title: [Effectiveness of different maintenance methods for codonopsis radix].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe different maintenance methods including vacuum-packing, storage together with tobacco, storage together with fennel, ethanol steam and sulfur fumigation for the protection of Codonopsis Radix against mildew and insect damage, and to analyze the content of polysaccharide and flavonoids of Codonopsis Radix tested in this studies, so as to look for the scientific maintenance methods replacing traditional sulfur fumigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Except for the sulfur fumigation, naturally air-dried Codonopsis Radix was used to investigate the maintenance effectiveness of the above methods, respectively. Mildew was observed by visual inspection, and the content of polysaccharide and flavonoids were determined by ultra-violet and visible spectrophotometer. Comprehensive evaluation was given based on the results of the different maintenance methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low-temperature vacuum-packing, ambient-temperature vacuum-packing and sulfur fumigation could keep Codonopsis Radix from mildew and insect damage for one year, but ambient-temperature vacuum-packing showed flatulent phenomenon; ethanol steam could keep Codonopsis Radix from mildew and insects for over half a year; storage together with tobacco or fennel did not have maintenance effect. The difference of polysaccharide and flavonoids contents of all tested Codonopsis Radix was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low temperature vacuum-packing maintenance can replace traditional sulfur fumigation, and it can maintain the quality of Codonopsis Radix to a certain extent.
authors.forename: Yan-Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng-Song
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shou-Tang
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D029745:Codonopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005651:Fumigation; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013455:Sulfur