Correlation on quality and ecotype of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the contents of astragaloside and flavonoids in four ecotypes of A. membranaceus, which are whip pole type, taproot type, binary type, and chicken feet type, and analyze the correlation between ecotypes and quality. Methods: The contents of astragaloside and flavonoids in A. membranaceus were determined by UPLC, and the measured data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). Results: The order of contents of astragaloside and flavonoids in A. membranaceus was whip pole type > taproot type > binary type > chicken feet type; PCA revealed that four ecotypes of ecotypes A. membranaceus could be separated significantly; CA showed that each ecotype of A. membranaceus could be clustered into one class perfectly. Conclusion: The quality of A. membranaceus is closely associated with ecotypes. The quality merits of the order of four ecotypes of A. membranaceus is whip pole type > taproot type > binary type > chicken feet type.