[Determination of leonurine in leonurus granule and extractum by UPLC].

To develop an UPLC method for the determination of leonurine in traditional Chinese medicines. An Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm) with 1.7 microm particle size was used. The mobile phase was composed of methanol and ammonium formate buffer (pH 4.0) in gradient mode. The flow rate was 0.3 mL x min(-1) and the chromatograpic run time was 18 min for one sample. The results showed that there was significant difference in the content of leonurine in the leonurus products from different pharmaceutical companies. The leonurine content in those products is in the range of 45.6-193 microg x g(-1). The method is simple, reproducible and reliable. It can be used to control the quality of related drugs.