Influence of the Environmental Factors on the Accumulation of the Bioactive Ingredients in Chinese Rhubarb Products

To provide a basis for controlling the quality of rhubarb under artificial cultivation, the present work was designed to evaluate the contents of 14 active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) of rhubarb in major rhubarb production areas in China and analyze the correlations between the contents of API and such factors as species, geographic distribution and soil. The levels of fourteen API in rhubarb were measured using HPLC. The geographic distributions were collected using GPS and the nutrients in the soil were measured using the methods in the literature. The results showed that the levels of major API vary significantly among plants of different locations according to variance analysis. The species factor has few obvious effect on the overall properties of the rhubarb by the cluster analysis because of the two source species occurring in all divided three groups. However, Rheum tanguticum Maxim.ex Balf. is less effective at synthesizing and accumulating 9 API out of 14 than Rheum palmatum L. The correlation analysis and regression analysis also indicated that a lower latitude should be considered in the accumulation of API and a lower longitude should be considered to produce more compound anthraquinones. Lower levels of total P, rapidly available P and available molybdenum (Mo) and higher available K and available Zn in the soil were significantly correlated to accumulation of API in rhubarb. These results provide a basis for the clinical application and controlling the levels of the major API of rhubarb during artificial cultivation.