Analytical Method Validation and Quality Control of a Seven-Herb Chinese Medicine Formulation Used for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation

There is a need for increased QC of complex herbal medicine formulations to ensure product consistency, efficacy, and safety. This study reports an HPLC with photodiode array and electrospray ionization tandem MS method for quantifying selected analytes in a seven-herb formulation. Fourteen analytes were selected for quantification based on the criteria available from the Herbal Chemical Marker Ranking System, which takes into account the bioavailability, reported bioactivity, and physiological action related to its intended use, as well as commercial availability of the standard. After optimizing the columns and chromatographic conditions, 13 of the 14 analytes were able to be determined in one run, with the remaining analyte analyzed on its own. The method was successfully applied to two different extracts of the formulation, demonstrating an application for the QC of a complex herbal mixture with respect to their chemical characteristics.