A strategy for detecting optimal ratio of cardioprotection-dependent three compounds as quality control of guan-xin-er-hao formula.

We aimed to detect optimal ratio of cardioprotection-dependent absorbed bioactive compounds (ABCs) as quality control of guan-xin-er-hao (GXEH) formula extracted by various processings. Ferulic acid (F), tanshinol (T), hydroxysafflor yellow A (A), protocatechualdehyde (P) and paeoniflorin (E) in GXEH formula and FTA in blood from rat with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were first identified by HPLC-MS/MS, and FTAPE in GXEH formulae with various herbs, extraction times and extraction water volumes were then quantitated only by HPLC. FTAPE in various GXEH were determined. FTA were selected as GXEH's ABCs. Ratios of FTA were determined, suggesting the high (1:6.1:15.6), medium (1:1.7:15.2) and low (1:0.2:15.3) ratios. Three FTA ratios and their parent formulae ratio-dependently reduced infarct size, myocardial apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. There is the optimal ratio of F:T:A among various formulae, contributing to the best cardioprotection. This FTA ratio was developed as quality control of GXEH formula.