Abstract: Objective: To establish a HPLC method for the determination of schisandrin, schisandrol B, deoxyschizandrin and schisandrin B in Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd.et Wils. and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. from 17 growth areas. Methods: The chromatographic separation was carried out on Diamonsil C18 (250 mm× 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using methanol-water (73:27, V/V) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 250 nm. Results: A good linear relationship was achieved with a correlation coefficient in the range of 0.01 to 0.08 mg/mL (R2 = 0.9990) and a RSD of 0.86%, 0.37%, 0.19% and 0.15%, respectively. Conclusion: The developed HPLC method reveals a good separation efficiency, reproducibility and accuracy. This method can be used for determining schisandrin, schisandrol B, deoxyschizandrin and schisandrin B in herbs. Higher amounts  of schisandrin, schisandrol B and schisandrin B are present in Schisandra chinensis than in Schisandra sphenanthera.

Key words: Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd.et Wils., Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), lignin