Quantification of norisoboldine in Linderae Radix by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

Abstract

Norisoboldine is an alkaloid and has been identified as the major active component in Linderae Radix. A novel method for quantitative analysis of norisoboldine in Linderae Radix using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with UV detection was developed for quality control. A similar and conventional HPLC protocol was simultaneously developed for comparison purposes. Chromatographic separation of norisoboldine was performed on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm ID, 1.7 µm) for UPLC and on a Waters X-Bridge C₁₈ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, 5.0 µm) for HPLC. In the UPLC method, the average recovery was 97.3% (<i>n</i> = 9, RSD 1.1%); the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.151 and 0.302 ng, respectively. In the HPLC method, the average recovery was 98.9% (<i>n</i> = 9, RSD 1.7%); the LOD and LOQ were 1.51 and 3.02 ng, respectively. The UPLC method provided a shorter analysis time, a better sensitivity in detection and quantitation, and less solvent was used in comparing to the HPLC method. The amount of norisoboldine detected in each Linderae Radix sample from different sources were in good agreement in both HPLC and UPLC methods.