Analysis and comparison of the levels of bioactive components in roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge from different germplasms by high-performance liquid chromatography

The objectives of this study were to analyze the bioactive components (BC), including both hydrophilic components (HC) (i.e., danshensu (DSS), protocatechuic aldehyde (PTAL) and salvianolic acid B (SAB) and lipophiliccomponents (LC) (i.e., cryptotanshinone (CTS) and tanshinone IIA (TS IIA), in theroots of Salvia miltiorrhiza from different germplasms and with different root colors, diameters, and cortex/xylem ratios. Twelve S. miltiorrhiza germplasms were collected from 12 areas in 6 provinces of China. All 12 germplasm lines were planted in a field at the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development in 2009 and 2010. The BC in roots of the tested S. miltiorrhiza materials were measured simultaneously using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Of the 11 germplasms tested, DS007 from Henan Yuzhou had the largest amounts of HC and LC (i.e., DSS, PTAL, SAB, CTS, and TSIIA). In all germplasms investigated, the DSS, SAB, CTS and TSIIA contents were higher in the cortex (including the phloem and cork layers) than in the xylem. The CTS and TSIIA were more abundant in the roots with smaller diameters. The CTS (0.023%, w/w), TSIIA (0.054%, w/w) and SAB (4.76%, w/w) levels were lowest in the lutou (basal or residual part of stem), while the DSS (0.061%, w/w) and PTAL (0.005%, w/w) contents were highest in this portion. The amounts of both HC and LC were higher in more deeply colored (brownish-red) root powders.