HPLC determination of anthraquinones from various parts of R. Tanguticum,R. undulatum and R, spiciforme

The contents of aloe-emodin,rhein,emodin and chrysophanol in various parts,e. g. root,stem,leaf blade and petiole,of Rheum Tanguticum,R. undulatum and R. spiciforme were investigated with HPLC and were quantified with external standard method. The results showed that in R. tanguticum the content of free anthraquinones in aerial part was higher than that in root,and it was highest in leaf; while the content of total anthraquinones in root was far more higher than that in aerial part,and the content of combinated anthraquinones was highest in root. The contents of free and combinated anthraquinones in roots of R. spi-ciforme and R. undulatum were higher than those in other parts of the plants. In R. spiciforme the content of total anthraquinones in root was higher than that in aerial part. In R. undulatum the content of free anthraquinones in aerial part was higher than that in root,and the content of combinated anthraquinones in root was slightly higher than that in aerial part.