Comparative study on the contents of seven alkaloids in crude and processed Corydalis Rhizoma by HPLC

Objective: To establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of seven alkaloids in crude and processed in traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis Rhizoma,and compare the change of these seven alkaloids.Methods: The methods were performed on an RP-HPLC Benetnach C18column( 4. 6 mm × 250 mm,5 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0. 1% phosphoric acidwater solution( containing 0. 08% triethylamine). Gradient elution was performed at the flow rate of 1. 0 m L·min- 1,the column temperature was 35 ℃,the detection wavelength was at 280 nm,and the eluting period were 70 min. Results: The investigated seven alkaloids including tetrahydrocolumbamine,protopine,tetrahydropalmatine,coptisine,palmatine,berberine,and dehydrocorydaline showed good linearity( r≥0. 999 3) in the range of 1. 12-56. 0,1. 27- 63. 5,3. 37-168. 5,1. 02-51. 0,0. 89- 44. 5,0. 88- 44. 0 and 3. 22-161. 0 μg·m L- 1,respectively; the average recoveries( n = 6) were within 98. 3%-103. 6%with RSD≤2. 8%. The contents of seven alkaloids in crude and processed Corydalis Rhizoma were in the range of163. 90-376. 28,140. 24-207. 29,973. 61-1 158. 33,180. 49-433. 49,68. 01-196. 76,18. 43-46. 10,550. 57-1 489. 84 μg·g- 1. Conclusion: Compared to the crude Corydalis Rhizoma,the tetrahydrocolumbamine in the processed nethod was decreased,while the protopine,tetrahydropalmatine,palmatine,berberine,and dehydrocorydaline were increased to a certain degree,and the coptisine was unsteady. This established methods provide an effective means for quality control of vinegar Corydalis Rhizoma.