RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To optimize the method in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for determining Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. METHOD: Tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B were selected as the index in optimization of the sample preparation method of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Orthogonal test was used to optimize the extraction process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and concentration of contents were detected by high performance liquid chromatography method. A detection of using methanol-water (85: 15) at wavelength of 270 nm was employed for tanshinone II(A) and a detection of using methanol-acetonitrile-formic acid-water (30:10:1: 59) at wavelength of 286 nm was employed for salvianolic acid B. RESULT: The optimized extraction process of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B was: extracted by 90% methanol and reflux twice (0.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, extracted by 70% methanol and reflux twice (1.5 h each time) at 75 degrees C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Optimized extraction and determination methods could be used to reflect the content of tanshinone II(A) and salvianolic acid B in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma more accurately and efficiently.