The Studies Of Pueraria Thomsonii Radix And Its Resource

Pueraria thomsonii Radix is a leguminous plant Pueraria thomsonii Benth.'s dried root. It has sweet, acrid and cool, which could be used in the treatment of relieving muscles to expel heat, encouraging production of body fluids to extinguish thirst, lifting yang to relieve diarrhea, clearing and activating the channels and collaterals. It is a traditional medicinal and edible plant. Its health effects have been paid more and more attention, and it has broad development prospects.This study collected samples from different producing areas of the seven Pueraria thomsonii Radix. We determined the content of Puerarin, starch, fiber and trace elements in the samples, respectively. After that, we used two diffrent evaluation methods to evaluate their qualities.Firstly, we used HPLC method for the determination of Puerarin in seven kinds Pueraria thomsonii Radix samples. The results show that the content of Puerarin in the samples has significant differences. The Pengzhou has the highest content of Puerarin, which is the lowest of the Qinba 2, a nearly 6-fold. In the seven samples, only Guangxi and Pengzhou can meet the provisions of pharmacopoeia of not less than 0.30% Puerarin, and they can be used as medicinal plants. The other Pueraria thomsonii contents of Puerarin were less than 0.30%, and can be used as eating plants.Secondly, we use the anthrone colorimetric method to determine starch content. The results show that the seven samples of Pueraria thomsonii Radix have high starch content, are more than 62%, which reached 75% in Guangxi. Then we use the acid detergent method to determine fiber content. The results show that the fiber content of Pueraria thomsonii Radix were very low. Pengzhou has the highest fiber content, reach about 8%. Guangxi has lowest fiber content, only 3%. The fiber content of the rest of Pueraria thomsonii Radix were approximately 4% to 5%.Thirdly, we use the FAAS method to determine Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn elements content. The results show that the Ca, Mg elements content of the seven kinds of Pueraria thomsonii Radix is high, and Mg, Fe elements content of Pengzhou are significantly higher than the other Pueraria thomsonii Radix, which may be related to the local soil and environment. The contents of trace elements are obviously different in samples from different producing areas. The same origin of the Pueraria thomsonii contain trace elements have some differences.Finally, according to the Puerarin, starch, fiber and trace elements contents of the Pueraria thomsonii Radix samples, we used various methods of analysis and evaluation to evaluate their qualities, which would be beneficial to further research and development and utilization of Pueraria thomsonii Radix.