OBJECTIVETo establish a comprehensive quality control method for total flavonoid of Fructus Aurantii.

METHODSRP-HPLC and spectrophotometry were applied for the quantitative and fingerprint analysis of total flavonoid of Fructus Aurantii. The contents of naringin and neohesperidin were determined on an Agilent SB-C₁₈column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.02 % H₃PO₄ and CH₃CN (80:20). The flow rate was 1 ml/min with DAD detected at 280 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 35°C. The fingerprints were developed on an Agilent SB-C₁₈ column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.5 % HAc and CH₃OH with a linear gradient elution. The ratio of 0.5 % HAc and CH₃OH was: 0 min, 80:20; 10 min, 60:40; 35 min, 30:70; 50 min, 0:100. The flow rate was 1 ml/min with DAD detected at 320 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 30 degree. Meanwhile, the contents of total flavonoid were determined at 283 nm.

RESULTThe contents range of naringin, neohesperidin and total flavonoid were 38.3 %- 47.2%, 21.0 %- 28.5% and 79.9%-88.6 %, respectively. The fingerprints of the effective fractions showed 12 common peaks and the fingerprint similarity was all above 98.0 % compared with the standard chromatogram.

CONCLUSIONThe method reported in this paper can be used effectively for the quality control of total flavonoid of Fructus Aurantii.