ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a comprehensive quality control method for total flavonoid of Fructus Aurantii.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RP-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.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The 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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method reported in this paper can be used effectively for the quality control of total flavonoid of Fructus Aurantii.</p>