Determination of three bile acids in artificial Calculus Bovis and its medicinal preparations by micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis

A micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis (MEKCE) method for the determination of cholic acid (CA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in artificial Calculus Bovis and its four medicinal preparations is described. The buffer solution consisted of 40 mM disodic phosphate and 40 mM sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) adjusted to pH 9.0. UV detection was set to 200 nm. Under optimum conditions, the analytes were baseline separated within 11 min. The linear calibration range was 12.1–970 μg ml−1 for CA and 18.8–950 μg ml−1 for HDCA and CDCA, respectively. It was found that overall recoveries were within the range of 98–102%, and R.S.D.s were less than 5% for the analytes. This method, due to its convenience, high accuracy and good reproducibility can be employed in quality control of artificial Calculus Bovis and its medicinal preparations.