Objective: To investigate the influence of processing of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei on it's five anthraquinone components, and to develop a HPLC quantatitive method for these components in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei.
Method: Chromatographic conditions are as follow: Kromasil-C18 (4.6 mmx 150 mm, 5 microm) column, ethanol -H2O-H3PO4 (85:15:0.1) as mobile phase and the detection wavelength at 254 nm.
Result: The average recoveries are 97.9% (aleo-emodin), 97.1% (rhein), 97.6% (emodin), 97.4% (chrysophanol) and 99.1% (physcion). RSD are 1.4%, 1.1%, 0.9%, 1.1% and 2.2% correspondingly. After processing, the contents of five anthraquinone aglycones descended compared with the crude material, the descending percentage are 15.9% (aleo-emodin), 28.0% (rhein), 25.8% (emodin), 10.0% (chrysophanol) and 10.3% (physcion).
Conclusion: This method is simple, sensitive and repeatable. It' canbeased for quality control of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and it's processed products.