A Rapid and Accurate 1HNMR Method for the Identification and Quantification of Major Constituents in Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills

Background Qishen Yiqi dripping pills (QSYQ), composed of four herbal medicines—Salvia miltiorrhiza, Astragalus membranaceus, Panax notoginseng, and Dalbergiaodorifera—are widely used to treat ischemic cerebrovascular and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular conditions. Objective In this study, a rapid and accurate proton NMR (1HNMR) spectroscopy method was established to control the quality of QSYQ and ensure their clinical efficacy. Method Firstly, different types of metabolites were identified based on the proton signal peaks of chemical shifts, coupling constants, and related information provided through two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Secondly, a quantitative 1HNMR method was established for the simultaneous determination of major constituents in QSYQ samples. In addition, an HPLC method was performed to verify the results obtained by the quantitative proton NMR (qHNMR) method. Results In the present study, 26 metabolites were identified in the 1HNMR spectra of QSYQ. In addition, a rapid and accruate qHNMR method was established for the simultaneous determination of protocatechualdehyde, rosmarinic acid, danshensu, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and ononin in ten batches of QSYQ samples for the first time. Moreover, the proposed qHNMR method and HPLC method were compared using Bland-Altman and plots Passing-Bablok regression, indicating no significant differences and a strong correlation between the two analytical methods. Conclusions This method is an important tool for the identification and quantification of major constituents in QSYQ. Highlights Compared with traditional HPLC, the established qHNMR method has the advantages of simple sample preparation, short analysis time, and non-destructive analysis.