[Determination and fingerprint analysis of tetramethylpyrazine and ferulic acid in Ligusticum chuanxiong].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the contents of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and ferulic acid in Ligusticum chuanxiong from different producing areas and seasons.


METHODS
The contents of TMP and ferulic acid were determined by HPLC, and then analyzed by Chromatographic Fingerprints.


RESULTS
The contents of TMP and ferulic acid from different seasons were obviously different from each other. It was much higher in "laoxiong" than that in "naixiong". The similarity of fingerprints was high if the samples were collected from the same season, or the same areas, but not different seasons.


CONCLUSIONS
The contents of TMP and ferulic acid were different from different producing areas. The evident variety of Ligusticum chuanxiong's fingerprints from different collecting seasons, Laoxiong and Naixiong, was not relevant for clinical use as the same medicine.
Zhu
Chang-fu
CF
Hebei Medicine University, Shijiazhuang 050091, China.
Shi
Quan-xin
QX
Yan
Yu-ping
YP
Liu
Shi-wei
SW
Sun
Li-ya
LY
Liu
Fang-ju
FJ
Tong
Li-qi
LQ
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004340:Drug Contamination; D030004:Ligusticum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011786:Quality Control; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012621:Seasons
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; C004999:ferulic acid; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine