Xiaoyaosan is one of the famous formulas treating for liver, spleen and blood deficiency syndrome along Chinese history. Their five main components, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, and atractylenolide I are believed to partly representative of this formula. Ultra performance liquid chromatography method was newly established, UPLC BEH-C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile - 0.1% phosphate acid gradient elution system, in 0.4 mL/min and the temperature was 30 °C; Detection wavelengths were optimized separately. The five components were linear within their linear range (r ≥ 0.9991), average recovery 97.63%∼102.83%, RSD 1.88%∼4.38%. The newly established method is accurate, rapid, and convenient, with satisfied separation performance to quantify multi-components in formula and preparations of Xiaoyaosan. It will provide a reliable reference for the quality evaluation of both Xiaoyaosan formula and preparations during the process of manufacture, administration and clinical application in the future.
Keywords: UPLC; Xiaoyaosan; formula; preparations; simultaneous determination.