High-performance capillary electrophoresis for determining the contents of berberine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine in Gegenqinlian decoction.

Objective: To develop a method for alkaloid isolation from the extract of Gegenqinlian decoction (a traditional Chinese herbal preparation) and content determination.

Method: After the preparation of the Gegenqinlian decoction extract and the micropellets, the quaternary alkaloids of Coptis chinensis were isolated by high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) in a buffer solution containing 60% sodium phosphate (60 mmol/L, pH 8.0) and 40% methanol. 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethylammonium chloride was used as the internal standard and the ultraviolet detection was performed at 254 nm for determining the contents of berberine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine in the extract of Gegenqinlian decoction.

Results: Berberine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine were successfully isolated within 6 min with recovery rates of 99.05%, 98.70% and 97.76% respectively and relative standard deviation of 2.12%, 1.85% and 1.95% respectively.

Conclusion: HPCE is applicable for the determination and isolation of quaternary alkaloids in Coptis chinensis with high accuracy and recovery rate.