Study on five efficacy components, geoherbalism of Cistanche deserticola from genuine producing area in different collecting seasons / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the contents of major five functional components (echinacoside, verbascoside, galactitol, betaine, soluble polysaccharide, and extractums) in Cistanche deserticola harvested in spring and autumn from genuine producing area in Alax Banner of Inner Mongolia. Methods HPLC-UV was applied to measuring the contents of echinacoside and verbascoside. HPLC-ELSD was used for determining the contents of galactitol and betaine. UV-VIS was utilized for analyzing the content of soluble polysaccharide. Results The index components of two samples' harvested in spring and autumn were all up to the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The samples harvested in spring contain 12.21 mg/g, which was twice of the autumn samples and fourfold of the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Based on verbascoside and betaine, the content of spring samples was significantly higher than the autumn samples, which was up to thirtyfold and it had great fluctuation among samples; Based on soluble polysaccharide, the content of spring and autumn samples were all at a high level, especially autumn samples was up to 13.7%; Based on galactitol and extractums, the content of autumn samples was significantly higher than the spring samples. Conclusion The content of verbascoside in C. deserticola has great fluctuation among samples. C. deserticola, that is rich in galactitol and soluble polysaccharide that authentic inner quality characteristics are "Glossy, Heavy, Fleshy, Quality soft, Sweet". Nevertheless, the ample galactitol and soluble polysaccharide is the material basis of quality formation, it is more reasonable to add the soluble polysaccharide as one of the index component to evaluate its quality characteristics. The standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia points out the moisture limit of succulent herb is 10% may not be reasonable. The further improvement of the standard of C. deserticola's quality or separation of C. deserticola was discussed in this manuscript.