OBJECTIVETo establish a RP-HPLC method for simultaneously determination of swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside, isoorientin in Gentiana lawrencei from Qinghai province.

METHODThe RP-HPLC method was used. Chromatographic column was the Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The gradient elution solvent system was composed of acetonitrile (A) and (0.1% H3PO4) water (B). The ratio of acetonitrile was as follows: 0.00-27.00 min, 10% -17% (A); 27.00-45.00 min, 17% -33% (A); 45.01-55.00 min, 100%-100% (A). The detective wavelength was 240 nm; the flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1); column temperature was set at 25 degrees C.

RESULTSwertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside and isoorientin were base-isolated. The method had good linearity within the ranges of 2.12-10.6 mg x mL(-1) for swertiamarin (r = 0.999 4), 2.46-12.3 g x L(-1) for gentiopicroside (r = 0.999 7), 2.47-12.4 g x L(-1) for sweroside (r = 0.999 2) and 0.309-1.54 mg x mL(-1) for isoorientin (r = 0.999 5).

CONCLUSIONThe method is rapid, precise and repeatable, can be applied to control the quality of G. lawrencei.