Determination of baicalin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in traditional Chinese medicinal preparations by capillary zone electrophoresis

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was developed for the simultaneous assay of three bioactive components - baicalin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid - in seven traditional Chinese medicinal preparations. The analytes were separated successfully within 3.5 min using 10 mM borate buffer (pH 8.6). Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients 0.9942-0.9996) between the peak area and concentration of the three analytes. The relative standard deviations of the migration times and the peak areas of the three constituents were 1.12-2.68% and 1.62-5.73%, respectively. Recovery of the three constituents ranged from 89 to 107%. The extraction efficiencies of different extraction solutions are also discussed. The contents of the three components in seven different Chinese medicinal preparations containing Honeysuckle flower and/or Scutellariae radix were determined by the CZE. method with satisfactory results.