[Simultaneous determination of 8 main compounds in Eclipta Herba by UPLC]

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Phytochemistry

Background:

• Eclipta Herba is a traditional medicinal herb with diverse bioactive compounds.
• Accurate quantification of these compounds is crucial for quality control and therapeutic efficacy.
• Existing analytical methods may lack the sensitivity or specificity for simultaneous determination of multiple markers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method.
• To enable simultaneous determination of eight key compounds in Eclipta Herba.
• To provide a reliable analytical basis for Eclipta Herba identification and quality assessment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm).
• Employed gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile.
• Optimized flow rate (0.3 mL•min⁻¹), column temperature (35 ℃), and detection wavelength (350 nm).

Main Results:

• Achieved clear separation of eight target compounds: isoquercitrin, luteoloside, demethylwedelolactone, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, luteolin, wedelolactone, and apigenin.
• Demonstrated excellent linearity (r≥0.9990) for the compounds.
• Reported high recovery rates (96.60%-103.4%) and low relative standard deviations (RSD, 0.86%-2.4%), indicating good reproducibility and stability.

Conclusions:

• The established UPLC method is highly accurate, reproducible, and stable.
• This validated method provides a robust scientific foundation for the quality control and identification of Eclipta Herba.
• The method facilitates reliable assessment of Eclipta Herba's phytochemical profile.