Objectives:To establish an accurate method for the determination of
harpagoside and
cinnamic acid in Radix Scrophulariae(Xuan\|shen)and
provide a proposition for the lowest content of the characteristic and active constituent (
harpagoside).Methods:Gradient HPLC method was setup.The experimental conditions were as follows:Ultrasphere 5 μm ODS column(250 mm×4 6 mm),mobile phase:acetonitrile-water(ontaining 1 0% acetic acid)(20∶80→50∶50)(20 min),flow-rate 1 mL·min -1 ,room temperature,detection wavelength 278 nm.Results:The recoveries and RSD were 97 13%,0 8% for harpagoside and 99 38%,0 51% for
cinnamic acid.28 samples of Xuan-shen(Radix Scro-phulariae)from different districts of China were quantitatively analysed and the contents of harpagoside and cinnamic acid in Xuan-shen were 0 041～0 244% and 0 012～0 068% respectively.Conclusion:The method was simple and accurate,and can be used for the quality control of Radix Scrophulariae.We propose that the content of harpagoside in the roots of Radix Scrophalariae must be no less than 0 05%.