[UPLC simultaneous determination of five active components in Cinnamomi Ramulus].

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Cinnamomi Ramulus is a traditional herbal medicine with various bioactive compounds.
• Accurate quantification of these compounds is crucial for quality control and therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method for simultaneous determination of five key compounds in Cinnamomi Ramulus.
• To establish optimal chromatographic conditions for efficient separation and sensitive detection.

Main Methods:

• Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) using an HSS T3 Column.
• Gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.05% aqueous phosphoric acid.
• Detection at 254 nm with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min.

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated excellent linearity for protocatechuic acid, coumarin, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid, and cinnamaldehyde with high correlation coefficients (r > 0.999).
• Mean recoveries ranged from 96.7% to 101.0% with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 2.3%, indicating high accuracy and precision.
• The assay proved selective and accurate for quantifying the target compounds in Cinnamomi Ramulus samples.

Conclusions:

• A rapid, accurate, and selective UPLC method was successfully established for the simultaneous analysis of five bioactive compounds in Cinnamomi Ramulus.
• This method provides a reliable tool for quality control and standardization of Cinnamomi Ramulus in pharmaceutical and research applications.