Comprehensive quality evaluation of medicinal parts of Trichosanthes kirilowii from different populations / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To analyze the quality of medicinal parts of Trichosanthes kirilowii from different populations and to establish a new method to evaluate the medicinal material quality. Methods: Contents of protein, flavonoids, and polysaccharide were analyzed by AA3 Continuous Flow, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and sulfuric acid-phenol. The 3, 29-dibenzoyl rarounitriol (3, 29-DR) content in Trichosanthis Semen and the cucurbitacin bcontent in Trichosanthis Radix were determined by RP-HPLC. In addition, the quality of medicinal materials was evaluated by the principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Results: The quality of Trichosanthis Semen was the best in T. kirilowii from Henan Anyang-Liyuan with highest contents of 3, 29-DR and protein; Shanxi Jiang County T. kirilowii can be better used as Trichosanthis Pericarpium with higher contents of protein and polysaccharide; T. kirilowii from Anhui Yuexi-Heidapian could be regarded as Trichosanthis Radix for cultivating, because of higher protein content, lower starch content, and medium cucurbitacin bcontent. Conclusion: The PCA and cluster analysis are effective in evaluating the medicinal material quality. The newly established model will bring the significant benefits for evaluating the quality of T. kirilowii.