Objective:To establish fingerprint of purified total alkaloids from processed Strychnos nux-vomica by HPLC-DAD

and provide a new method for quality control of S. nux-vomica. Method: The contents of brucine

strychnine and brucine N-oxide from purified total alkaloids of S. nux-vomica were determined by HPLC

and fingerprint was investigated.Analytical conditions of content determination were:Superstar C18 chromatographic column(4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm)

mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-0.01 mol·L-1 1-heptane sulfonate and 0.02 mol·L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate mixed with equal amount(adjusted pH to 2.8 with 10% phosphonic acid) (24∶76)

analysis time 20 min

column tempreture 30 ℃

detection wavelength at 264 nm;Analysis conditions of fingerprints were on Superstar C18 chromatographic column(4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm)

acetonitrile(A)- 0.2∶0.2)](B) as mobile phase with a method of gradient elution(0-21 min

10%-16%A;21-55 min

16%-40%A;55-65 min

10%A)

parsing time 65 min

column tempreture 30 ℃

UV detection wavelength at 254 nm. Result: Parameters of content determination and fingerprint analysis of total alkaloids from S. nux-vomica were in line with requirements of 2010 edition ‘Chinese Pharmacopoeia’;Content analysis of 10 batches of purified total alkaloids samples from S. nux-vomica showed that mass fraction of brucine

strychnine and brucine N-oxide were 32.3%-37.5%

15.0%-18.4% and 0.19%-0.23%

respectively; Fingerprint analysis of each batch of samples showed 10 common peaks and fingerprint similarity were all above 97.0%. Conclusion: Combination of content determination and fingerprint could well reflect the overall quality of total alkaloids from S. nux-vomica

preparation process of depurated total alkaloids from processed S. nux-vomica was stable

reproducible

reliable

so it was an effective quality analysis and evaluation method.