Simultaneous determination of 5 phenolic acids in fried Fructus xanthii from different production sites and its dispensing granules by using ultra-pressure liquid chromatography

Background: To establish a ultra-pressure liquid chromatography (UPLC) method for the determination of 5 phenolic acids including neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and cynarin in fried Fructus xanthii from different production sites and its dispensing granule. Materials and Methods: An Acquity BEH C18 chromatographic column (100 mm × 2.1 mm,1.7 μm) was used to perform the determination, which was maintained at 40°C throughout the analysis. Mobile phase was composed of methanol and water containing 0.1% phosphoric acid (v/v) with flow rate at 0.4 mL/min under gradient elution, and detection wavelength was set to 325 nm for monitoring the separation. Results: Neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and cynarin have shown good linearity (r2≥0.9997) within 0.959-239.75, 0.9408-235.2, 0.1638-40.95, 0.6744-67.44, and 0.47-117.5 μg/mL, and their average recoveries were 100.09%, 99.98%, 101.74%, 99.83%, and 99.63%, respectively. Conclusion: The UPLC method established in this study was rapid, and of good accuracy, repeatability and resolution, and hence can assist in the control quality of fried Fructus xanthii as well as its dispensing granule in an efficient manner.