Objective: To develop an HPLC-ELSD method for the determination of 25 (R, S) ruscogenin 1-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 2)] [beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 3)] beta-D-fucopyranoside in the tuberous roots of Liriope muscari from different habitats and different harvest time.
Method: A Shimadzu C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) with a solvent system consisting of acetonirile-water (46: 54) was used, and detected by ELSD. The temperature of drift tube was 94 degrees C and the nebulizer nitrogen flow rate was 2.5 L x min(-1).
Result: The calibration curve of 25 (R, S) ruscogenin 1-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 2)] [beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 3)] beta-D-fucopyranoside showed good linearity in the range of 1.02-12.228 microg and the average recovery was 100.80%, with RSD of 1.8%. 10 batches of L. muscari from different habitats were analyzed, and the contents were 0.25% - 0.41%. The contents of 15 batches from different harvest time were 0.13%-0.38%.
Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid and sensitive, and can be used for determination of 25 (R, S) ruscogenin 1-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 2)] [beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 3)] beta-D-fucopyranoside in L. muscari. It provides the valuable basis for quality assessment of L. muscari.