loss. Here, a "monomethod-heterotrait matrix" (MHM) strategy is proposed, that is, developing a universal multi heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography (MHC-2D-LC) approach that facilitates the simultaneous quantitation of five P. notoginseng saponins (noto-R1, Re, Rg1, Rb1, and Rd) in eight different CPMs. The MHC-2D-LC system was constructed on a dual-gradient liquid chromatography instrument equipped with a Poroshell SB C18 column and a Zorbax SB-Aq column for respective (1)D and (2)D separation. Method validation was performed in terms of specificity, linearity (r(2) and F-test), intra-/inter-day precision (0.4-7.9%), stability (1.2-3.9%), and recovery (90.2-108.7%), and the LODs and LOQs (loaded masses) of the five analytes varied between 4.0-11.0ng and 6.0-33.0ng, respectively. The validated MHC-2D-LC approach was subsequently applied to quantify the five saponins in thirty batches of different CPMs. The method demonstrated superiority over the current ChP assay methods in respect of specificity (avoiding co-elution), resolution (Rs>1.5), sample preparation (easy-to-implement ultrasonic extraction without repeated re-extraction), and transfer rate (minimum component loss). This is the first application of an MHC-2D-LC method for the quantitative assessment of the constituents of CPMs. The MHM approach represents a new, strategically significant methodology for the quality control of CPMs that involve complex chemical matrix.

Keywords: Chinese patent medicine; Dual-gradient liquid chromatography; Heart-cutting 2D-LC; Panax notoginseng; Saponin analysis; “Monomethod-heterotrait matrix” strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemistry Techniques, Analytical*
  • China
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry*
  • Nonprescription Drugs / chemistry*
  • Panax notoginseng / chemistry*
  • Quality Control
  • Saponins / analysis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Nonprescription Drugs
  • Saponins