Simultaneous Determination of Four Active Ingredients in Snow Chrysanthemum by HPLC With Determination of Its Antioxidant Activity in Vitro.

We established a reliable high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) method to simultaneously quantify and compare four indicator components in Kunlun Chrysanthemum (Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.), Jiajin Chrysanthemum (C. tinctoria Nutt.) and Chrysanthemum buds (C. tinctoria Nutt.). We also aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of them in vitro. We showed that chlorogenic acid, 3,5-Odicaffeoylquinic acid, and Quercitrin concentrations were highest in Jiajin Chrysanthemum; Luteolin was highest in Chrysanthemum buds, and the four components were at an intermediate level in Kunlun Chrysanthemum. Antioxidant activity demonstrated IC values for DPPH free radical scavenging of Kunlun Chrysanthemum, Jiajin Chrysanthemum, and Snow Chrysanthemum buds of 1.20, 1.33, and 2.41 mg/mL, respectively. The IC values for ABTS radical scavenging were 2.53, 2.43, and 3.38 mg/mL, respectively. It showed differences in the four active ingredients of Snow Chrysanthemums from different origins and harvesting times. This HPLC-UV method accurately and rapidly determined the four active ingredients in Snow Chrysanthemums simultaneously, which may provide a quality control reference for Snow Chrysanthemums. Future studies exploring specific differences in cultivation, climate, harvesting, and drying of Snow Chrysanthemums to optimize its chemical composition would assist in developing its potential as a natural plant resource in health care.