Objective: To establish a HPLC-DAD method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmacodynamic components in CO2 supercritical fluid extract of Chuanxiong Rhizoma. Method: HPLC-DAD was employed by Elipse XDB-C18 column(4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) with 0.3% acetic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) as mobile phase for gradient elution(0-4 min

40%-41.5%B;4-10 min

41.5%-70%B;10-15 min

70%B)

detection wavelengths of ferulic acid

senkyunolide A and ligustilide were set at 325

328

280 nm

respectively. Result: Three compounds from CO2 supercritical fluid extract of Chuanxiong Rhizoma could be separate well within 15 min

linear range of these three ingredients were 0.024-2.4

0.15-15

0.3-30 μg

average recoveries were 95.8%(RSD 0.99%)

96.85%(1.04%) and 102.2%(RSD 1.29%)

contents of these three compounds in Chuanxiong Rhizoma were 0.35%

3.13% and 7.17%

respectively. Conclusion: This established method was simple

rapid

objective and reliable

which was suitable for overall quality evaluation of CO2 supercritical fluid extract of Chuanxiong Rhizoma.