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Planta Med 2009; 75(10): 1171-1179
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185478
Analytical Studies
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Improved Chromatographic Assessment of Chinese Medicinal Products by Multi-Chemical Classes Analysis

Kelvin Sze-Yin Leung1 , ChunMei Fu1 , 2
  • 1Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, P. R. China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
Further Information

Publication History

received Nov. 3, 2008 revised February 3, 2009

accepted February 5, 2009

Publication Date:
16 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

An improved strategy for the quality evaluation of proprietary Chinese medicines (PCM) in complex matrices is presented. It involves the simultaneous separating and displaying of multi-chemical classes and analytes within a single chromatographic elution. The developed fingerprints have the properties of better coverage of multi-chemical classes among the composing herbs. This comprehensive and more facile approach was illustrated for Lemai Keli, a commonly used PCM listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia with highly complex analytical matrices. Ten marker compounds belonging to monoterpene glycosides, chalcone glycosides, phenolic acids and phenolic carboxylic aldehyde groups of the analytes together with three common chromatographic peaks were successively separated and displayed within the chromatographic window as a unique HPLC‐PAD fingerprint. Rigorous method validation data demonstrated the suitability of the current method for quality assessment purposes in a highly complex PCM matrix. Additional chemometric treatment further demonstrated the uniqueness of the developed fingerprint, with a distinctive chemical profile compared to a highly similar PCM formulation (Kangen Karyu) from which it was considered to be impossible to differentiate when using the conventional single marker approach.

Key words

proprietary Chinese medicine - fingerprinting - Lemai keli - high performance liquid chromatography

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Dr. Kelvin Sze-Yin Leung

Department of Chemistry
Hong Kong Baptist University

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 85 2 34 11 52 97

Fax: + 85 2 34 11 73 48

Email: s9362284@hkbu.edu.hk