Identification for Flavones in Different Parts of Cirsium japonicum

Cirsium japonicum is a herbaceous perennial plant grown worldwide, which has been used as a folklore medicine due to its anti-inflammatory properties. A few studies have reported its functional properties, but analytical methods that more confidently and reproductively analyze the flavonoids are required. To establish analytical methods for the detection of flavones in Cirsium japonicum, the potential of HPLC and LC/MS were investigated. For this, the plants were separated into 4 parts; the root, stem, leaves, and flowers. The flavones in each part of the dried materials were analyzed by HPLC. Identification of flavones was performed by LC/MS. The leaves and flowers of Cirsium japonicum gave the optimum peaks, which were not detected by HPLC in the other parts of plants. Using LC/MS, three kinds of flavones were tentatively identified from the leaves, which were thought to be luteolin (5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-flavone), apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), and hispidulin (4',5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone). Two flavones were detected from the flowers, which were been assumed to be apigenin and luteolin.