Optimization of the buffer system of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the separation of the active components in Chinese medicine ‘SHUANGDAN’ granule by genetic algorithm

Genetic algorithm (GA) was employed to optimize the buffer system of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) for separating the active components contained in Chinese medicines. ‘SHUANGDAN’ granule, an important botanical drug in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China, was studied as a typical example. The optimized buffer system (25 mM borate, 29 mM phosphate and 50 mM SDS) provides the best separation with regard to resolution and analysis time. In order to validate the performance of the optimized result, different analytical parameters (e.g., precision, linearity range and recovery) of MEKC method were calculated based on the optimized separation to simultaneously determine protocatechuic aldehyde, paeonol, danshensu and salvianolic acid B contained in ‘SHUANGDAN’ granule. It was shown that GA is an effective tool for optimizing the separation of a series of active components contained in Chinese medicines by capillary electrophoresis.