Abstract

The correlation analysis between high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting of flavonoids of Polygonatum odorantum and antioxidant activity was performed to study the relationship between the HPLC fingerprint of flavonoids and their antioxidant activity, and select the species of Polygonatum with the greatest correlation. Five samples from Shandong Taiwan, Liaoning, Hunan, Shandong Qingdao, and Anhui exhibited excellent antioxidant capacity in vitro. Similarity measures of different P. odorantum flavonoids fingerprints ranged between 0.6 ~ 0.9. Among 14 characteristic chromatographic peaks in HPLC fingerprints of P. odorantum flavonoids, peaks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14 were positively relevant to DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Peaks 3, 4, 5, 8 and 11 were important for radical-scavenging activities. Peaks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 were positively relevant to the reducing power ability. The corresponding ingredients of peaks 2, 4, 7 and 11 would be suitable antioxidants in both trials.

Key words: Polygonatum odorantum flavonoids, HPLC fingerprint, antioxidant activity, correlation analysis.