Analysis on the stability of total phenolic acids and salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza by HPLC and HPLC-MSn

Abstract

The stability of salvianolic acid B and total phenolic acids from Salvia miltiorrhiza in water solutions at different temperatures, in buffered aqueous solutions at different pHs and in biological fluids, including simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, were investigated in vitro. The results showed that the degradation of salvianolic acid B was pH- and temperature-dependent. Furthermore, structures of the degradation products of salvianolic acid B and total phenolic acids were elucidated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry and analysis of the degraded solutions revealed seventeen degradation products. The possible degradation pathway of salvianolic acid B is proposed.