Abstract: Aim To screen the optimum macroporous resin and conditions for the isolation and purification of flavonoids from Radix Puerariae. Methods The static and dynamic adsorption/desorption methods were used, and the separation and purification process was evaluated by measuring the concentration of total flavonoid in the fractions with UV spectrophotometer. Results The SP70 macroporous resin was the most effective compared with other macroporous resins. The optimum conditions were screened, which were 0.5 g·mL^-1 corresponding to crude drug for concentration of extract, pH 5-6 , and appended 60 times the volume of the resin bed (BV) with the adsorption speed 2 BV·h^-1, and the volume of aq. 70% (V/V) ethanol as eluant was 5 BV with desorption speed 2 BV·h^-1. By this method, the final contents of total flavonoids exceeded 80%. Conclusion The SP70 macroporous resin is the most effective one for large-scale isolation and purification of flavonoids from Radix Pueraria, which meets industrial needs.

Key words: Radix Puerariae, Radix Puerariae, total flavonoids, total flavonoids, macroporous resin, macroporous resin, separation, separation, purification, purification