Quality assessment of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii by HPTLC and HPLC fingerprinting and HPLC quantitative analysis

This paper describes an improved quality assessment method for Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii (the rhizome and root of Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang or Notopterygium forbesii Boiss). The method was established by using fingerprinting and quantitation of marker compounds (isoimperatorin, notopterol and bergapten) in this herbal medicine. The authentication of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii using high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting was achieved by comparing the colors and Rf values of the bands in TLC fingerprints with those of the marker compounds. The HPLC fingerprints of 16 batches of herbal samples from different regions of China showed similar chromatographic patterns. Five peaks were selected as characteristic peaks, and three of these were identified by using LC–MS–MS techniques. The relative retention times of these characteristic peaks in the HPLC fingerprint were established as an important parameter for identification of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii. Finally, the pharmacologically active marker compounds isoimperatorin, notopterol and bergapten in this herb were quantitatively determined using a validated reverse-phase HPLC method.