Objective: To establish the quantification method for total saponins and main saponin compounds in Radix Pulsatillae extracts. Method: Using UV spectrophotometry

according to pulsatilla saponin B3 for reference substance

a mixture of 5% vanillin-glacial acetic acid and perchloric acid solution as the chromogenic agent

at 530 nm for determining the content of total saponins in radix Pulsatillae extracts. HPLC-ELSD was employed for the determination of main saponin compounds in radix Pulsatillae extracts. Result: The linear ranges were 10.1-70.4 μg for total saponins

1.31-17.52 μg for pulsatilla saponins B3

0.32-4.25 μg for pulsatilla saponins BD

1.63-21.75 μg for pulsatilla saponins B7

0.75-9.98 μg for pulsatilla saponins B9

0.30-4.06 μg for pulsatilla saponins B10

1.20-15.94 μg for pulsatilla saponins B11

The average recoveries of the six saponins were between 98.85%and 101.42%

and RSD values were less than 1.2%. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the adopts method is simple and the maneuverability is strong

reproducible for the quality control of saponin compounds in Radix Pulsatillae extracts.