Chromatographic fingerprint analysis and simultaneous determination of eight lignans in Justicia procumbens and its compound preparation by HPLC-DAD.

HPLC fingerprints were developed for the quality evaluation of Justicia procumbens and its compound preparation, Jian-er syrup, together with the simultaneous quantification of eight arylnaphthalide lignans (6'-hydroxy justicidin B, 6'-hydroxy justicidin A, 6'-hydroxy justicidin C, justicidin B, chinensinaphthol methyl ether, justicidin C, taiwanin C, and neojusticin A). Samples were separated with a Shiseido Capcell Pak C(18) reversed-phase column (250×4.6 mm id, 5 μm) using acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase. The column temperature was maintained at 35°C and the wavelength of detector was set at 256 nm. For fingerprint analysis, 17 peaks were selected as the characteristic peaks for the evaluation of the similarities among different J. procumbens samples collected in different places. The structures of lignans were confirmed by diagnostic fragments in the positive ESI-MS(n) . The new method was successfully applied for the chromatographic fingerprint analysis and simultaneous determination of eight lignans in its compound preparation, Jian-er syrup. All the results indicated that HPLC fingerprint assay in combination with multi-marker determination afforded a useful method for the quality control of J. procumbens and its compound preparation, Jian-er syrup.