[Separation and quantitative determination of seven aqueous depsides in Salvia miltiorrhiza by HPTLC scanning].

A new analytical method for the separation and determination of seven aqueous depsides in salvia miltiorrhiza by HPTLC has been developed. The seven depsides are protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, methyl rosmarinate, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid A, B and C. Using chloroform-ethyl acetate-benzene-formic acid(2.4:2:1:0.6) as developing solvent A, protocatechualdehyde was separated; using chloroform-ethyl acetate-benzene-formic acid-methanol (1.5:2:1:1:0.1) as developing solvent B, the other six constituents were well separated. The aqueous depsides were detected at the wave lengths of lambda S = 300 nm and lambda R = 240. This method is simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate. The contents of seven depsides in several Salvia species were determined.