Ionic Liquid-Based Polarity-Adjustable Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction Followed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode-Array Detection for the Determination of Liposoluble Anthraquinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. Root

Abstract

A simple, green, and efficient ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (DESs) extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector was established to detect four liposoluble anthraquinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. root. In this study, a series of polarity-adjustable DESs were prepared using n-hexanol and tetrabutylammonium chloride, and their structure, density, viscosity, pH, and thermal stability were determined. The conditions for extraction were optimized through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The kinetic and thermodynamic properties associated with the ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthraquinones were investigated. The results showed that the standard curves for anthraquinones showed excellent linearity from 0.018 to 150 µg mL⁻¹ (r > 0.9998). The detection and quantification limits varied from 5.04 to 5.60 ng mL⁻¹ and 16.81 to 18.67 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The recoveries were measured as 84.1%–95.1%, and the relative standard deviations were not exceeded 4.6%.