Influences of Cleaning before Drying and Cleaning after Drying on Quality of Panax notoginseng(Burk.) F.H. Chen / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the influences of different cleaning methods on the quality of P.notoginseng and provide the basis for standard original processing methods of P.notoginseng. METHODS: The P.notoginseng roots were processed with different methods including drying without washing, drying and polishing, fresh cleaning before drying, and cleaning after drying. The influences of different cleaning methods on the drying time, drying rate, density, appearance properties and active components of P.notoginseng roots were compared. RESULTS: The appearance quality and hygiene indicators of P.notoginseng roots were bad when the fresh roots were dried without washing. When the roots were polished after drying without washing, the skin of P.notoginseng roots was worn down. It also resulted in a great loss of drying rate and content of dencichine of P.notoginseng roots, with decreasing rates of 10.0% and 18.1%, respectively. Cleaning after drying of P.notoginseng roots resulted in wear and tear off of epidermis and decrease of the total ash, alcohol extraction components, saponin of Re, dencichine and soluble sugars. The decreasing rates were 9.9%-17.7%, 8.3%-15.9%, 63.9%-70.8%, 12.5%-36.1%, and 27.3%-37.4%, respectively. And the longer the roots being cleaned after drying, the more the components lost. Cleaning before drying of P.notoginseng roots shortened the drying time, raised the hygiene and appearance traits, and reduced the loss of active ingredients. CONCLUSION: That the roots of P.notoginseng be processed after flushing may be a more suitable method than the traditional processing method. In order to decrease the loss of active components, ensure the appearance properties, and keep the safety of clinical medication, cleaning before drying should be promoted vigorously.