Ultra-performance convergence chromatography method for the determination of four chromones and quality control of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk.

Ultra-performance convergence chromatography is an environmentally friendly analytical technique that employs dramatically reduced amounts of organic solvents compared to conventional chromatographic methods. In this study, a rapid, sensitive, and environmentally friendly method based on ultra-performance convergence chromatography was developed for the quantification of four major chromones present in the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. Using this method, the analysis time was significantly shortened compared to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. In addition, the influence of cosolvent type, cosolvent ratio, column temperature, system pressure, and flow rate on the peak resolution was investigated. The proposed method was validated in terms of its limits of detection, limits of quantitation, linearity, precision, and accuracy. More specifically, the limits of detection of the four chromones ranged from 0.006 to 0.033 μg/mL, while the limits of quantitation ranged from 0.019 to 0.101 μg/mL. Our method also exhibited a good regression (r2  > 0.999), excellent precision (RSD < 0.60%), and acceptable recoveries (99.48-102.89%). Finally, the quantities of these four chromones present in 20 commercial samples from Korea and China were successfully evaluated using the developed method, indicating that the proposed method is suitable for the rapid and accurate quality control of Saposhnikovia divaricata.