Fingerprint analysis and multi-ingredient determination using a single reference standard for Saposhnikoviae radix.

A method employing high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) has been developed to evaluate the quality of Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) comprehensively through fingerprint analysis and multi-ingredient determination. In the fingerprint analysis, 12 out of 15 common peaks were identified with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) and related references. To discriminate the 15 batches of samples collected from different origins, similarity analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed. Meanwhile, the simultaneous quantification of four chromones was achieved by firstly applying a method of using a single standard to determine multiple components (SSDMC) with conversion factor. The method has the advantage of feasibility, economy and simplicity compared with traditional external standard method (ESM). The method possessed desirable linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.9997), precision (RSD <4.0%), accuracy (97.4 - 106.6%) and robustness. This study indicated that the method of fingerprint analysis integrated with multi-ingredient determination using the HPLC technique was reliable for the overall quality evaluation of SR.