Analysis of Phenolic acids in Honeysuckle

Significance of the Topic

Chinese honeysuckle is valued for its bioactive phenolic acids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Reliable quantification of chlorogenic acid and related compounds supports quality control and efficacy assessment in herbal preparations.

Objectives and Study Overview

The study aimed to develop and validate a reversed-phase liquid chromatography method to separate and quantify major phenolic acids in honeysuckle powder. Key targets included chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample preparation employed ultrasonic-assisted extraction in 75% methanol followed by weight adjustment and filtration.

• Extraction: 0.5 g sample, 50 mL 75% methanol, ultrasonic at 500 W, 40 kHz, 30 min
• Chromatography: Shimadzu LC-20AD system, Shim-pack VP-ODS column (5 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm)
• Mobile phase: A) 0.1% phosphoric acid; B) acetonitrile; gradient 14%→19% (8–14 min)→31% (34 min)→90% (35–40 min)→14% (41–50 min)
• Flow rate: 0.7 mL/min; column temperature: 25 °C; injection volume: 2 μL; detection: UV at 327 nm

Main Results and Discussion

The optimized gradient achieved baseline separation of the three phenolic acids. Chromatograms displayed sharp peaks with distinct retention times, demonstrating the method’s specificity and reproducibility. Quantitation was based on calibration with standard mixtures at known concentrations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid and reliable analysis for quality control in herbal medicine production
• High sensitivity and selectivity for key bioactive compounds
• Applicable to routine testing and regulatory compliance

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging approaches may integrate mass spectrometry detection to expand compound profiling. Automation and high-throughput platforms could further enhance efficiency. The method can be adapted for other botanicals and complex matrices.

Conclusion

A robust reversed-phase LC method was established for quantifying major phenolic acids in honeysuckle. The protocol offers reliable performance for analytical and quality control purposes in herbal research.

References

No external references were cited in the original document.