Determination of crocusI and crocusII in Crocus sativus L. from Various sources by RP-HPLC

OBJECTIVE To determine the content of crocusⅠ and crocusⅡ in Crocus sativus L. of domestic and foreign available Crocus sativus L. samples.METHODS CrocusⅠ and crocusⅡ were separated on Nova Pak C 18 column with a mobile phase methanol water (55∶45)and detection wavelength of 440nm.RESULTS The standard curve of crocusⅠwas linear in the concentration range of 50～300 mg·L -1 ( r = 0.9999 ),the average rate was 99.53% .The intra day and inter day RSD were 1.0% and 1.6% respectively. The standard curve of crocus Ⅱ was linear in the concentration range of 30～300 mg·L -1 ( r = 0.9999 ),the average rate was 99.43% . The intra day and inter day RSD were 1.3% and 1.8% respectively. The results showed that the imported Crocus sativus L. contained no or a small amount of crocusⅠ and crocusⅡ (crocusⅠ:0～ 102.0 mg·g -1 ; crocusⅡ: 0～ 62.3 mg·g -1 ), but the domestic amounted almost crocusⅠ 176.2 mg·g -1 and crocusⅡ 108.5 mg·g -1 .CONCLUSIONS It is a simple and accurate method for the determine of crocusⅠ and crocusⅡ in Crocus sativus L.