Application of solidified floating double-solvent dispersive liquid-phase microextraction for the analysis of the main active components in Zicao Chengqi decoction

Abstract

A new method was established using solidified floating double-solvent dispersive liquid-phase microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the simultaneous determination and extraction of six active ingredients from Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, and Arnebiae Radix in the Zicao Chengqi decoction. The six active ingredients in Zicao Chengqi decoction include naringenin, honokiol, shikonin, magnolol, emodin, and β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin. In this experiment, the effects of the extractant type and volume, sample phase volume, sample phase pH, extraction time, and stirring speed on the enrichment factor were studied, and optimal extraction conditions were determined. Naringenin (6–600 ng/mL), honokiol (3–219 ng/mL), shikonin (4–350 ng/mL), magnolol (3–230 ng/mL), emodin (3–190 ng/mL), and β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin (3–430 ng/mL) had a good linear relationship and all the correlation coefficients were 0.9900–0.9992. This method was used for the simultaneous concentration and enrichment of the six active ingredients from the Chinese herbal compound, Zicao Chengqi decoction, with recoveries between 95.7 and 100.3%. The results showed that solidified floating double-solvent dispersive liquid-phase microextraction combined with HPLC can be used for the simultaneous extraction and analysis of multiple active components in the Zicao Chengqi decoction.