Validated method for the quantification of atractylenolide III in different processed products of rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae.

INTRODUCTION Rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae (RAM) contains several sesquiterpene compounds including atractylenolide III (AO-III). This bioactive compound may be used as a chemical marker for the quality control of different processed RAM products. OBJECTIVE To develop and validate an RP-HPLC method for the quantitative determination of AO-III in RAM and in a variety of processed RAM products. METHODOLOGY HPLC was carried out using a Kromssil C(18) RP-column eluted with methanol-water (70:30) at a flow rate of 1.0  mL/min and with UV detection at 220  nm. Full validation was performed using standard methods. RESULTS The linear range of AO-III was 5-50  µg/mL; the regression equation was y = 10210x + 11194 (r = 0.9994) and the average recovery was 101.08% (RSD = 0.98%). The detection and quantification limits for AO-III were determined to be 0.005 and 0.018  µg/mL at signal-to-noise ratios of approximately 3:1 and 10:1, respectively. CONCLUSION The described HPLC method is appropriate for quality assurance and differentiation of AO-III in RAM and different processed products.