Changes in bioactive components related to the harvest time from the spicas of Prunella vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Prunella vulgaris L. (Labiatae) is a perennial plant common in China and Europe and is rich in rosmarinic acid (RA), ursolic acid (UA), and oleanolic acid (OA). The dried spica of P. vulgaris has been used as traditional medicine in China for over a hundred years. To our best knowledge, no study has been conducted to determine the influence of harvesting time on concentrations of bioactive compounds of P. vulgaris.


OBJECTIVE
In the current study, changes in the bioactive compounds present in spicas were investigated at five harvest times over 2 months.


METHODS
Plant material were collected at five fixed dates: 5th May, 20th May, 7th June, 15th June, and 25th June and assayed for chemical contents by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
Among the different harvest times, the highest levels of RA (56.81 mg·g⁻¹), UA (2.77 mg·g⁻¹), and OA (0.91 mg·g⁻¹) were found on 5th May, whereas the lowest levels of RA (1.66 mg·g⁻¹), UA (2.27 mg·g⁻¹), and OA (0.43 mg·g⁻¹) were observed on 25th June.


CONCLUSIONS
As each medicinal product has its own content requirement for different bioactive components, the optimum harvest time might be determined according to the accumulation dynamics of target compound in dried spicas of P. vulgaris. These results may be useful for determining the optimal harvest time when bioactive components are at the maximum level, which is in early May.
Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Yuhang
Y
Chen
Qiaosheng
Q
Guo
Zaibiao
Z
Zhu
Lixia
L
Zhang
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D053630:Depsides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D035263:Flowering Tops / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D031347:Prunella / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; D000097245:Ursolic Acid