OBJECTIVETo establish the method of specific chromatogram analysis of ether extract of Dendrobium officinale for identification of D. officinale.

METHODChromatographic separation was carried out at 30 degrees C on an Ultimate C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with methanol and water containing 0.2% phosphoric acid in a gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. The similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of NPC (National Pharmacopoeia Committee) was adopted to specific chromatogram construction.

RESULTThe HPLC specific chromatogram of D. officinale was constructed with 6 common specific chromatographic peaks including naringenin as a reference peak.

CONCLUSIONThe method shows good precision and repeatability of relative retention time. It can be used to identify D. officinale.