Objective: To determine arbutin contents in different populations of Bergenia purpurascens in Yunnan province, for screening out the best resource and best part of B. purpurascens.
Method: The SB-C18 column was used with methanol-water (15: 85) as the mobile phase, at the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1) and column temperature of 30 degrees C, and 282 nm was selected as the detected wavelength.
Result: There were much significant differences in arbutin contents among various parts of the same B. population. The sequence of parts from high to low was lamina > petiole > root > rhizome. Arbutin contents in laminae of different B. populations were different at the most significant level and varied between 6.36% and 1.51%. Arbutin contents in rhizomes of different B. populations were also dignificantly different at varied between 1.72% and 0.40%.
Conclusion: Lamina is the best part for extracting arbutin. B. population distributed in Laojunshan mountain in Lanping county is the best resource for arbutin exploitation in B. purpurascens.