OBJECTIVETo establish a method to determine the dissolution of Tanshinone IIA in xianling gubao capsules, and compare the dissolution of Xianling Gubao capsules prepared by different processes.

METHODThe small cup method was used at a rotary speed of 100 r x min(-1), the dissolubility was inspected in the following 6 mediums: (1) water; (2) 0.1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid solution; (3) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer; (4) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution + 0.5% cholic acid; (5) pH 6.8 phosphate buffer solution + 1.0% cholic acid; (6) pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution + 4. 0% cholic acid. A HPLC method was used to determine the dissolution samples of tanshione IIA in different dissolution mediums. The accumulative dissolution percentages were calculated, and the resemblance of release curves were compared by similarity factors (f2).

RESULTThe accumulative dissolution percentage was the highest while pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution + 4.0% cholic acid was used as medium. The similarity factor values (f2) of tanshinone IIA dissolution curves of different preparation processes of Xianling Gubao capsules were all less than 50.

CONCLUSIONThere is significant difference in tanshinone IIA dissolution between Xianling Gubao capsules of different preparation processes. The accumulative dissolution percentages of the tanshinone IIA in new Xianling Gubao capsules is higher than that in the capsules prepared by other preparation processes.