title: Fingerprint analysis of processed Rhizoma Chuanxiong by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhizoma Chuanxiong (RC) is the dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., and various types of processed Rhizoma Chuanxiong (PRC) are widely used in China. However, quality assurance and quality control of these processed medicines remain challenging. This study aims to investigate the chemical compositions of various PRC preparations by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD) method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A HPLC-DAD method with validation was developed for PRC samples. Seven batches of plant samples from two processing methods, stir-frying and steaming, were analyzed by the HPLC-DAD method. Common peaks in PRC chromatograms were chosen to calculate their relative retention time (RRT) and relative peak area (RPA), and similarity analyses of the chromatographic fingerprints were conducted by Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine software (Version 2004 A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 24-h stability test, the relative standard deviation for the RRT and RPA was less than 0.07% and 2.57%, respectively. The precision was less than 0.08% for the RRT and 2.48% for the RPA. The repeatability for the RRT and RPA was less than 0.03% and 2.64%, respectively. The similarities between the seven PRC batches were range from 0.956 to 0.990. After stir-frying or steaming, the amount of ferulic acid in PRC was much higher than that in the raw material.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fingerprint analysis of PRC by different processing methods was feasible by HPLC-DAD.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou, 510520 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Leshan Pharmaceutical Research Center, Leshan Vocational & Technical College, Leshan, 614000 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi-Na
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hu-Biao
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Fingerprint; HPLC-DAD; Ligusticum chuanxiong; Processing; Rhizoma Chuanxiong