Effects of Formulating Dahuang Huanglian Xeixin Decoction with Different Combinations of Herbs on the Concentrations of Marker Chemicals

An HPLC method was developed to separate all nine marker chemicals of Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction (DHXD) prepared from different combinations of herbs. The herbal products were soaked separately in boiling water for various durations of time. Then, they were analyzed by an HPLC equipped with a phenyl column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) and a UV detector set at 254 nm and 270 nm wavelengths. The marker chemicals in DHXD were eluted from the HPLC column using gradient elution. The mobile phase was a solution of acetonitrile ∼0.5% triethylamine adjusted to pH 3.5 with phosphoric acid. The HPLC method was able to quantify the marker chemicals accurately and reliably. The effects of including and excluding Scutellaria baicalensis from the DHXD formula on anthraquinone concentration in the decoction were also investigated. When S. baicalensis was included in the formulation of DHXD, anthraquinone concentrations in the decoction increased significantly although berberine concentration was found to diminish. Results of this study showed that inclusion of S. baicalensis in the DHXD formula can change the concentrations of marker chemicals in DHXD.