Analytical Method Validation of Gamijakyakgamchobuja-Tang (KCHO-1, Mecasin) Preparation

Previous studies have confirmed that KCHO-1 (Mecasin) was developed to alleviate the symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). And its toxicity test has also been carried out. The aim of this study is confirming the validation and stability of concentration analysis method of the Mecasin preparations using HPLC. As a conclusion, we found that the preparations at the concentrations of 50mg/ml and 200mg/ml in sterilized distilled water were homogeneous and it was stable for 4 hours at room temperature and 7 days refrigerated condition (2~8°C). And this method for analyzing the concentration of the Mecasin preparations has been found to be suitable. This study is helpful to promote development of reliable manufacturing medicine and good researches through definitive quality control of Mecasin as complex herbal medicine, aiming to provide help for the treatment of ALS.


Introduction
Gamijakyakgamchobuja-tang (KCHO-1, Mecasin) is a new prescription reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [1]. The constituents of Mecasin are Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Radix Polygalae, Curcuma Root, Fructus Chaenomelis, and Rhizoma Atractylodis Japonicae (Table 1) [2]. This medicine has been used mainly for alleviating pain, muscle spasms, and cold syndrome due to blood deficiency for centuries in traditional oriental medicine [3]. In recent years of medical research, we have found that it has a role in reducing pain, GABA neuron regeneration and NO reduction in neuropathic pain rats [1], antiseizure, analgesic, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, and antiulcer effects, suppressing the progress of osteoarthritis, neuroprotective, and antineuroinflammatory effects and safety in both in vitro and in vivo trials [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. More concretely, in the first mechanism of action of Mecasin, KCHO-1 increases cellular resistance to glutamate or H2O2induced oxidative injury in HT22 cells, presumably through ERK and p38 pathways and Nrf2/ARE-dependent HO-1 expression ( Figure 1) [2]. And in the second mechanism of action of Mecasin, KCHO-1 upregulated HO-1 expression by promoting the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in mouse BV2 microglia, and it suppressed the production of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines through suppression of I B-phosphorylation and degradation and NF-B nuclear translocation in LPS-stimulated microglia ( Figure 2) [2,7].
In addition, several studies have been conducted on the compositions of KCHO-1 and its toxicity. Now it is time to advance the study of KCHO-1, and the ultimate goal is to apply it to the clinic to help the treatment of ALS. And for quality control of Mecasin, confirming the validation and stability of concentration analysis method of the Mecasin preparations has become a major issue. We could promote development of reliable manufacturing medicine and good researches through definitive quality control of Mecasin as 2 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Expression of pro-inflammatory proteins  ( ) Reagents and Equipment. The reagents were acetonitrile, purified water, methanol, ethanol (Burdick and Jackson, USA). Balance (KG-EQM-042) and micropipette (KG-EQM-359) were used as equipment. Shimadzu HPLC (KG-EQM-352(8)) was used as the analytical instrument and the analysis conditions were as follows ( Table 2).

(i) Mobile Phase
A line: water B line: acetonitrile The mobile phase was used within 7 days.
(iii) Standard Solution (a) Curcumin. 20mg of the standard substance was weighed and placed in a 10mL volumetric flask, and diluted solvent was added to the line. This was used as a stock solution. The stock solution was diluted to 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 g/mL with dilution solvent and used as a standard solution.
(b) Glycyrrhizic Acid. 20mg of the standard substance was weighed and placed in a 10mL volumetric flask, and diluted solvent was added to the line. This was used as a stock solution. The stock solution was diluted to 5, 25, 50, 250, and 500 g/mL with dilution solvent and used as a standard solution.
(c) Salvianolic Acid B. 20mg of the standard substance was weighed and placed in a 10mL volumetric flask, and diluted solvent was added to the line. This was used as a stock solution. The stock solution was diluted to 5, 25, 50, 250, and 500 g/mL with dilution solvent and used as a standard solution.
( ) QC Sample (a) Curcumin. A 50 g/mL concentration of the standard solution was used.
(b) Glycyrrhizic Acid. A 250 g/mL concentration of the standard solution was used.
(c) Salvianolic Acid B. A 250 g/mL concentration of the standard solution was used.

( ) Preparation of Test Article and Treatment of Preparation.
1500 mg and 6000 mg of the test article were weighed and added with a vehicle (sterilized distilled water), shaken, and adjusted to 30mL. Concentrations of preparations for homogeneity and stability tests were 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL. 1mL of the preparation at a concentration of 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL was diluted with a diluting solvent and injected in 20 mL each into HPLC within the calibration curve range.
( ) Quantitation. The quantitative value of the preparation was calculated by the following equation after substituting the peak area of the measured value into the calibration curve (y = ax + b).
(i) The quantitative value of the preparation: the measured value × dilution factor The coefficient of variation, accuracy, and rate of variation were calculated as follows.

( ) Preparation Analysis
(i) System Suitability. The coefficient of variation was calculated by repeatedly measuring QC samples 5 times. The criterion was that the coefficient of variation of peak area and retention time was less than 3%.
(ii) Linearity. The concentration of the standard solution was measured once each time, and the correlation coefficient between the concentration of the standard solution and the peak area was calculated. The criterion was that the correlation coefficient r was 0.9950 or more. The results used for linearity validation were used as calibration curves for stability analysis.
(iii) Specificity. Blank samples were measured and the presence or absence of interference peaks was confirmed at the same position as the retention time of the test substance. The criterion is that the peaks of the test substance exhibit sufficient shape for quantification and that there is no interference peak at the same retention time as the test substance.
(iv) Intraday. The preparation was sampled three times in the middle layer and measured once per sample. The criterion was that the variation coefficient of the quantitative value was 15% or less and the accuracy was 75 to 125%.
(v) Stability in Autosampler. In order to confirm the stable time in the autosampler, the samples used in the intraday were left in the autosampler for a certain time and then remeasured. The criterion was that the variation coefficient of the quantitative value was 15% or less and the variation rate with respect to the initial concentration was within ±25%.
(vi) Homogeneity. The preparation was sampled each three times in the upper, middle, and lower layers and measured once per sample. The results of the middle layer were used as a result of intraday. The criterion was that the variation coefficient of the quantitative value was 15% or less and the accuracy was 75 to 125%.

(vii) Stability
(a) Room Temperature for Hours. The preparation for each dose was left at room temperature for 4 hours, sampled three times in the middle layer, and measured once per sample; the stability was confirmed. The criterion was that the variation coefficient of the quantitative value was 15% or less and the variation rate with respect to the initial concentration was within ±25%.
(b) Refrigeration for Days. The preparation for each dose was left at refrigerated condition (2∼8 ∘ C) for 7 days, sampled three times in the middle layer, and measured once per sample; the stability was confirmed. The criterion was that the variation coefficient of the quantitative value was 15% or less and the variation rate with respect to the initial concentration was within ±25%.

( ) QC (Quality Control).
The qc samples were measured three times at the end of the analysis. The criterion was that the coefficient of variation of the analysis result was less than 10% and the accuracy was 80∼120%.

. . Analytical Method Validation
( ) System Suitability. The coefficient of variation of the peak area and retention time measured five times repeatedly at a concentration of 50 g/ mL of the QC sample of the Curcumin was 0.20% and 0.03%. The coefficient of variation of the peak area and retention time measured five times repeatedly at a concentration of 250 g/ mL of the QC sample of the Glycyrrhizic Acid was 0.32% and 0.04%.
The coefficient of variation of the peak area and retention time measured five times repeatedly at a concentration of 250 g/ mL of the QC sample of the Salvianolic Acid B was 0.37% and 0.02%. The results are shown in Table 3.
( ) Linearity. The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve measured at the concentration range of 1 to 100 g /mL of the standard solution of the Curcumin was 1.0000 on day 0 and 0.9999 on day 7.
The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve measured at the concentration range of 5 to 500 g /mL of the standard solution of the Glycyrrhizic Acid was 1.0000 on day 0 and 1.0000 on day 7.
The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve measured at the concentration range of 5 to 500 g /mL of the standard solution of the Salvianolic Acid B was 0.9998 on day 0 and 1.0000 on day 7. The results are shown in Tables 4  and 5.
( ) Specificity. The preparation exhibited sufficient shape for analysis and no component that affected the peak of the test substance during the analysis was detected. The results are shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 5    The coefficient of variation of the test substance was 2.07% and 0.64% and the accuracy was 78.64% and 79.02% at a concentration of Glycyrrhizic Acid of 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation by each dose.
The coefficient of variation of the test substance was 0.86% and 1.30% and the accuracy was 95.61% and 94.70% at a concentration of Salvianolic Acid B of 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation by each dose. The results are shown in Table 6.
( ) Stability in Autosampler. As a result of confirming the stability of the Curcumin concentration in the autosampler   at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL for each dose, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration were 1.15% and 0.85%, and the coefficient of variation was 0.59% and 0.88%. As a result of confirming the stability of the Glycyrrhizic Acid concentration in the autosampler at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL for each dose, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration were 0.99% and 1.85%, and the coefficient of variation was 0.42% and 0.95%.
As a result of confirming the stability of the Salvianolic Acid B concentration in the autosampler at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL for each dose, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration were 1.31% and 0.22%, and the coefficient of variation was 1.08% and 0.45%. The results are shown in Table 7.
( ) Homogeneity. The homogeneity of the upper, middle, and lower layers at the concentrations of Curcumin at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparations was confirmed. The coefficient of variation was 2.52% and 1.73%, and the accuracy was 117.65% and 115.91%.
The homogeneity of the upper, middle, and lower layers at the concentrations of Glycyrrhizic Acid at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparations was confirmed. The coefficient 8 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine   of variation was 3.35% and 2.08%, and the accuracy was 81.53% and 78.97%. The homogeneity of the upper, middle, and lower layers at the concentrations of Salvianolic Acid B at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparations was confirmed. The coefficient of variation was 2.39% and 1.40%, and the accuracy was 97.49% and 95.17%. The results are shown in Table 8.

( ) Stability
(i) Room Temperature for Hours. As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Curcumin at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at room temperature for 4 hours, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation was -1.04% and -0.39%, and the coefficient of variation was 1.66% and 2.78%.
As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Glycyrrhizic Acid at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at room temperature for 4 hours, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation were 1.19% and -0.76%, and the coefficient of variation was 4.36% and 1.49%.
As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Salvianolic Acid B at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at room temperature for 4 hours, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation were -0.30% and 0.52%, and the coefficient of variation was 2.69% and 1.63%. The results are shown in Table 9.
(ii) Refrigeration for Days. As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Curcumin at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at refrigerated condition (2∼ 8 ∘ C) for 7 days, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation were -18.39% and -18.53%, and the coefficient of variation was 2.80% and 3.37%.
As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Glycyrrhizic Acid at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at refrigerated condition (2∼8 ∘ C) for 7 days, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation were 13.18% and 17.02%, and the coefficient of variation was 2.48% and 2.99%.
As a result of confirming the stability of the concentration of Salvianolic Acid B at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation at refrigerated condition (2∼8 ∘ C) for 7 days, the variation rates with respect to the initial concentration immediately after preparation were 4.18% and 7.01%, and the  Table 10.
( ) QC (Quality Control). When the concentration of 50 g/mL of the QC sample of Curcumin was measured three times at the end of the analysis, the coefficient of variation was 0.41% and the accuracy was 101.78%. When the concentration of 250 g/mL of the QC sample of Glycyrrhizic Acid was measured three times at the end of the analysis, the coefficient of variation was 0.46% and the accuracy was 101.21%.
When the concentration of 250 g/mL of the QC sample of Salvianolic Acid B was measured three times at the end of the analysis, the coefficient of variation was 0.39% and the accuracy was 96.92%. The results are shown in Table 11.

Discussion
Validation was performed to quantitate the concentration of the preparation to be used in the efficiency and toxicity test. As a result of the validation analysis, the peak area and the coefficient of variation of the retention time, which were measured QC samples 5 times repeatedly, satisfied all of the criteria. The linearity measured in the concentration range of the standard solution also satisfied criteria of both the correlation coefficient and the accuracy. The peak of the preparation showed a sufficient shape for analysis, and no ingredient that affected the peak of the test article was detected in the blank sample. As a result of intraday, the coefficient of variation and accuracy of the test articles in the preparations at concentrations of 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL satisfied all the criteria. 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL of the preparation were allowed to left in autosampler for a certain time and then their stability was confirmed. As a result, the variation rate and the coefficient of variation for the initial concentration of the test article for 5 hours satisfied all the criteria. The homogeneity of the upper, middle, and lower layers in the preparations at concentrations of 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL was checked. The coefficient of variation and accuracy were all satisfied the criteria. To confirm the stability, the preparation at 50mg/mL and 200mg/mL was maintained at room temperature for 4 hours and at refrigerated condition (2∼8 ∘ C) for 7 days. The variation rate of the initial concentration immediately after preparation and the coefficient of variation were all satisfied with the criterion. In addition, the coefficient of variation and accuracy at the QC sample concentration satisfied all the criteria.

Conclusion
This method for analyzing the concentration of KCHO-1 preparations has been found to be suitable. The preparations at the concentrations of 50mg/ml and 200mg/ml in sterilized distilled water were homogeneous and it was stable for 4 hours at room temperature and 7-day refrigerated condition (2∼8 ∘ C).

Data Availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.