Abstract: A simple and rapid HPLC coupled with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection (ELSD) method was developed for the determination of glucose and sucrose in Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.). The HPLC separation was performed on a CHROMATOREX NH2 column using acetonitrile-water (84.5:15.5, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL·min^-1. The drift tube temperature of ELSD was set at 100℃, and with the nitrogen flow-rate of 2.5 L·min^-1. The linear ranges were from 0.023 2 to 0.116 0 mg·mL^-1 for glucose, and from 0.099 6 to 0.496 5 mg·mL^-1 for sucrose. All regression coefficients were more than 0.999 0. The detection limits (Signal/Noise=3) obtained were 3.87 ng and 3.31 ng for glucose and sucrose, respectively. The method was first used for separation and determination of sugars in Traditional Chinese herb Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) without prior derivatization, and the results were satisfactory.

Key words: Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.), HPLC-ELSD, glucose, sucrose