Simultaneous qualitation and quantification of four phytoecdysones in Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection was developed and validated to simultaneously identify and quantify four phytoecdysones,i.e., polypodine B (1), ecdysterone (2), 25-R inokosterone (3) and 25-S inokosterone (4), in Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae. The analysis was performed using a C(18) column with 6% tetrahydrofuran aqueous and acetonitrile isocratic elution, and the detection was carried out by DAD at 242 nm. The identities of the analytes were determined by comparing the retention time and UV spectrum with those of reference compounds. The validation of the method included linearity, sensitivity, recovery and stability. All calibration curves of the four phytoecdysones showed good linear regression (r(2) >or= 0.9993). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) and limit of quantification (S/N = 10) were less than 7.5 and 12.3 ng, respectively. The method provided desirable repeatability with overall intra- and inter-day variations of less than 4.67%. The obtained recoveries varied between 95.1 and 104.4% while the relative standard deviations were below 4.85% (n = 3). The analysis results indicated that the contents of the investigated phytoecdysones in Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae from different locations were highly variant, and the genuine crude drug indigenous to Henan province did not possess the highest concentration of phytoecdysones.