Objective: To establish the quantitative methods for calycosin glycoside and formononetin in Radix Astragali, and the samples from different sources were analyzed, in order to supply the basis for the quality control of Radix Astragali.
Method: The content of calycosin glycoside and formononetin in 59 samples of Radix Astragali from eight with different provinces was analyzed by HPLC-DAD.
Result: The contents of calycosin glycoside and formononetin in Radix Astragali from different sources, with different cultivating method or in different ages differed markedly, and the results showed that the quality of samples from Shannxi, Innermongolia and Shanxi were better than other sources, and the semi-wild samples were better than other cultiving samples, moreover the shorter age, the better quality.
Conclusion: This simple, accurate and reproducible method could use to determine the contents of isoflavanoids in Radix Astragali.