Simultaneous Determination of Berberine and Prednisone in Huangqiang Ointment by HPCE

OBJECTIVE To establish a simple and fast method for the determination of berberine and prednisone simultaneously in Huangqiang ointment by HPCE. METHODS An uncoated fused-silica capillary column (41 cm 50 μm, effective length: 33 cm) was used, with a buffer solution of 30 mmol·L-1 sodium borate (pH 11. 0)-methanol (7∶3), inject time of 10 s and separation voltage of 15 kV. The detection wavelength was 238 nm. RESULTS The standard curve of berberine was linear over the range of 32.0-512 μg·mL-1 (r=0. 999 9), and the average recovery was 99. 4% with RSD= 1.2%. The standard curve of prednisone was linear over the range of 16.0-256 μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 0), and the average recovery was 99. 8% with RSD=1. 4%. CONCLUSIONS The HPCE method is simple, rapid and accurate. It provides a new detecting method for the quality control of Huangqiang ointment.