Abstract: This study aimed to develop a rapid method for the quantification of nine polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) in the peels of fourteen citrus varieties. The citrus peel samples were compared for their PMFs contents in order to provide useful data for discovering PMFs-rich citrus peels with potent bioactivity for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Citrus peel extracts were prepared by ultrasonic-assisted extraction using ethanol as a solvent. A rapid and accurate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to measure the content of PMFs in citrus peels. The method showed good linearity repeatability and precision. The types and quantities of PMFs greatly varied with citrus variety. Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae from Citrus reticulata Kinokuni and the dried peels of Chongqing tangerine, Guangxi Emperor tangerine and Shatangju mandarin contained high contents of PMFs (more than 7 495.19 μg/g). Notably, total PMFs of Shatangju mandarin peel was as high as 10 412.18 μg/g. The HPLC method is simple and reliable and can provide a useful approach for study of PMFs in citrus peels.

Key words: citrus peels, polymethoxyflavones, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, high performance liquid chromatography