Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Yi-Kung Lin, Bang-Hua Chen*, Yuan-Shiun Chang, Yue-Wun Wu, Sin-Yi Liu, Ruey-Sheng Lai, Jui-Lung Kao and Jia-Ren Liu

Abstract:

    In order to understand the agronomic characters of A. membranaceus and the active ingredient contents in Astragali Radix, the plants were cultivated at 3 different locations in Taiwan. The root of A. membranaceus is called Astragali Radix and it is a important traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan. Two botanical forms of these medicinal plants including A. membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus were used as our materials. The average plant height and branch numbers of A. membranaceus was 76 cm and 6, respectively, whereas A. membranaceus var. mongholicus was 68 cm and 9 after planting for 18 months. The fresh and dry leaf and stem weight were 374.6 g and 131.2 g, respectively, for A. membranaceus, and 366.3 g and 129.4 g for A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. The fresh and dry root weight of A. membranaceus was 264.3 g and 135.0 g, and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus was 203.6 g and 132.3 g, respectively. The yields of A. membranaceus was 1,342 kg/ha, and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus was 1,248 kg/ha. Based on the analysis results, the active ingredients, isoflavonoids, in the root consisted of three compounds including (1). (6aR, 11aR) 9, 10- dimethoxypterocarpan-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (2). (3R)-(-)- 7, 2- hydroxy-3', 4'–dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and (3). calycosin. The total contents of three isoflavonoids in the roots harvested from plants cultivated at Taichung, Sandimen and Wushe were 0.36 mg/g, 0.43 mg/g and 0.56 mg/g, respectively, whereas imported samples from market were 0.27 mg/g only. The total contents of four astragalosides were 1.08 mg/g extracted from the imported products and 0.95 mg/g, 0.87 mg/g and 0.74 mg/g from those planted at Taichung, Wushe and Sandimen, respectively. Both astragaloside contents in the imported products and the roots harvested from Taichung were not significantly different at p=0.05 by LSD test. The results indicated that A. membranaceus can be planted in Taiwan as a pioneer traditional Chinese medicinal crop.

Key words:Astragalus membranaceus, A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, agronomic character, active ingredient, Astragali Radix

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