An optimized high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for benzoylmesaconine determination in Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, aconite roots) and its products

Ying Xie,Zhongqiu Liu,Yuen Fan Wong,Hongxi Xu,Hua Zhou,Zhihong Jiang,Liang Liu

doi:10.1186/1749-8546-3-6

Abstract

BackgroundBenzoylmesaconine (BMA) is the main Aconitum alkaloid in Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, aconite roots) with potent pharmacological activities, such as analgesia and anti-inflammation. The present study developed a simple and reliable method using BMA as a marker compound for the quality control of processed aconite roots and their products.MethodsAfter extraction, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of BMA was conducted on a RP-C18 column by gradient elution with acetonitrile and aqueous phase, containing 0.1% phosphoric acid adjusted with triethylamine to pH 3.0.ResultsA distinct peak profile was obtained and separation of BMA was achieved. Method validation showed that the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the precision of BMA in all intra-day and inter-day assays were less than 1.36%, and that the average recovery rate was 96.95%. Quantitative analysis of BMA showed that the content of BMA varied significantly in processed aconite roots and their products.ConclusionThis HPLC method using BMA as a marker compound is applicable to the quality control of processed aconite roots and their products.

Highlights

Benzoylmesaconine (BMA) is the main Aconitum alkaloid in Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, aconite roots) with potent pharmacological activities, such as analgesia and antiinflammation
The results indicate that the retention time (43.5 min) of BMA in processed aconite roots (Figure 3) and in Qingfuguanjieshu Capsule (QC) preparation (Figure 4) was consistent with that of BMA in standard solution (Figure 2)
By adjusting the triethylamine content to obtain the pH values from 2.3 to 5.6, we investigated the pH dependence of the retention time

Summary

Introduction

Benzoylmesaconine (BMA) is the main Aconitum alkaloid in Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, aconite roots) with potent pharmacological activities, such as analgesia and antiinflammation. The present study developed a simple and reliable method using BMA as a marker compound for the quality control of processed aconite roots and their products. For over two thousand years, Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, aconite roots) has been used in China to relieve joint pain and treat rheumatic diseases [1]. Studies demonstrated some pharmacological effects of aconite roots, such as analgesia and antiinflammation [2,3]. Processing aconite roots is necessary to remove the poisonous diester-diterpene type Aconitum alkaloids including aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine. We established a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determining these (page number not for citation purposes)

Methods

Results

Conclusion