Development of a quality evaluation method for Fructus schisandrae by pressurized capillary electrochromatography

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Capillary Electrophoresis

Background:

• Fructus schisandrae contains valuable lignans with potential medicinal properties.
• Accurate quantification and quality control of F. schisandrae are essential for its effective use.
• Existing analytical methods may lack the sensitivity or specificity required for detailed quality assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel pressurized capillary electrophoresis-UV (pCEC) method for quantifying lignans in F. schisandrae.
• To establish a pCEC-based fingerprinting technique for differentiating F. schisandrae species and evaluating raw material quality.

Main Methods:

• Development of a pressurized capillary electrophoresis-UV (pCEC) method with post-column detection.
• Optimization of experimental conditions including mobile phase composition (acetonitrile-phosphate buffer), applied voltage, and pressure.
• Separation and quantification of five specific lignans: schisandrin, gomisin A, schisantherin C, deoxyschizandrin, and schisandrin B.

Main Results:

• Baseline separation of five lignans was achieved using an optimized mobile phase (ACN-phosphate buffer, pH 5.4, 5 mM, 40:60 v/v) and -4 kV applied voltage.
• The method demonstrated excellent repeatability for retention time and peak area, with linear calibration curves (R² between 0.9978–0.9989) across specified concentration ranges.
• Preliminary F. schisandrae fingerprints were established, enabling differentiation between S. chinensis and S. sphenanthera and assessment of raw material quality based on lignan content.

Conclusions:

• The developed pCEC method provides a robust and repeatable approach for quantifying multiple lignans in F. schisandrae extracts.
• This analytical technique is suitable for establishing quality control fingerprints and distinguishing between different species of F. schisandrae.
• The pCEC system offers a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of F. schisandrae raw materials based on the quantitative analysis of key lignans.