Quantitative Analysis of Multi-components by Single Marker and Fingerprint Analysis of Achyranthes bidentata Blume.

A simple and effective method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection was established to identify the origin of Achyranthes bidentata Blume and evaluate its quality, based on chromatographic fingerprint combined with the similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS). In the chromatographic fingerprint, 16 peaks were selected as the common model to evaluate the similarities among 18 batches (S1-S18) of A. bidentata Blume samples collected from different origins in China. The similarities values for 18 batches of samples were more than 0.75, which compared with control fingerprint. Furthermore, 18 batches of A. bidentata Blume samples were categorized into two groups for quantitative analysis, the quantification of three bioactive constituents (β-ecdysterone, cyasterone and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural) between QAMS and external standard method proved the consistency of the two methods, the three constituents showed good regression (R > 0.9995) within linear ranges, and their recoveries were within the range of 97.6-101.5%. This study demonstrated that the quality of A. bidentata Blume can be successfully evaluated by means of a combination of HPLC chromatographic fingerprint and QAMS approach.