Objective: To prepare four saponin extracts from Astragali Radix

and investigated feasibility of saponin extracts instead of astragaloside IV as control components in determination of total saponins in Astragali Radix. Method: HPLC-ELSD was adopted

separation was performed on a phenomenex C18 column(4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm)

mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.3% formic acid with gradient elulion.Determination of four saponin extracts from Astragali Radix was established

and compared with external standard assay. Result: In methodological study of four saponin extracts from Astragali Radix

linear ranges of astragalosideⅠ

astragaloside Ⅱ

astragaloside Ⅲ and astragaloside Ⅳ were 50.6-810

54.3-869

56.2-899

58.3-934 mg·L-1

respectively;Average recoveries were 99.9%

100.1%

99.8%

99.8% with RSD were 0.4%

0.4%

0.7%

0.4%

respectively.Relative deviation between external standard assay and determination of four saponin extracts from Astragali Radix was less than 3.0%. Conclusion: Four saponin extracts from Astragali Radix could be applied for determining the content of total saponins from Astragali Radix

this method was simple

convenient and fulfilled method validation.