Objective: To establish a method for determination of condensed tannins in Spatholobi Caulis (the stem of Suberect spatholobus) and investigate the content of condensed tannins in Spatholobi Caulis and its different parts. Method: The vanillin-sulphuric acid coloration system for the determination of condensed tannins was set up. The optimized condition of coloration was 3 mL 3% vanillin

3 mL 40% sulphuric acid

at room temperature for 20 min

and the detection wavelength was set at 500 nm. Result: The content of condensed tannins was measured as 3.99%-8.63% in five commercial crude drugs of Spatholobi Caulis. Among different parts of the crude drugs

condensed tannins was most abundant in the resin-like secretion part (8.14%-11.51%)

far higher than those in the xylem part (5.39%-7.92%) and the phloem part (3.65%-6.90%). Conclusion: The developed methods are simple

rapid

accurate

stable

and reproducible with high selectivity

and are suitable for the determination of condensed tannins in the quality control of Spatholobi Caulis.