Second-order calibration applied to quantification of two active components of Schisandra chinensis in complex matrix

The effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) against various diseases urges more low cost, speed and sensitive analytical methods for investigating the phamacology of TCM and providing a theoretical basis for clinical use. The potential of second-order calibration method was validated for the quantification of two effective ingredients of Schisandra chinensis in human plasma using spectrofluorimetry. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate the advantages of this strategy for multi-target determination in complex matrices. Although the spectra of the analytes are similar and a large number of interferences also exist, second-order calibration method could predict the accurate concentrations together with reasonable resolution of spectral profiles for analytes of interest owing to its 'second-order advantage'. Moreover, the method presented in this work allows one to simply experimental procedure as well as reduces the use of harmful chemical solvents.