Quality evaluation of Epimedium sagittatum in different populations based on icariin contents / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: In order to evaluate the quality of Epimedium sagittatum and to provide the references for screening germplasm as well as for the utilization of resources. The concentration variations of main flavonoids, epimedins A-C, and icariin among 15 representative populations of E. sagittatum and one population of E. sagittatum var. glabratum were assessed by HPLC. Methods: The chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile-1.44% acetic acid aqueous solution in gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, the detection wavelength was 272 nm, and the column temperature was 25 ℃. Results: Remarkable variations within and among the populations were observed in epimedin A (1.00 - 16.64 mg/g), epimedin B (1.00 - 17.21 mg/g), epimedin C (1.00 - 76.21 mg/g), and icariin (1.00 - 46.19 mg/g). As far as the content of icariin concerned, only five populations (HBHF, HBLT, HNLS, HNZJ, and JXWN) had acceptable quality recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, four populations were lower than the standard, and seven populations were even lower than the detectability. Conclusion: The present study suggests that E. sagittatum should not be recorded in Chiese Pharmacopoeia indiscriminately, but the populations of HNZJ, HBLT, HBHF, and HNLS are outstanding and excellent, which were the best candidates for germplasm selection. Meanwhile, their habitat can also provide the reference for cultivation.