Aim To establish the method for determination of benzofuranones derivative, griffonilide, in the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides （DC.） Makino by RP- HPLC. Methods Kromasil C18 column was used with a mobile phase of methanol-water （ containing 0. 01% trifluoroacetic acid and 0. 05 % tetrahydrofuran） （3：97）. The detecting wavelength was 260 nm. Results The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0. 004 - 0. 4 mg·mL^-1 with the correlation coefficient of 1.00 000. The average recovery was 98. 77 % with RSD 2. 77 %. Determinations of ten samples from different areas showed that the contents of griffonilide in the roots of S. adoxoides are 0. 17 -0. 49 mg·g^-1. Conclusion The method provides an accurate and sensitive way to detect griffonilide in the roots of S. adoxoides .
Semiaquilegia adoxoides ( DC. ) Makino ( Chinese name ''Tian-Kui-Zi'' ) , theonly species of genus Semiaquilegia, belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. As a perennial herbaceousplant, both the aerial parts and the roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine for differentmedications. The roots are often used to treat inflammation, snake bite, bruises and injuries,tonsillitis, mastitis, scrofula, and cancer for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, andantineoplastic activities. The aerial parts are used for the treatment of mastitis, bruises, andheart diseases, such as endomyocarditis. The medicinal usage of this plant prompted us toinvestigate its chemical constituents. As a result, nine compounds 1-9 ( see Figure 1) were isolatedfrom the roots of S. adoxoides. Among them, compounds 1-7 and 9 were isolated from the genusSemiaquilegia for the first time.
