Quantitative analysis of triterpenoids in different parts of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem using HPLC–ELSD and their inhibition of human umbilical vein endothelial cell ox-LDL-induced apoptosis

A simple and accurate method coupling high-performance liquid chromatography–evaporative light scattering detector was developed to simultaneously quantify the five triterpenoids in different parts of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem (A. elata). for the first time. Samples were extracted using 70% methanol by ultrasonication. Separation of the analytes was performed on a Welchrom C₁₈ column with acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase. All calibration curves had good linearity over relatively wide range of concentrations. This method showed good average recovery and precision, also high sensitivity with limits of detection and quantification. This method was successfully applied to quantify triterpenoid saponins in 14 samples collected from different areas of China. This study demonstrate that there is significant variation in the amounts of the five triterpenoids of interest in A. elata. Furthermore, 70% methanol extracts of roots had the strongest effect on ox-low-density lipoprotein-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis.