Development of a comprehensive method based on quantitative 1H NMR for quality evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine injection: a case study of Danshen Injection

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to establish a rapid and comprehensive method for quantitative determination of complex ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine injections. Methods A 1H quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance method was developed to simultaneously quantify comprehensive chemical components in Danshen Injection. Multivariate statistical analysis technique was applied to quality evaluation of multiple batches of Danshen injection. Key findings A complete signal attribution to the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of Danshen injection was developed and performed for the first time. A total of 32 chemical components were identified from Danshen Injection. Among them, 20 were quantified simultaneously, accounting for up to 80% (w/w) of the total solids and 95% (w/w) of total organic matter, representing success compared to the previous studies. The developed method was further applied to analyze 13 batches of Danshen Injection from three manufacturers to make a realistic analysis. Conclusion It was found that the comprehensive chemical information provides an adequate characterization for quality profiles among different commercial batches of Danshen Injection. The developed method further offered a guarantee for improving the consistency and safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine injections.