Surface enhancement of WO3 nanowires toward the oxidation and electrochemical detection of honokiol in traditional Chinese medicine

WO3 nanowires (nano-WO3) were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal technique, and then used to modify the carbon paste electrode (CPE). The electrochemical behavior of honokiol on the unmodified CPE and nano-WO3 modified CPE was compared. It was found that nano-WO3 remarkably increased the oxidation signal of honokiol. The influences of supporting electrolyte, amount of nano-WO3, accumulation potential and time were studied on the oxidation peak current of honokiol. Based on the strong enhancement effect of nano-WO3, a sensitive, simple and rapid electrochemical method was developed for the detection of honokiol. The linear range was from 3 × 10−8 to 2.0 × 10−5 M, and the detection limit was as low as 1 × 10−8 M after 2-min accumulation. Finally, it was used to determine honokiol in traditional Chinese medicines, and the recovery was over the range between 96.5% and 98.8%.

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► WO3 nanowires were firstly used to improve the response signal of honokiol.
► Nano-WO3 displayed strong surface enhancement effect to the oxidation of honokiol.
► A sensitive, rapid and simple electroanalytical method was developed for honokiol.
► This new method exhibited promising application in medicine analysis.