OBJECTIVE To optimize the extraction process of the classic prescription Qingwei San by using a multi-index comprehensive weighted scoring method combined with orthogonal experiment.
METHODS The amount, time and times of decoction were taken as the influencing factors. The indicators concluded the similarity of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) characteristic fingerprint chromatograms, the rate of extraction and the contents of isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, verbascoside, berberine hydrochloride and paeonol. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) combined with the index correlation weight method (CRITIC) was used to determine the weight of each indicator. The decoction process of Qingwei San was optimized combined with the orthogonal experiment to calculate the comprehensive score.
RESULTS Finally, the optimized decoction process of Qingwei San was determined as the following. 24 g of coarse powder of the decoction pieces was taken into the pot, and 12 times the amount of water were added into the container and soaking for 30 minutes. The decoction was heated for 60 minutes with gentle fire after boiling with high heat, and extracted for twice. The decoction was concentrated to 200 mL after filtering. Following the optimized method, the extraction rate of Qingwei San was more than 39.99%, the similarity of characteristic fingerprint chromatograms was above 0.964. The main components of ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, verbascoside, berberine hydrochloride and paeonol were 0.061%, 0.535%, 0.060%, 0.261% and 0.054%, respectively.
CONCLUSION The characteristic fingerprint chromatograms could better represent the information of the whole prescription of Qingwei San and the main representive components. The optimized decoction process reflects the comprehensive decoction quality of Qingwei San better, which is convenient for the operation in medical institutions. It will provide the basis for the study of the components in the standard decoction of Qingwei San, and an experimental reference for the development and research of granules of traditional Chinese medicine formulations in the future.