OBJECTIVETo study the differences of HPLC fingerprints with the total quantum statistical moment for the Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) processed by various ways, and to verify the additive properties of total quantum statistical moment.

METHODThe extracts of BYHWD were obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation firstly, and then were dissolved with five solvents of different solubility parameter from 11.4 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2) to 23.40 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2) respectively. Their chromatographic fingerprints were determined by HPLC, finally the total quantum statistical moment parameters and its superposition properties were manual calculated and analyzed by their expressions.

RESULTAs a contrast as the whole prescription, the similarities of the various processed samples with butanol (11.4 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2)), methanol (13.5 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2)), 68% methanol (16. 67 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2)), 34% methanol (20.03 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2)) and distilled water (23.40 Cal(1/2) x cm(-3/2)) were 0. 074, 0. 973, 0. 934, 0. 991, 0. 993, respectively and while the RSD of these total quantum zero moment, center moment and variance of each chromatographic fingerprints for them were 63.04%, 16.22%, 69.38%, which showed significant difference in these chromatographic fingerprints. The total quantum statistical moment parameters of the superimposed chromatographic fingerprint with each sole samples were 3.203 x 10(5) mAu x s, 29.85 min, 389.97 min2, whereas the whole prescription's were 6.548 x 10(4) mAu x s, 29.44 min, 389.00 min2, that suggested that the absolute difference percentages between the superimposed and the whole were 2.209%, 1.389%, 0.2484%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe total quantum statistical moment of the chromatographic fingerprints is of characteristics with additive properties, it can be used in static and dynamic quality controlled analyses in the Chinese medicine multiple component systems.