OBJECTIVETo establish a sensitive and specific HPLC fingerprint for the quality controlling of total flavonoids of Folium Apocyni Veneti.

METHODHPlC analysis was performed on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with the mixture of solvent A [acetonitrile-phosphoric acid (95:5)] and solvent B (0.05% phosphoric acid) in gradient mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 360 nm. The column temperature was set at 25 degrees C and the injection volume was 20 microL.

RESULTThe chromatographic fingerprint of total flavonoids was established which showed 17 characteristic peaks from 7 patches of total flavonoids products. The similarity from different patches was 0.95-1.00 analyzed by the software of 'Computer-aided Similarity Evaluation' and showed high similitude in peak numbers and the retention time. Moreover, comparison of the HPLC profiles of the total flavonoids with the corresponding Folium Apocyni Veneti leaves indicated that they were closely related to each other.

CONCLUSIONThe chromatographic fingerprint of the total flavonoids with high specificity and can be used to control its quality and assure the homogenicity for each patch of the total flavonoids.