Seasonal variation of biomass and bioactive alkaloid content of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis.

Seasonal variations in biomass and alkaloid contents of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) were investigated. Five-year-old plants gave 5x the yield of roots and rhizomes of two-year-old plants, and summer growth gave significant increases in root biomass but not rhizomes. Berberine contents of roots plus rhizomes did not vary significantly and were >3.4% in all samples. Hydrastine contents of 5 y roots plus rhizomes showed significant seasonal variation. These variations were due to significant changes in the hydrastine contents of the roots (1.3-1.9%), but not the rhizomes (2.2-2.8%). Goldenseal leaves plus stems had lower contents of hydrastine (0.4-0.8%) and berberine (1.0-1.5%).

A new glucosyl feruloyl quinic acid as a potential marker for roots and rhizomes of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis.

A new compound, 5-O-(4'-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl]-trans-feruloyl)quinic acid (GPFQ, 10), is reported from the medicinal plant goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). A new HPLC method is described and used to show that GPFQ is a potential marker for goldenseal roots (1.0% w/w) and rhizomes (2.3%). GPFQ was found at much lower levels in stems (<0.1%) and could not be detected in leaves. Neochlorogenic acid (9), which has not previously been reported from goldenseal, and chlorogenic acid (6) reached their highest levels in leaves (0.9% 9 and 0.5% 6). The main alkaloids, hydrastine (1) and berberine (2), were highest in rhizomes (2.8% 1 and 4.6% 2), but palmatine (5) was not found in genuine goldenseal.