Quantitative analysis of six lignans in fruits with different colours of Schisandra chinensis by HPLC.

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method was utilised for the simultaneous determination of six major lignans in Schisandra chinensis with different colours continuously for the next 2 years. Six lignans were successfully separated on a C18 column at 254 nm using a gradient of acetonitrile and water. The assay was applied for analysing six lignans in the different colours of fruits of S. chinensis such as red, pink or white, and the component stability for the next 2 years was also detected. The result indicated that the total content of lignans in fruits with different colours varied remarkably, which was relatively high in red fruits, followed by white fruits and the lowest in pink fruits. Moreover, the contents of lignans in the samples of S. chinensis examined for the next 2 years changed irregularly and marginally.