Determination of caffeic acid and ferulic acid in Herba Taraxaci by RP-HPLC

OBJECTIVE To establish an HPLC method for determination of caffeic acid and ferulic acid in a traditional Chinese medicine-Herba Taraxaci. from different habitats.METHODS HPLC analysis was performed on a Hypersil BDS C_(18) column((4.6)mm×250mm,5μm) with the methanol‐potassium dihydrogen phosphate(pH=3.7) as mobile phase in gradient mode,the column temperature was set up 40℃,the flow rate was(1.0)mL·min~(-1) and the detecting wavelength was at 323nm. RESULTS The linear response ranges from 8.192 to 81.92μg·mL~(1) of caffeic acid(r=0.999 1,n=6) and from 1.96 to 39.20μg·mL~(-1) of ferulic acid(r=0.999 2,n=6);the recoveries(n=9) of caffeic acid and ferulic acid were 95.3%～98.2% and 92.1%～95.3%,respectively.CONCLUSION All 9 samples from different habitats were determined by HPLC.The method is a practicable method in determination of the caffeic acid and ferulic acid in the Herba Taraxaci.