[Influence of storage period and grading standards on quality of Prunella vulgaris].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of storage period and grading standards on the quality of Prunella vulgaris in order to provide a theoretical basis for standardized cultivation.


METHODS
The spices of P. vulgaris in different storage period (including current year, first-year and second-year) were collected from Lujiang base in Anhui Province. The samples were randomized, with the methods of morphologic characteristics and commercial size on P. vulgaris, the samples were graded into three grades; according to the methods from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble extracts, total ash and acid insoluble ash were measured, respectively, utilizing the UV spectrophotometry to detection the contents of total flavonoids and polysaccharides, the levels of ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and rosmarinic acid were adopted by HPLC.


RESULTS
The total ash and acid insoluble ash of P. vulgaris showed significantly increase during prolonged storage; however, the content of water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble, total flavonoids, polysaccharides, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid,rosmarinic acid showed significantly decrease during prolonged storage. The spica of P. vulgaris exhibited no rules differences between the quality and grading standards, The second-degree belongs to high content of total flavonoids; the high content of polysaccharides was first-degree; the total ash and acid insoluble ash of spicas exhibited gradually decreased from first-degree to third-grade, and the content of water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble extracts,ursolic acid,oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid showed gradually increased from first-degree to third-grade.


CONCLUSIONS
The current year was a suitable storage time of spicas from P. vulgaris could be selected; and the main bioactive components highest level of P. vulgaris spicas was third-degree, second-grade next, first-degree minimum.
Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Yuhang
Y
Chen
Qiaosheng
Q
Guo
Li
L
Liu
Chengya
C
Wang
D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000032:analysis; D053630:Depsides / Q000032:analysis; D004356:Drug Storage; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D031347:Prunella / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D005419:Flavonoids; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; D000097245:Ursolic Acid