Objective: To establish a new method for quality evaluation and validate its feasibilities by simultaneous quantitative assay of five alkaloids in Sophora flavescens.
Method: The new quality evaluation method, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS), was established and validated with S. flavescens. Five main alkaloids, oxymatrine, sophocarpine, matrine, oxysophocarpine and sophoridine, were selected as analytes to evaluate the quality of rhizome of S. flavescens, and the relative correction factor has good repeatibility. Their contents in 21 batches of samples, collected from different areas, were determined by both external standard method and QAMS. The method was evaluated by comparison of the quantitative results between external standard method and QAMS.
Result: No significant differences were found in the quantitative results of five alkaloids in 21 batches of S. flavescens determined by external standard method and QAMS.
Conclusion: It is feasible and suitable to evaluate the quality of rhizome of S. flavescens by QAMS.