[High-performance capillary electrophoresis for determining caffeic acid content in Fujie enema and Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz]

To determine caffeic acid content in Fujie enema and the crude traditional Chinese herbal drug Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. for controlling the quality of the enema at the levels of both the crude drugs and the final product.

Caffeic acid content in both the enema and the crude drug was determined at 313 nm Using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE), under the optimized conditions achieved with a fused-silica capillary tube (75 micromx0 cm) and 20 mmol/L borate running buffer (pH=9.18) at a constant voltage of 12 kV and a sampling time of 5 s at 25 degrees Celsius.

The calibration curve displayed good linear relationship within caffeic acid concentration range of 10 to 100 microg/ml (r=0.999 2). The regression equation was Y=1002.45X-327.87, and the average recovery was more than 95%.

HPCE is simple, rapid and sensitive in separation and determination of caffeic acid in Fujie enema and the crude drug of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.