Comparison of saponins and polysaccharide contents of cultivated Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in different main producing areas and comprehensive analysis of the relationship between quality index and soil factors
Objective To compare the saponin components and polysaccharide content of cultivated Glycyrrhi-zae Radix et Rhizoma from different production areas,and to investigate the correlation between quality indicators and soil factors.Methods High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to determine the content of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in 3-year-old cultivated Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.UV spectrophotome-try was used to determine the content of total saponins and polysaccharides.Potassium dichromate volumetric method,alkaline hydrolysis titration method,molybdenum antimony antibody colorimetric method,flame photometry,atomic absorption spectrophotometry were used to determine the soil factors around Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma roots.By conducting correlation analysis,path analysis,and multiple regression analysis on the quality indicators of Glycyrrhi-zae Radix et Rhizoma and soil factors,the main soil factors affecting the quality can be screened.Results The con-tent of saponins(total saponins,glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid)and total polysaccharides in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from different regions showed significant differences,and the quality of the medicinal materials showed regional characteristics;the content of total saponins and polysaccharides in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma produced in Inner Mongolia and Gansu is relatively high,while the content of glycyrrhizic acid in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma produced in Gansu is relatively high,and the content of glycyrrhetinic acid produced in Inner Mongolia is relatively high.The soil determining factors for total saponins are K total and Ca total,the soil determining factors for total polysaccharides are sucrase activity and K total,the soil determining factors for glycyrrhetinic acid are Cu total and K total,and the soil determining factors for glycyrrhizic acid are Cu total,pH,available nitrogen,K total,Fe total,and available phosphorus.Conclusion Soil factors are important factors affecting the quality of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials,and K,Cu,and Ca in the soil may be the dominant factors affecting the sapo-nin components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.This study can provide theoretical basis for the rational cultivation and scientific fertilization of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizomasaponin componentspolysaccharidescontentsoil factorscorrela-tion analysis