HPLC Determination of Contents of Four Active Constituents in Tibetan Medicine Gentiana straminea ( Gentianaceae) During Different Growing Period

Contents of four iridoid glycosides viz. gentiopicroside, longanic acid, swertiamarin and sweroside of wild and cultivated Gentiana straminea roots gathered in different seasons were analyzed by means of HPLC determination. The results indicated that contents of the four iridoid glycosides varied greatly with different seasons between wild and cultivated Gentiana straminea. And according to the criterion of pharmacopoeia of China, after cultivation content of gentiopicroside in Gentiana str aminea root had accorded with the regulation and can preliminarily replaced the wild species to use as a plant medicine. The mechanism causing the content changes of the four iridoid glycosides may be due to the integrated effects of many factors, such as the ecological factors, the genetic factors.