Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate the stability of E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester in sodium phosphate buffers at different pH values and temperatures and a high performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection was used for quantification of the analyte. Separations were performed on a HiQsil C₁₈W column (150 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm). Isocratic chromatography was carried out using a mobile phase of methanol-water (48:52, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The detection wavelength was set at 310 nm. E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester was stable in acidic and neutral buffers, but decomposed to form p-coumaric acid under very basic conditions. The degradation process was pH- and temperature-dependent. In addition, irradiation was identified to be another factor leading to the decomposition of E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester in aqueous solutions. The results obtained in this paper can be used practically to improve the quality of Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao Injection by extending the effective storage time, and also provide stability information for the development of new drug formulations containing E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester.

Key words: E-6-O-p-coumaroyl scandoside methyl ester, stability study, high performance liquid chromatography, UV detection, buffered aqueous solution