Abstract: The content of flavonoids in Prunus cerasifera leaves and its extraction technology were studied in this paper. By means of ethanol extracting, the optimum extraction conditions of kaempferol in P. cerasifera leaves were determined. The results showed that the content of quercetin and kaempferol were major flavonoids in P. cerasifera leaves, the optimum conditions of ethanol extracting were obtained as follows: 70% ethanol as extraction solvent at 50 ℃ for 1.5 h, and the ratio of material to solvent was 1:15. Using the technological parameters above mentioned, the average extraction rate of kaempferol was 92.7%. After extracting, concentration, hydrolyzing, extraction and crystal, the average recoveries and product purity of kaempferol were 56.6% and 90.6%, respectively.

Key words: Prunus cerasifera leaves, kaempferol, extraction technology