Abstract: Aim To establish the method for determination of benzofuranones derivative, griffon-ilide, in the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino by RP- HPLC. Methods Kromasil C₁₈ column was used with a mobile phase of methanol-water (containing 0.01% trifluoroacetic acid and 0.05% tetrahydrofuran) (3:97). The detecting wavelength was 260 nm. Results The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.004 – 0.4 mg·mL^-1 with the correlation coefficient of 1.00 000. The average recovery was 98.77% with RSD 2.77%. Determinations of ten samples from different areas showed that the contents of griffonilide in the roots of S.adoxoides are 0.17 – 0.49 mg·g^-1. Conclusion The method provides an accurate and sensitive way to detect griffonilide in the roots of S.adoxoides.

Key words: Semiaquilegia adoxoides, Semiaquilegia adoxoides, benzofuranones derivative, benzofuranones derivative, griffonilide, griffonilide, RP-HPLC, RP-HPLC