Abstract
Objective
We aim to improve the quality control of
Rhodiola rosea
,
Astragalus membranaceus
, and
Carthamus tinctorius
capsules (RAC capsule) from the aspects of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively, and the established quality control methods are suitable for their popularization and application in large-scale production.
Methods
A TLC method was established for the identification of
R. rosea
,
A. membranaceus
, and
C. tinctorius
in RAC capsules. A HPLC method with gradient elution and UV detection was established for simultaneous determination of salidroside, tyrosol, hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), anhydrosafflor yellow B (ASYB), and rhodiolin.
Results
The TLC chromatograms showed distinct and reproducible spots for the RAC capsule samples at positions consistent with those of the corresponding reference crude drugs, while no interfering spots were observed in the negative control samples. The HPLC method demonstrated excellent linearity (
R
2
> 0.9991) for all five analytes within their respective concentration ranges with precision, stability, and repeatability; RSDs all below 2%; and average recoveries ranging from 95.07% to 105.61%.
Conclusion
The developed TLC and HPLC methods are specific, accurate, and robust, providing a reliable quality control strategy for RAC capsules. The study supports the standardization of this herbal capsule formulation and establishes a foundation for further pharmacological research and clinical investigations.