OBJECTIVETo develop a quantitative method for simultaneously determining four flavones in Radix Scutellariae, by using one chemical standard substance.

METHODThe relative correction factors (RCF) of four flavones were determined by HPLC-DAD. Within the linear ranges, the values of RCF at 274 nm of wogonoside, baicalein, and wogonin to baicalin, were 0.7467, 0.5638, 0.4351, respectively. And the contents of baicalin in 27 samples of Scutellaria baicalensis were authentically determined by the external standard method, and the contents of the three other flavones were calculated according to their RCF. The contents of these four flavones in the all samples were determined with the external standard method.

RESULTThe RCF had a good reproducibility (RSD 0.66%-2.83%). No significant differences between the quantitative results by the above two methods were observed.

CONCLUSIONIt is a fast, convenient, and accurate method to determine multi-components especially when some authentic standard substances were unavailable. It can be used as a method to control the quality of Radix Scutellariae.