[Study on naphthopyrone reference extract and application on assay of Semen Cassiae].

A quality control method of Semen Cassiae was established by using naphthopyrone reference extract(NRE). Meanwhile, the feasibility about NRE replacing single component reference in quality control of traditional Chinese medicine was explored. After NRE of Semen Cassiae being prepared by chromatographic separation technology, we determined the three main components, cassiaside B2, rubrofusarin-6-O-β-D-gentiobioside and cassiaside C. In the meantime, an HPLC analytical method, based on the NRE as standard substance, was developed to determinate the contents of three main components in Semen Cassiae. T-test was used for comparison of the determination results of the two methods(single chemical component and NRE as reference substances, respectively), and the T-test result demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the two methods. The results developed scientific basis for the application of NRE of Semen Cassia in the quality control, which could be applied for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine using reference extract substituting single chemical reference, and provide a new research model for the quality control of Chinese medicine.
Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
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