# Quantitative comparison and evaluation between aerial and underground parts of Gentiana straminea through simultaneous determination of five major compounds by RP-HPLC

## TL;DR

This study compares the medicinal value of above and below ground parts of Gentiana straminea to promote sustainable harvesting.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to evaluate and substitute aerial parts for underground roots in herbal medicine.

## Key findings

- Aerial parts of G. straminea have higher composite scores than underground parts in different regions.
- Aerial parts can partially replace underground roots for medicinal use without harming the plant.
- Ideal growing regions for aerial parts were identified on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

## Abstract

Herbal Gentiana straminea Maxim. (Family Gentianaceae), “Ma Hua Jiao” in Chinese, is a commonly used Chinese medicine. Secoiridoids and flavonoids have been identified as the major active components of herbal medicines used in the treatment of hepatitis, rheumatism and many other diseases. It is the overharvesting of the roots of this plant for medicinal purposes that has led to a drastic decline in its population. In the present study, the above and below ground parts of Gentian Bitter Glycine were quantitatively compared and evaluated for the determination of the major active constituents. Five major compounds, loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweorside and isoorientin, were extracted by solvent extraction technique and analyzed by Reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). By analysing the principal components and calculating the composite scores, the results show that the aboveground component in different areas ranked higher compared to the underground component, with the former being able to substitute to some extent for the latter's underground component. Finally, based on hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified the ideal natural growing region for aerial parts of G. straminea distributed on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The significance of this work is that we can balance the demand for herbs with environmental preservation by selectively picking the aerial parts, which can regrow next year, instead of removing the whole plant. It protects the fragile ecological environment of the Tibetan Plateau and is important for sustainable development.