Quality control procedures for Dysphania graveolens: HPLC determination of the major flavonoids

Dysphania graveolens is widely used in Mexican traditional medicine against gastrointestinal ailments. Previous investigations revealed that its flavonoids are important active principles; however, there is not a reliable and accurate analytical method for determining these compounds in the crude drug. Therefore, a validated HPLC method for quantifying the major active flavonoids [pinostrobin (1), pinocembrin (2), and chrysin (3)] of D. graveolens was developed. The method allows the quantification of the flavonoids and the determination of their total content. For each compound a linear response was evaluated within the range of 0.5–2.0mg/mL for 1, 0.25–1.25mg/mL for 2, and 0.05–0.5mg/mL for 3.