Comparision of the physicochemical properties of Epimedium polysaccharides from different producing areas in China / 国际药学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the physicochemical properties of Epimedium polysaccharides (EP) from different producing areas in China to provide experimental support for selecting qualified herbal materials for specified product development. Methods: The leaves of Epimedium plants were extracted with water at 50°C,and the aqueous-extract was precipitated with ethanol. The precipitates were dissolved, dialyzed and lyophilized to obtain total polysaccharides, EP. Total sugar and uronic acid contents of the EP were determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid and the m-hydroxyl biphenyl methods, respectively. Molecular weights of the EP were determined by gel filtration chromatography, andmonosaccharide compositions of the EP were analyzed with the alditol acetates by gas chromatography. Results: Total polysaccharides in the Epimedium leaves were significantly different in the leaves from different area of China. Yields of the EP were higher in the leaves from Shannxi, Hunan and Jilin provinces, but the total sugar contents were higher in the EP from the leaves from Sichuan, Hunan and Jilin provinces, and the uronic acid contents in the EP higher in those from Hunan, Jilin and Henan provinces. Molecular weight distributions were similar in all of the EP, but the monosaccharide compositions of the EP were different mainly in the molar ratios of mannose, glucose and galactose. Conclusion: There were significant differences in the physicochemical properties of the EP from the Epimedium plants in different areas of China, which may originate from the different genes of varied species and/or the different habitats of the plants.