Quality Evaluation of Decoction Pieces of Gardeniae Fructus in Market

OBJECTIVE To investigate the quality of decoction pieces of Gardeniae Fructus in market. METHODS Collected 50 batches of decoction pieces of Gardeniae Fructus from different manufacturers, developed an HPLC wavelength switching method to determine the content of geniposide, crocin I and crocin II; according to the method of Chinese Pharmacopoeia to determine the water content, total ash; detected the content of cadmium of 18 batches of Gardeniae Fructus by atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS The total ash and the content of geniposide of the 50 batches of Gardeniae Fructus were met the standard, but the water content of 2 batches did not meet the standard; the content of crocin I, crocin II were 0.31%-1.35%, 0.04%-0.63%, respectively; 3 batches content of cadmium in 18 batches were exceeding the limitation of 0.3 ppm. CONCLUSION Most of the decoction pieces of Gardeniae Fructus in market are consistent with Chinese Pharmacopoeia standard, the quality situation is optimistic. As the components of Gradenia Fructus are complicated and diversiform, take only the content of geniposide as quality control index is insufficient, which can not reflect the good and bad of this drug, it is advised to revise and improve the standard.