[Quality evaluation of Flos Carthami].
OBJECTIVE
To develop methods for qualitative and quantitative analyses of Flos Cartnami from three aspects, pigments, flavonoids and adenosine.


METHODS
A method using HPLC coupled with electrochemical detector was developed to determine the content of hydroxysafflor yellow A and fingerprint of Flos Carthami. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) by gradient elution with phosphate buffer and acetonitrile at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), the column temperature was 35 degrees C, the reference electrode was ISAAC (in-situ silver/silver chloride), the working electrode was glassy carbon, the counter electrode was Pt, and the applied potential was + 800 mV. Concentration of adenosine was determined by HPLC-UV on an Diamonsil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with water-acetonitrile (95:5) as mobile phase, the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), the column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. The content of cartharmin was detected using a spectrophotometric method.


RESULTS
Twenty-one common chromatographic peaks were selected as characteristic peaks in the chromatogram of sample solution of Flos Cartnami. Seven peaks were identified as hydroxysafflor yellow A, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-glucoside, rutin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, kaempferol. The contents of hydroxysafflor yellow A and adenosine were from 0.35% to 3.58% and from 0.03% per hundred to 0.49% per hundred, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The methods can be used to evaluate the quality of Flos Carthami.
Wang
Ruo-jing
RJ
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Yang
Bin
B
Fu
Mei-hong
MH
D000241:Adenosine / Q000737:chemistry; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011809:Quinones / Q000737:chemistry
D005419:Flavonoids; D011809:Quinones; C085278:hydroxysafflor yellow A; D002599:Chalcone; D000241:Adenosine