Determination of procyanidins in health foods by direct ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Objective:To establish a method for the determination of the content of procyanidins in health foods.Methods:Alcoholysis of grape procyanidins under hot acidic conditions can produce anthocyanidin,which,for its reducibility,presents characteristic red color under catalysis of iron salts.The absorption value of the sample solution was measured at 550 nm by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.Results:The calibration curve of the absorbency was linear with the concentration of procyanidins RS in the range of 10.71~160.66 μg/ml(r=0.9991).The average recovery was 95.03% and the RSD 1.67%.Conclusion:The method is accurate,sensitive,quick and cost-effective and can be used to determine procyanidins in health foods.