OBJECTIVETo establish a new quantitative method for simultaneous determination of multi-coumarins in Fraxini Cortex by using one chemical reference substance, and validate its feasibilities.

METHODThe new quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components by singer-marker (QAMS), was established and validated with Fraxini Cortex. Four main coumarins were selected as analytes to evaluate the quality and their relative correlation factors (RCF) were determined by HPLC-DAD. Within the linear range, the values of RCF at 340 nm of aesculin to asculetin, fraxin and fraxetin were 1.771, 0.799, 1.409, respectively. And the contents of aesculin in samples of Fraxini Cortex were authentically determined by the external standard method, and the contents of the three other coumarins were calculated by their RCF. The contents of these four coumarins in all samples were also determined by the external standard method.

RESULTWithin a certain range, the RCF had a good reproducibility (RSD 2.5%-3.9%). Significant differences were not observed between the quantitative results of two methods.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible and suitable to evaluate the quality of Fraxini Cortex and its Yinpian by QAMS.