Ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and HILIC-ELSD analysis of ginsenoside Rb1, astragaloside IV and dulcitol in sugar-free Fufangfufangteng Heji

A simple method for the extraction and determination of ginsenoside Rb-1, astragaloside IV and dulcitol in sugar-free Fufangfufangteng Heji was developed using an ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction (UALLE) coupled with Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Interface Chromatography and Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (HILIC-ELSD) analysis. Good chromatographic separation was achieved using a Phenomenex Luna HILIC column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 mu m), and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with a gradient elution within 25 min was also used. Compared to the conventional analysis method, the proposed method had the advantages of a longer column life, shorter analysis time, lower baseline noise, short sample pretreatment time and low consumption of organic solvent. The linear ranges for ginsenoside Rb-1, astragaloside IV and dulcitol were 0.0256-0.179, 0.110-0.770, 0.105-0.630 mg/ml, respectively. The recoveries of ginsenoside Rb1, astragaloside IV and dulcitol during the pharmaceutical preparation were within the range of 97.2-100.3%, and their relative standard deviations were 1.2-3.1%. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.