Quality assessment of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) grown on Prince Edward Island as a source of resveratrol

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jul 3;61(26):6383-92. doi: 10.1021/jf4019239. Epub 2013 Jun 19.

Abstract

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica , also known as Polygonum cuspidatum) is a common invasive plant species on Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, whereas it has been used in Chinese medicine and more recently as a raw material for extracting resveratrol. This paper reports on the quantification of resveratrol, polydatin, emodin, and physcion in roots, stems, and leaves of Japanese knotweed samples from PEI and British Columbia (BC), Canada, and nine provinces of China, by ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The results showed that the root contains a much higher level of resveratrol than the stem and leaf, and it is accumulated in its highest level in October. PEI-grown knotweed contains similar levels of resveratrol and polydatin compared to Chinese samples collected in the month of October, but the contents of the other anthraquinones (emodin and physcion) are different. As such, Japanese knotweed grown in PEI could be a commercially viable source of raw material for resveratrol production; however, caution has to be taken in harvesting the right plant species.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Emodin / analogs & derivatives
  • Emodin / analysis
  • Emodin / isolation & purification
  • Emodin / metabolism
  • Fallopia japonica / chemistry*
  • Fallopia japonica / growth & development
  • Fallopia japonica / metabolism
  • Glucosides / analysis
  • Glucosides / biosynthesis
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / growth & development
  • Plant Weeds / chemistry*
  • Plant Weeds / growth & development
  • Plant Weeds / metabolism
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quality Control
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes / analysis
  • Stilbenes / isolation & purification*
  • Stilbenes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Glucosides
  • Stilbenes
  • physcione
  • Emodin
  • Resveratrol
  • polydatin