OBJECTIVETo establish a HPLC method for the analysis of Danshensu (DSS), protocatechuic acid (PA) and protocatechuic aldehyde (PAL) of Xiangdan injection in rat's plasma, and to study pharmacokinetic characteristics of Xiangdan injection components in rats with m-hydroxybenzoic acid as internal standard.

METHODprotein was precipitated by 10% trichloroacetic acid and extracted by ethyl acetate. The plasma concentration was detected by HPLC, The pharmacokinetics parameters of DSS, PA and PAL were calculated by DAS2.0 software after iv injection.

RESULTDSS, PA and PAL have a good linear relationship in 0.68-44.0 mg x L(-1), 0.43-14.0 mg x L(-1) and 0.38-12.0 mg x L(-1), respectively. The average recoveries were more than 92% and the RSD of precision and stability of the test were between 0.4%-4.8%. DSS, PA and PAL showed a two-compartment open model, the half-life of absorption (t(1/2alpha)) were (6.26 +/- 4.6), (5.93 +/- 4.9), (18.44 +/- 2.4) min, the half-life of elimination (t(1/2beta)) were (64.11 +/- 8.8), (63.28 +/- 0.13), (69.315 +/- 0) min, the area under curve(AUC(0-infinity)) were (852.98 +/- 175.6), (83.84 +/- 58.8), (147.79 +/- 12.3) mg x min(-1) x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONA method with high recovery rate and good stability was established to determine the blood concentration of DSS, PA, PAL in Xiangdan injection and applied in its pharmacokinetics successfully.