Objective: To establish an HPLC-ELSD method to determine the content of astragaloside I

II and acetylastragaloside I in Astragalus extract. Method: The HPLC-ELSD system consisted of Welc C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water using a gradient elution.The flow rate was 1 mL ·min-1 and the column temperature was at 30 ℃.The drift tube temperature of ELSD was 80 ℃ with a carrier gas (air) pressure of 50 psi. Result: The average recoveries of astragaloside I

II and acetylastragaloside I were 101.16%

99.34% and 100.43% respectively

with RSD of 2.76%

2.28%

2.55%.The content of astragaloside I

II and acetylastragaloside I was 4.01%

1.70%

3.67% respectively. Conclusion: It was proved that the newly-established HPLC-ELSD method was simple

reliable

well-separated and precise

which could be used for quantitative analysis of saponins in Astragalus extract.