Analysis on the Total Flavonoid Content in Morus alba Linn. Leaves

[Objective] The purpose of the study was to supply scientific basis for the reasonable development and utilization of mulberry leaf resources. [Method] The total flavonoid was extracted from mulberry leaves with methanol and its content was determined by spectrophotometry. The reliability and repeatability of this method were tested through stability, repeatability, accuracy and recovery experiments. The difference on total flavonoid content in mulberry leaves among different germplasm resources was analyzed. [Result] Both standard and tested solutions had the maximum absorbance at 505 nm. The RSD values of repeatability, accuracy and recovery experiments were 0.95%, 0.67% and 1.32% resp. and the average recovery was 100%. The results of content determination showed that the total flavonoid content was lower in Morus alba leaves. The variance analysis showed that the extremely significant difference was found on the total flavonoid content in the mulberry leaves among different germplasm resources of M. alba in the same genera. The average of total flavonoid content in mulberry leaves among the determined 12 germplasms was 44.00 mg/g, and the total flavonoid content was highest in mulberry leaves of Baisang 8, being (60.78 ± 2.32) mg/g and lowest in mulberry leaves of Sanglian, being (34.20 ± 0.86) mg/g. [Conclusion] Extraction with methanol, coloring with aluminium nitrate and determination by spectrophotometry at 505 nm were suitable for the determination of total flavonoid content in mulberry leaves.