ABSTRACT
Objective: Effects of different elevations and illumination on the seven effective components of flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis were analyzed, providing a theoretical basis for selecting the best growing conditions. Methods The content of cutellarin, baicalin, wogonoside, apigenin, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A were determined by HPLC method in 24 artificially planted samples. The correlation between different elevations, different lighting conditions (shady slope, sunny slope) and different components were analyzed by using variance analysis method. Results Compared with the same growth period, the amount of seven components in S. baicalensis was compared at elevation (550 ± 30) and (650 ± 30) m, and there was a significant difference between baicalins and wogonoside (P 0.05). Conclusion In the same growing age, the amount of flavonoids in S. baicalensis showed an obvious upward trend with the increase of altitude, and there were significant differences. There was no significant difference in the content of flavonoids in S. baicalensis, but the average sunny slope of various components of other flavonoids was higher than the shady slope except for wogonoside and baicalein. Therefore, it is advisable to choose the plain or sunny slope directly illuminated by sunlight in the artificial cultivation of S. baicalensis, and the high altitude is conducive to increasing the accumulation of total flavonoids in S. baicalensis.