Rhubarb Medicinal Quality Standard

Rhubarb is one of the traditional Chinese medicine in China,39 species and 2 variety have found in China. The species recorded in Pharmacopoeia of P.R.China (2010 edition) are Rheum palmatum L., R. tanguticum Maxim.and R. officinale Baill., and the medical parts are radix and rhizome.Concerning the quality standard of rhubarb, the content of five anthraquinone compounds is the only content mensuration evaluating indicator. In Pharmacopoeia of P.R.China (2010 edition), it's prescribed that the content of total anthraquinones can't be lower than 1.5% in rhubarb. As to the contents of sennoside compounds which are the mainly active constituents with the purgative action in rhubarb not be provided the content mensuration. Because of sennoside compounds are mainly active constituents with the purgative action in rhubarb, such compounds are regard as characteristic ingredients of content determination in rhubarb by Japan and South Korea. This study developed a more scientific and objective quality evaluation criteria of rhubarb, through the research on determination of active ingredients.In this dissertation, the following results were achieved.1. A HPLC method was established to determine the content of sennoside A and sennoside B in Rhubarb. According to the method validation, this new method has a good resolution and accuracy, can be used in the quality control of Rhubarb.2. The contents of sennoside A and sennoside B were determined. Through statistical analysis of the results, a more reasonable evaluation of the contents was provided.3. Completed the drafting and the notes of drafting of the quality standard of Rhubarb.