[Determination of saikosaponins in radix Bupleuri using HPLC]

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of saikosaponin a, c and d in Radix Bupleuri was developed. YMC-pack A-314 ODS column (6 x 300mm) with an eluent consisting of acetone-water (58:42) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min was used. The saikosaponins were monitored by a differential refractometer without being converted into the corresponding diene derivatives in advance. Megestrol was used as the internal standard. The recovery rate of saikosaponins was higher than 95% and the coefficient of variation (CV) was 3.08%. The contents of saikosaponins a, c and d of 13 species of Radix Bupleuri collected in different districts of China were evaluated by this method.