TLC analysis on essential oil in Houttuynia cordata with different chromosome numbers / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Object To study the relationship between the essential oil constituents and the chromosome numbers of Houttuynia cordata and compare the difference of the essential oil constituents from the fresh and the dried ones, aerial and underground parts of the fresh plant. Methods The essential oil constituents of H. cordata with different chromosome numbers from the aerial and underground parts of the fresh, and the aerial parts dried in shade as well were analyzed by TLC. Results According to the difference of the spot number and definition of the essential oil TLC pattern, the essential oil constituents in the aerial parts of 20 fresh plants were classified into five types, those in their underground parts into three types, and those in 19 dried plants into four types. Conclusion There is obvious difference in the essential oil constituents between the fresh aerial and underground parts, and between the fresh and dried plants. The difference among the fresh plants is more significant than that of the dried ones. And the difference among the aerial parts of the fresh plants is more significant than that of the underground parts. There is a tendency that the spot numbers increase with the chromosome numbers. The difference of essential oil constituents in H. emeiensis and H. cordata is insignificant.