ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the contents of geniPoside in different Parts of the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis with different maturity degree Produced in fangxian,in order to find the oPtimum harVest Periods and the medicinal Parts. Methods The maturity of gardenia fruit are diVided into four leVels according to the color from totally green to yellow and red, and then the contents of geniPoside were determined by HPLC. Results The contents of geniPoside in all four leVels of maturity reached the standard by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The content of geniPoside in fruits of caesious color is uP to 13. 01%. Conclusion There is a negatiVe correlation between the maturity and the content of geniPoside in the mature fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. Caesious fruit has the best maturity degree. It is reasonable to use the whole fruit as medicine according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.