The Simultaneous Determination of Nine Furocoumarins in Angelica dahurica Using UPLC Combined with the QAMS Approach and Novel Health Risk Assessment Based on the Toxic Equivalency Factor

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to provide data for the type and content of linear furocoumarins (FCs) in Angelica dahurica (AD) in order to assess their cumulative risks and provide a scientific basis for the rational use and quality evaluation of the medicinal AD to improve public health. Methods: A UPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of nine FCs initially by using imperatorin (Im) as the internal standard substance, including Im, phellopterin (Ph), isoimperatorin (Is), oxypeucedanin hydrate (Oh), byakangelicin (Bn), xanthotoxin (8-MOP), bergapten (5-MOP), byakangelicol (Bl), and oxypeucedanin (Op) in two species of Angelica dahurica (AD). And, the risk assessment for the total FCs in AD was explored using the hazard index combined with the toxic equivalency factor (TEF-HI) strategy for the first time. Results: The established method revealed acceptable applicability, and there were no significant differences compared with the external standard method (ESM). The quantitative results demonstrated that the total content of FCs in Angelica dahurica (BZ) were higher than that in Angelica dahurica var. formosana (HBZ), and there was a great difference between the Bl and Op. Moreover, the risk assessment data revealed that the risk of total FCs in AD to human health was low. Conclusions: The established UPLC method that determined nine FCs in AD using a single marker could solve the problem of difficulty in obtaining a chemical reference substance with high purity and requiring a long determination time. And, the TEF-HI risk assessment approach associated with FCs in ADs could guide the rational utilization of toxic FCs in ADs in the progress of improving public health safety. In short, the whole systematic strategy provides a scientific basis for rational quality evaluation and the healthy use of related herbal medicines.