Studies on the stability of salvianolic acid B as potential drug material

INTRODUCTION: Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is one of the major water-soluble compounds isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Although much research on the general stability of Sal B has been undertaken and reported, there is still a need for further study of the stability required as a potential drug material. OBJECTIVE: To study the stability of Sal B in the solid state and in normal saline (NS) solution during storage, as required in the ICH guidelines (2003) and Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005). METHODOLOGY: Sal B stability was analysed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. HPLC coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOFMS) was applied for the separation and identification of the degradation products of Sal B. RESULTS: In the solid state, Sal B packaged in aluminium foil bags was stable for 6 months under 'accelerated conditions' (40°C, 75% relative humidity, RH). However, solid Sal B degradation was observed under open exposure to stress conditions of high temperature (60°C) or high humidity (92.5 or 75% RH). In NS solution, Sal B underwent severe degradation under accelerated conditions. Through HPLC-TOFMS, nine degradation products were identified and the possible degradation pathway was deduced. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the potential drug material Sal B could be used in a solid formulation, but is not suitable for use as a liquid formulation.