Identification of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex in Lanqin Preparation by QAMS

OBJECTIVE To establish an HPLC qualitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS) method for the determination of phellodendron hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride and berberine hydrochloride in Lanqin preparation, and to establish a method for the identification of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex in Lanqin preparation based on the content determination results. METHODS Using Agilent 1260 chromatograph and Waters Atlantis T3 column(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm), the chromatographic column was gradient eluted with acetonitrile-0.2% phosphoric acid solution(0.2 g sodium dodecyl sulfonate per 100 mL), the flow rate was 1 mL·min^-1, the detection wavelength was 280 nm, the column temperature was 30℃, and the relative correction factors of phellodendron hydrochloride and palmatine hydrochloride were calculated with berberine hydrochloride as the reference. The results were compared with the results of external standard method to judge the reliability of the method. Based on the results of cluster analysis, the effects of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex on the contents of three alkaloids were discussed, and the identification method was established to determine the Lanqin preparations from different manufacturers. RESULTS The concentrations of phellodendron hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride and berberine hydrochloride had good linear relationship within 1.087-54.35 μg·mL^-1, 0.100 9-20.18 μg·mL^-1 and 0.536 5-26.82 μg·mL^-1 respectively. The average recoveries were 91.57%(RSD=3.0%), 97.96%(RSD=2.1%) and 100.6%(RSD=1.1%). The relative correction factors were 0.368 and 1.239, respectively. The RSD between the obtained results and the results measured by the external standard method was < 2%, and there was no significant difference between the two methods. Cluster analysis showed that there were significant differences in the contents of three alkaloids between Lanqin granule and its adulterants. Taking the content ratio of phellodine hydrochloride to palmatine hydrochloride as the identification standard, it was suggested that "the content ratio of phellodine hydrochloride to palmatine hydrochloride should not be < 2.5" in Lanqin preparation. The determination results of Lanqin preparation from different manufacturers were in line with the standard, indicated that the process and raw materials have no significant impact on this method. CONCLUSION In this study, an HPLC-QAMS for Lanqin preparation, and the identification method of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex in Lanqin preparation is established, which with high reliability of the method provided a reference for the quality improvement of Lanqin preparation.