Improved quality evaluation of Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza through simultaneous quantification of seven major active components by high-performance liquid chromatography and principal component analysis.

A novel method, using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with principal component analysis, was developed for the quality evaluation of danshen through simultaneous determination of seven components, namely danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid B, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA. These seven components were simultaneously separated on a Zorbax SB-C(18) column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.05% phosphoric acid water and methanol:acetonitrile (1:1) with a gradient elution, and the detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. Thirty samples of danshen and its substitutes from different sources were investigated by the established method. The results showed that the content of each analyte varied considerably in different danshen samples. Among the seven components tested, salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, danshensu and protocatechuic aldehyde were proved suitable and representative as chemical markers for the quality control of danshen except for protocatechuic acid. Moreover, principal component analysis was used for the similarity evaluation of different samples, and it could be straightforward and reliable to differentiate danshen samples of different origins. In conclusion, simultaneous quantification of multiple components by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with principal component analysis would be a better strategy for the quality evaluation of danshen. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.