Objective: To determine the content of phellodendrine

magnoflorine

palmatine

berberine and obakunone in Phellodendron chinense var glabriusculum and P. chinense. Method: The determination was carried out with RP-HPLC on Xtimate C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm

5 μm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile (A)-0.1% phosphate (B) by gradient elution and the flow rate was 1.0 mL· min-1. The detection wavelength was set at 220 nm at 30℃. Result: The five components separated well under the above conditions. Phellodendrine

magnoflorine

palmatine

berberine and obakunone had good linear relationship within the ranges of 0.003 5-0.07 g· L-1 (r=0.999 9)

0.004-0.08 g· L-1 (r=0.999 9)

0.001-0.02 g· L-1 (r=0.999 9)

0.01-0.40 g· L-1 (r=0.999 5)

0.001-0.02 g· L-1(r=0.999 5). The average recoveries were greater than 97%

(RSD<3%

n=9). Conclusion: The method is simple

accurate and repeatable

and can be used as the quality control method of P. chinense and P. chinense var glabriusculum. There are no significant differences between P. chinense and P. chinense var glabriusculum in terms of five kinds of chemical composition content. P. chinense var glabriusculum has become mainstream products. So it is recommended that P. chinense var glabriusculum should be back into the source of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex.