title: Seasonal variation of biomass and bioactive alkaloid content of goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis.
abstract: Seasonal variations in biomass and alkaloid contents of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) were investigated. Five-year-old plants gave 5x the yield of roots and rhizomes of two-year-old plants, and summer growth gave significant increases in root biomass but not rhizomes. Berberine contents of roots plus rhizomes did not vary significantly and were >3.4% in all samples. Hydrastine contents of 5 y roots plus rhizomes showed significant seasonal variation. These variations were due to significant changes in the hydrastine contents of the roots (1.3-1.9%), but not the rhizomes (2.2-2.8%). Goldenseal leaves plus stems had lower contents of hydrastine (0.4-0.8%) and berberine (1.0-1.5%).
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Follett
authors.forename: Graeme A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Parmenter
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sansom
authors.forename: Nigel B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Ray A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Littler
mesh_terms: D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000032:analysis*; D001599:Berberine / Q000032:analysis*; D039321:Hydrastis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001599:Berberine; C013024:hydrastine