Simultaneous Analysis of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza by Double-Development HPTLC and Scanning Densitometry.

A double-development TLC method has been developed for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydrophilic and lipophilic constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen). The optimized mobile phases dichloromethane-ethyl acetate-formic acid 22:24:10 (v/v) and petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-cyclohexane 25:11:14 (v/v) were used for the double development on nano-silica gel 60F₂₅₄ plates. Their characteristic TLC profiles were observed under UV light at 254 and 365 nm and the bands were then revealed by reaction with 5% H₂SO₄ in EtOH. Quantification of twelve compounds was achieved by densitometry at 260 or 290 nm, with reference at 400 nm. Linearity was quite good (R² > 0.99) within the ranges tested. This method could be used for quality control of Danshen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]