Simultaneous Quantification of Panax and Epimedium Species Using Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC)

Abstract

Two Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC) methods have been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of eight major ginsenosides from Panax species, namely, R₁, R_g1, R_e, R_f, R_b1, R_b2, R_c, and R_d, and flavonoids from Epimedium species, namely, epimedins A, B, and C and icariin. The analyses were performed using an Agilent 1200 series RRLC system with Phenomenex Luna C18-HST and Zorbax Eclipse XDB columns. The separation was performed with a gradient mobile phase of A (pure water) and B (acetonitrile) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/ min and 2.5 mL/min, respectively. Both columns were kept at 40°C with the detection wavelength set at 203 nm. Specific eluted compounds were identified by using reference samples of ginsenosides R₁, R_g1, R_e, R_f, R_b1, R_c, R_b2, and R_d, and epimedins A, B, C and icariin. Baseline separation was achieved in less than 15 minutes for the Phenomenex Luna column and 4 minutes for the Zorbax Eclipse column. Characteristic RRLC profiles were established for complex mixtures of ginsenosides from Panax species and flavonoids from Epimedium species. Both methods developed here are effective for the quality control of formulated products containing both Panax and Epimedium varieties.