[Determination of xanthones in Tibetan herb Jiadiranguo (Herba Haleniae)]

A HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of 1-hydroxy-2, 3, 4, 7-trimethoxyxanthone (1), 1-hydroxy-2,3, 7- trimethoxyxanthone (2), 1-hydroxy-2, 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyxanthone (3), and 1-hydroxy-2, 3, 5- trimethoxyxanthone (4) in Halenia elliptica. The analytical column was Welchrom C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile- water (43:57). The detection wavelength was 265 nm. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was set at 40 degrees C. There was good linearity between the peak areas and concentration at the ranges of 0.414-16.6, 1.73-69.6, 5.89-117, 3.01-120.5 mg x L(-1) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The average recoveries (n = 6) of 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 102.5%, 100.5%, 97.9% and 101.2%. Those four xanthones in thirty samples of H. elliptica. were determined by this method. The method is simple, accurate, repeatable, which could be used for the quality evaluation of H. elliptica. The total content of those four xanthones in H. elliptica should not less than 1.80% by comprehensive analysis.