OBJECTIVE  To prepare 18 batches of standard decoction of Qingxin Jieyu Formula and study its substance benchmarks.

  METHODS  The contents and transfer rates of salvianolic acid B, ferulic acid, total alkaloids, astragaloside Ⅳ, as well as extraction rate, oil content and fingerprint similarity of standard decoction were used as evaluation indexes to establish the allowable range of characterization parameters of standard decoction of Qingxin Jieyu Formula. The fingerprint similarity evaluation system software (2012 version) was used for fingerprint analysis, and cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the fingerprint common peak.

  RESULTS  A total of 18 common peaks were determined, with the common peak similarity greater than 0.90. It was found that 18 batches of samples were grouped into two groups, and combined with the results of similarity, this difference may be related to the slices compatibility of different producing areas. According to the OPLS-DA VIP value combined with the load diagram, three peaks affecting the quality of the batch samples were selected, which were salvianolic acid B (peak 14), copithine hydrochloride (peak 10) and ferulic acid (peak 7) in turn. In order to reduce the quality difference between batches of samples and ensure the consistency of preparation quality, the medicinal materials from the same production area should be selected as far as possible in the subsequent preparation production.

  CONCLUSION  The preparation method of standard decoction of Qingxin Jieyu Formula is stable, the multi-index content determination method is simple and fast, the fingerprint method is stable and the similarity is high, which can provide reference for the quality control of the subsequent preparation of Qingxin Jieyu Formula.