[Simultaneous determination of 4 anthraquinones in Kuhuang injection by RP-HPLC].

Objective: To develop a new high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous quantitative determination of 4 anthraquinones in Kuhuang injection.

Method: The chromatographic separation was performed on a Lichrospher C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm,), A linear gradient elution of A (CH3COOH: H2O = 1:100) and B (CH3COOH: H2O: CH3CN = 1:20:80) was used. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1) and column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The UV detection wavelength was set at 254 nm.

Result: The recoveries of rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion were 98.9%, 100.5%, 102.5% and 99.0%, respectively. Their linear ranges were 0.0875-1.75 microg for rhein, 0.0825-1.65 microg for emodin, 0.159-3.17 microg for chrysophanol and 0.0525-1.05 microg for physcion, respectively.

Conclusion: The method was accurate, repeatable and suitable to determine the contents of 4 anthraquinones in Kuhuang injection.