Study on contents of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid and distribution of Ramulus Cinnamomi

OBJECTIVE To optimize the extraction methods of Ramulus cinnamomi with cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid as reference, and evaluate the variety among samples harvest from different place and between bark and xylem parts of the plant.METHODS A HPLC method was performed on a Kromails C18(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm)column. The mobile phase consisted of CH3CN-H2O (with 0.1%H3PO4) (43:57) with the detection wavelength at 285 nm. The column temperature was at 20 ℃ and the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1.RESULTS 200 mg Crude herb powder was added to 50 mL methanol under 60 ℃ for 40 min to obtain the highest content of cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid in the extract.CONCLUSION Samples from Pinnan,Guangxi province, own the highest content of cinnamaldehyde. While, samples from Fangcheng,Guangxi province,own the highest content of cinnamic acid.The bark contains more cinnamaldehyde and less cinnamic acid than xylem.