OBJECTIVETo analyze water-soluble components in the roots of Ch. smyrnioides among different populations that distributed in the main areas and give a reference for germplasm evaluation and quality control.

METHODWater-soluble components were extracted with the cold-soaking method and analyzed by HPLC, similarity coefficient was calculated by included angle cosine method according to relative content of major water-soluble components, and systematic relationships were constructed based on UPGMA method.

RESULTThere was significant difference in water-soluble components in root among population. Jiuhuashan population had the highest content of water-soluble extract. The content of water-soluble extract was below the pharmacopoeia standard in the root of Dalongshan population and Fushan population. There was significant difference in the HPLC chromatogram of water-soluble components in the root of Ch. smyrnioides from different populations, and the number of common peak was small. Similarity coefficient significantly ranged from 0.0306 to 0.9995 among 10 populations of Ch. smymrnioides. Water-soluble components in the root of Zijinshan population was the most unique, similarity coefficients were relatively small among Zijinshan population and the other seven populations except Hongshan population, and similarity coefficient was in a higher level of 0.9697 between Zijinshan population and Hongshan population. Water-soluble components were extremely similar in four populations that were Laoshan, Maoshan, Qinglongshan and Langyashan, and similarity coefficients among them were in a high level exceeded 0.99. 10 populations were divided into 3 groups according to clustering results.

CONCLUSIONWater-soluble components show a high diversity in the roots of Ch. smyrnioides among different populations, and can be clearly divided into 3 types.