OBJECTIVE To develop a model for the quick quality evaluation of total alkaloid content and to explore the effects of environmental factors on the accumulation of alkaloids in Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel.. METHODS The total alkaloid contents of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel. from 19 different areas in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The near-infrared(NIR), mid-infrared(MIR) and mid-infrared with attenuated total reflectance(ATR) spectroscopy information of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel. were determined and integrated, respectively. Combined spectroscopy information with the content of total alkaloid, three single-spectrum and two data fusion quantitative models were performed by principal component regression. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explain the relationship between geographical factors, climatic factors, soil factors, and total alkaloid content. RESULTS It was found that the data fusion model of NIR coupled with ATR was the best model, with the related coefficient of calibration 0.980 3 and prediction 0.997 2, the root mean square error of calibration 0.060 3 and prediction 0.063 3, and residual predictive deviation>4. And altitude and annual precipitation were significantly positively correlated with total alkaloid content, while latitude and annual temperature were significantly negatively correlated with total alkaloid content. Moreover, total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen were positively correlated with total alkaloid content. CONCLUSION The spectral data fusion can enhance the prediction ability of the model. The accumulation of alkaloids was affected by both large geographical environmental factor, small environmental soil factors and meteorological factors. This study can provide a scientific basis for rapid quality evaluation and rational planning of resource utilization of Meconopsis quintuplinervia Regel.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the components of volatile oil in branches and leaves of Rhododendron anthopogonoides, Rhododendron capitatum, Rhododendron thymifolium and Rhododendron przewalskii. METHODS The total volatile oil in leaves and branches of these plants were obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. After that, the chemical composition of the total volatile oil was analyzed and identified by GC-MS, and the contents of different parts and varieties were compared. RESULTS The results showed that the highest oil yield of leaves was Rhododendron thymifolium(6.97%), and the highest oil yield of branches was Rhododendron anthopogonoides(20.53%). Thirty-five, eighty, fifty-eight and forty compounds were detected in the branch oil of Rhododendron anthopogonoides, Rhododendron capitatum, Rhododendron thymifolium and Rhododendron przewalskii respectively, among which Rhododendron capitatum was rich in compounds. Forty-eight, fifty-seven, sixty-two and fifty compounds were detected in the leaf oil, among which the compounds of Rhododendron anthopogonoides were the richest. Among the detected components, squalene(34.92%, 26.90%) was the highest content in the branches and leaves of Rhododendron anthopogonoides. 1-Eicosanol(26.79%) was the highest content in the branch oil of Rhododendron capitatum, and octadecyl acetate(42.32%) was the highest content in the leaf oil. The highest content of bisabola-3,10-diene-2-one(34.66%, 28.20%) was found in the branches and leaves of Rhododendron thymifolium, and 15-oxoETE(38.20%, 40.40%) was the highest content in the branches and leaves of Rhododendron przewalskii. The results showed that the contents of oil in branches and leaves of Rhododendron capitatum were quite different in different parts. In the comparison of different varieties, the compounds with the highest content of four rhododendrons were all different. CONCLUSION According to the difference of the content of active components of different rhododendrons and parts, the appropriate species and parts for purposeful development and utilization should be selected. The research results can provide scientific basis for rational development and utilization of Rhododendron resources.