Abstract:To develop a sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method to determine four flavonoids in Apocynum venetum gathered in different seasons,so as to determine the optimal gathering season. The sample was extracted with ultrasonic method and then separated on Zorbax Eclipse C18(150 mm ×4.6 mm,5 μm) with a mixture of methanol-0.4%H3PO4(volume ratio 50∶50) as mobile phase at flow rate of 1 mL/min. The UV detective wavelength was 360 nm,and the column temperature was set at 50 ℃. With this method,four flavonoids were separated efficiently. The liner relation,stability and the recovery rate were all good. The four flavonoids were determined with this method. The flavonoids content of Apocynum venetum leaves gathered in August was the highest. The optimal gathering season of Apocynum venetum was August. The result indicated that the proposed method was simple,rapid,accurate,sensitive,and low cost,thus it provides an effective scientific means for assaying flavonoids in Apocynum venetum.
