OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of gallic acid and hesperidin in Xiaogu capsule, in order to provide a simple, rapid and accurate method for quality control of the compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODXiaogu capsule was extracted with methanol heating reflux method. Synergi 4 mu Hydro-RP 80A (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was adopted as the chromatographic column, with acetonitrile--0.04 mol x L(-1) phosphate monobasic sodium solution (20: 80) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), the detection wavelength was 283 nm, and the column temperature was 25 degrees C.

RESULTUnder the conditions, gallic acid and hesperidin reached the baseline resolved peak, with a good linearity within the range of 21.6-216.0 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 93) for gallic acid, and 4.5-45.0 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 95) for hesperidin, respectively. Their average recoveries (n = 9) were 101.5% (RSD 3.7%) and 94.7% (RSD 2.7%), respectively. The average contents of gallic acid and hesperidin contained in Xiaogu capsule were detected to 5.10% and 0.091 1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method established in this study can determine the content of gallic acid and hesperidin contained in Xiaogu capsule in a rapid and accurate manner, which provided reference for quality evaluation of the medicine.