This study aims to establish an UPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of nine active components in phenolic acids, anthocyanins, monoterpene glucosides and flavonoids in the petals of Paeonia lactiflora flowers from different cultivars and processing methods. UPLC analysis was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 C_(18) column(2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.8 μm)for gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of 0.5% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B)at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1).The detection wavelength was determined with a switched wavelength method and the column temperature maintained at 20 ℃, with an injection volume of 2 μL.The contents of the above components in the samples with different sources and treatment methods were obtained. The principal component analysis(PCA)of P. lactiflora flowers was conducted by using SIMCA 14.0 software, and the results showed that the P. lactiflora flowers could be classified into two categories according to cultivars, including P. lactiflora 'Bozhou-shaoyao' as one category with high contents of the above components, P. lactiflora 'Baihuachuanshaoyao' and P. lactiflora 'Honghuachuanshaoyao' as the other category. Dried P. lactiflora flowers could be classified into three categories, including baking-drying, sun-drying and shade-drying, with baking-drying method as the optimal one.The P. lactiflora flowers were not greatly affected by origins, growing altitudes, growing years, or blooming stages.The results of contents determination can be used to guide the cultivar selection, harvest and processing of P. lactiflora flowers.
Keywords: Paeonia lactiflora flower; UPLC; content determination; principal component analysis.