Qualitative and quantitative analyses of primary saponins in Paris forrestii

Abstract

In order to study whether Paris forrestii could be developed as a substitute of Paridis Rhizome, chemical compositions of P. forrestii and P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were investigated by UPLC-Q-TOF MS. In addition, the contents of eight primary steroidal saponins in 77 batches of P. forrestii samples from different habitats were simultaneously determined by HPLC-UV. The results showed that P. forrestii and P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis have similar chemical compositions, and all 22 major common peaks were identified as steroid derivatives. Meanwhile, there were some differences in the contents of saponins in P. forrestii samples from different habitats. The contents of 4 steroidal saponins in Chinese Pharmacopoeia ranged from 0.068% to 3.30%, and the highest content of the 8 kinds of steroidal saponins was 6.18%, while the lowest was just 0.71%. Moreover, 78% of P. forrestii samples were in conformity with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, indicating that P. forrestii samples had relatively stable quality and could be further studied as a substitute for Paridis Rhizome.