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Seasonal variation in the total saponin content of platycodon roots cultivated in Japan

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Abstract

Roots of Platycodon grandiflorus A. De Candolle (Campanulaceae), with the bark removed, have been used as food and frequently employed as herbal medicines for inflammatory diseases such as tonsillitis, dermatitis, and cough. Platycodins are the bioactive saponin components of these crude medicines. Recently, P. grandiflorus have been cultivated in Japan and are harvested from October to December according to conventional practices. Seasonal fluctuations in the total saponin content of these roots were determined using LC/MS methods to recommend harvesting times when the saponin content is high. Platycodins A and C are monoacetylated forms of platycodin D; however, the acetyl form is unstable and deacetylates easily. Here, the contents of platycodin D, platycodin D2, and platyconic acid A were measured as the total saponin content using alkaline hydrolysis for monoacetylated platycodins D, D2, and platyconic acid A. The results demonstrated that the saponin content in the roots decreased in summer, increased in autumn, but decreased again in late autumn.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. K. Minoura for providing NMR spectra and to Dr. M. Fujitake for providing mass spectra from the Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, and to Mr. M. Terui and Mr. T. Kadowaki for providing platycodon roots from Misato and Happo Town in the Akita prefecture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Kampo Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka, 569-1094, Japan

    Koki Matsuda, Yuka Tanaka, Kazuo Ozaki & Makio Shibano

  2. Tokyo Crude Drugs Association, 1-11-4, Higashi-kanda, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 101-0031, Japan

    Osamu Iida

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  1. Koki Matsuda
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  2. Yuka Tanaka
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  3. Kazuo Ozaki
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Correspondence to Makio Shibano.

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Matsuda, K., Tanaka, Y., Ozaki, K. et al. Seasonal variation in the total saponin content of platycodon roots cultivated in Japan. J Nat Med 77, 64–72 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-022-01646-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-022-01646-x

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