Abstract: Objective: To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of 5 flavonoid components including hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), 6-hydroxykaempferol-3,6-di-O-glucoside (6-HK3,6-O-G), 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-rutinoside-6-O-glucoside (6-HK3-R-6-G), 6-hydroxykaempferol-3-O-glucoside (6-HK3-O-G) and safflower yellow B (SYB) in the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius L. Methods: Venusil XBP-C18 (4.6 mm× 250 mm, 5μm) was used as the stationary phase. The mobile phase was composed of methanol and water (0.2 mol/L NaClO4-0.2‰ HClO4). The flow rate of mobile phase was 0.8 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 375 nm. Results: The standard curve revealed a good linear relationship over a range of 4.8－600μg/mL for HSYA, 4.08－510μg/mL for 6-HK3,6-O-G, 4.32－540μg/mL for 6-HK3-R-6-G, 4.24－530μg/mL for 6-HK3-O-G and 4.72－590μg/mL for SYB, respectively. The detection limits for HSYA, 6-HK3,6-O-G, 6-HK3-R-6-G, 6-HK3-O-G and SYB were 0.6, 0.3, 0.4, 1.3μg/mLand 0.5μg/mL, respectively. The average recovery rates were 97.1%, 93.6%, 95.6%, 99.7% and 102.3%. Conclusion: This established determination method for flavonoids is rapid and sensitive, which has a good reproducibility and stability and can be used for qualitative evaluation of Carthamus tinctorius L. and safflower yellow.

Key words: Carthamus tinctorius L., HPLC, flavonoids components