Comparison of the content of flavonoids, total phenols, and carotenoids and antioxidant activity in guang Citri reticulatae pericarpium during the aging time

Abstract

Background: Guang Citri reticulatae Pericarpium (GCRP) is a traditional Chinese medicine, widely used in respiratory and digestive diseases. GCRP must be aged by stored for several years before it can be used as medicine. In the aging process, content of composition, antioxidant activity, and color of GCRP have changed. Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the content of flavonoids, total phenols, and carotenoids and antioxidant activity in GCRP during the aging time and analyze the correlations of the data. Materials and Methods: Forty batches of GCRP in different aging years were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of flavonoids, total phenols, and carotenoids by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–mass spectrometry, HPLC–diode array detector, and ultraviolet methods. 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine methods were used to compare the antioxidant activity of GCRP. Colorimetric analysis method was used to determine the external color of GCRP objectively and quantitatively. SPSS software was used to analyze the correlation of all data. Results: With the increase of aging year, the content of three flavonoids and total phenols increased and the content of carotenoids decreased. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of ether extract increased significantly with aging year and methanol extract decreased. The correlation results showed that the content of carotenoids was more closely related to chromaticity values and antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The result provides more objective and detailed information to analyze the quality of GCRP during the aging time.