Comparative study on the determination of ethyl p-methoxycinnamate in Kaempferia galanga rhizome by HPTLCS and HPLC

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) is the main active ingredient in Kaempferia galanga rhizome (KGR). At present, the correlation study of the component by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been reported. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic scanning (HPTLCS) method has been widely used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of many chemical components, but has not yet been applied to EPMC quantitative analysis. In this experiment, the method of HPTLCS was used to determine ethyl p-methoxycinnamate in Kaempferia galanga rhizome compared and verified with HPLC. The results were analyzed with the analytical Eco-Scale (AES) to reflect the concept of green analytical chemistry (GAC). The results showed that the samples on the thin layer were clear, with no impurity interference, and had good qualitative effect, indicating that the HPTLCS method was suitable for the qualitative analysis of EPMC in multiple batches of KGR. The contents of EPMC in 7 batches of KGR measured by the HPTLCS method were slightly lower than those measured by HPLC method, but the established HPTLCS method and HPLC method both were in compliance with Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015) requirements. And the linear relationship (HPTLCS: r = 0.9958, HPLC: r = 0.9999), precision, stability, repeatability and recovery (RSD < 2.5%) were good, these bases explained that HPTLCS can be used as a means of qualitative and quantitative determination of the component. The data of AES stated HPTLCS was excellent (PPs = 83), and HPLC was acceptable (PPs = 75), indicating that HPTLCS was more environmentally friendly. Therefore, the appropriate method should be selected according to the specific experimental conditions.