Objective: To establish a determination method of aristolochic acid A in Guanxisuhe preparations by RP-HPLC.
Method: The instrument used was Hewlett-Packard 1100 HPLC with a Alltech C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase was methanol-water-acetic acid (68: 32:1) and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The UV detection wavelength was 390 nm and the column temperature was at 35 degrees C. The extracted solvent for the preparations was methanol solution contained 10% formic acid.
Result: The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.999 9) within the range of 0.119-1.89 microg for aristolochic acid A. The average recovery 99.0%, RSD 0.63%.
Conclusion: The method with good linear relationship was convenient, quick, accurate, and suitable for the quality control of the aristolochic acid A in Guanxinsuhe and other traditional Chinese medicines containing aristolochic acid A.