Determination of matrine,sophoridine and oxymatrine in Kushen Ointment by HPLC

AIM To develop an HPLC method for determining matrine,sophoridine and oxymatrine in Kushen Ointment(total alkaloid of Sophorae flarescentis Radix,etc.).METHODS The analysis was carried out with an Inertsil ODS-3(5 μm,0.46 cm×15 cm) column and the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid(18∶ 82,v/v)(adjusting pH to 8.0 with triethylamine).The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min.The detection wavelength was set at 220 nm.RESULTS The calibration curve was linear within the ranges of 0.078 08-7.808 μg,0.099 6-9.96 μg,0.020 04-2.004 μg for matrine,sophoridine and oxymatrine,respectively.The average recoveries were 97.7%,99.9% and 97.8% for matrine,sophoridine and oxymatrine,respectively.CONCLUSION The method is reproducible,sensitive and accurate for determination of matrine,sophoridine and oxymatrine in Kushen Ointment.