Research Progress in Biological Functions and Methods of Extraction, Seperation, Determination of Flavonoids from Camellia nitidissima

Camellia nitidissima is rich in flavonoids. As an important natural product, flavonoids possess a variety of biological functions, such asoxidation resistance, blood sugar lowering, anti-cancer, anti-tumor and other effects. Among these functions, oxidation resistance is most prominent one and forms the basis of other functions. In order to realize the efficient extraction, separation and determination of flavonoids in C. nitidissima and to develop C. nitidissima flavonoids product, this paper analyzed the flavonoids and the flavonoid constituent in C. nitidissima, introduced various biological functions of flavonoids and conducted the summary and research of the extraction (water extraction, organic solvent extraction, ultrasonic assisted extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis), separation (macroporous resin adsorption, chromatography and membrane separation) and determination (spectrophotometry, high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry) methods of flavonoids in C. nitidissima. At present, the major extraction method of flavonoids in C. nitidissima is the organic solvent extraction method which combined with ultrasonic method, may achieve better extraction effect; the separation of flavonoids in C. nitidissima were mostly conducted by macroporous resin adsorption method and chromatography; spectrophotometry is the major method used for the determination of flavonoids in C. nitidissima while high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry have great application potential, which would provide theoretical support for development and utilization of the C. nitidissima.