OBJECTIVETo determine the contents of morusin in Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori) of different commercial grades and species and obtained from different regions.

METHODContents of morusin were determined by HPLC on an Alltima C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-water (58:42) as mobile phase. UV detection was conducted at 270 nm.

RESULTThe amounts of morusin were found to vary among samples of Cortex Mori bearing a yellow-brown outer layer and those without the yellow-brown cork layer. The morusin contents were also related to the thickness of Cortex Mori.

CONCLUSIONThe method was simple, reproducible and reliable. It can be applied to the quality assessment of Cortex Mori.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Ecosystem ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet