Objective: To establish fluorescence microscopy combined with HPLC method for rapid detection the distribution and content of resveratrol tissues in different growth stages of Polygonum cuspidatum.
Methods: Used sequential experiment to design conditions of frozen and observe of the section by fluorescence microscopy; Resveratrol was extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction and its content was detected by HPLC.
Results: The results showed that frozen condition for concentration of gum Arabic was from 20% (dipping time was 5 - 6 h) to 40% (2 - 5 min), the freezer temperature was -5 degrees C, and the thickness was 15 microm. Resveratrol in polygonum cuspidatum was mainly accumulated in the organs, tissues and cells of fiber and cellulose, its content in rhizomes declined as the following sequence: spinal cord > xylem > phloem > periderm; Its content declined in organ as the following sequence: buds > rhizomes > ground stem > leaves; The content of resveratrol in root increased with age.
Conclusion: The results of fluorescence microscopic observation is in accordance with the HPLC results, indicating that the method is simple, fast and reliable, and provides a fast and reliable detection method for the determination of optimum harvesting period of Polygonum cuspidatum and acquisition of quality.