RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of total salvianolic acid in different vegetative organs of Salvia miltiorrhiza and discover the dynamic change rules of tanshinol, protocatechuic aldehyde, caffeic acid and total salvianolic acid during the whole process of grwth. METHODS: HPLC-ECD was used. The separation was performed on Zorbax SB-C18 (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5.0 microm) column by gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of CH3OH-0.4% aqueous phosphoric acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The detection was done at 0.7 V and the column temperature was 30 degrees C. RESULTS: The highest content of total salvianolic acid in leaf was in June and gradually dropped off till the lowest in December; The content of total salvianolic acid in leaf gradually decreased along with the growing of the leaf. The content of total salvianolic acid in root was high and consistent from July to September, but gradually dropped off till the lowest in November. CONCLUSION: The leaves of Salvia miltiorrhiza can be harvested in strong growth period to achieve the comprehensive use of the herb.
