ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to establish a method to determine the content of phenolic acids in different parts ofCoptis chinensis, in order to discuss the dynamic change of phenolic acids contents in different parts and growth years ofCoptis chinensis. Contents of total phenolic acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid were determined by ferric chloride-ferricyanatum calcium colorimetric method and HPLC, respectively. The results showed that the content of total phenolic acid inCoptis chinensis was in the range from 98.435 mg·g-1 to 184.456 mg·g-1. The content of chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid was in the range from 0.176 mg·g-1 to 2.227 mg·g-1, and 0.039 mg·g-1 to 0.512 mg·g-1, respectively. It was concluded that the content of phenolic acids in different parts ofCoptis chinensis were significantly different. The phenolic acids contents in different parts of Coptis chinensis reached the highest two years after transplantation, and then it expressed downswing with the increasing of growth period.