ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the active ingredients of Flos Carthami by investigating the relationship between HPLC spectrum and antioxidant activity. METHODS: The specific chromatogram of Flos Carthami processed by means of classical homothermal acceleration was assayed by HPLC. DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays were established to determine the antioxidant activity of Flos Carthami. The spectrum-effect correlation was studied by partial least squares (PLS) method. RESULTS: S4, S8, S11, S12, S13, S14, S16 and S17 were characteristic compounds in 27 matching characteristic chromatograms which had positive relationship with the ability of scavenging DPPH free radical. S4, S8, S11, S12, S14, S16, S17 and S18 were significantly positively related to the ability of scavenging ABTS free radical. S4, S8, S11, S12, S13, S14, S16, S17, S18 and S26 were significantly positively related to the ability of restoring Fe3+. Among the chromatographic peaks, S4, S8, S11, S12, S14, S16and S17 were positively related to the abilities of scavenging DPPH free radical and ABTS free radical and restoring Fe3+. S14 was determined as hydroxysafflor yellow A. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant material of Flos Carthami is based on the synergy of a variety of compounds. An as comprehensive as possible analysis of the compounds related to the pharmacological effect can reflect the quality of Flos Carthami. The study of spectrum-efficacy relationship is an effective way to determine the compounds related with pharmacological effect and control the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.