Simultaneous quantification of eight bioactive components of Houttuynia cordata and related Saururaceae medicinal plants by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector–electrospray mass spectrometry

An on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–diode array detector (DAD)–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS) method has been developed to quantify simultaneously eight bioactive chemical components in Houttuynia cordata Thunb and related Saururaceae medicinal plants. Simultaneous separation of these eight compounds was achieved on a C₁₈ analytical column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.2% acetic acid (v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min and being detected at 280 nm. These eight compounds were completely separated within 90 min. Good linear regression relationship (r² > 0.9978) within test ranges was shown in all calibration curves. Good repeatabilty for the quantification of these eight compounds in H. cordata was also demonstrated in this method, with intra- and inter-day variations less than 3.0%. The method established was successfully applied to quantify eight bioactive compounds in closely related species of H. cordata, which provides a new basis for quality assessment of H. cordata.