Determination of bioactive compounds in roots of different ages Pueraria mirifica, airy shaw suvatabhandhu and Butea superba, roxb. from various locations in Thailand

Abstract

The bioactive compounds from the roots of White Kwao Krua (Pueraria mirifica) and Red Kwao Krua (Butea superba) extracted by organic solvent were determined from the HPLC finger prints compared with the standard isoflavonoids (puerarin, daidzein and genistein). Roots of White Kwao Krua from Chiang Mai province harvested at the age of 6 years gave the highest amount of isoflavonoid compounds of 290, 89 and 16 mg/kg of the dried root, respectively. Roots that were younger or older than 6 years old appeared to contain less amount of the active compounds. Red Kwao Krua from Chiang Mai had the highest amount of the active compounds. Puerarin contents in Red Kwao Krua were less whereas daidzein and genistein were more than those found in White Kwao Krua. The contents of puerarin, daidzein and genistein in Red Kwao Krua from Chiang Mai were 1.9, 37.2 and 4.5 mg/kg of the dried root, respectively. For miroestrol contents, the highest amount of 45.0 mg/kg of the dried root was found in White Kwao Krua collected from Chiang Mai province at the age of 5.5 years old. No miroestrol can be determined from roots of Red Kwao Krua. This study suggested that both isoflavonoids and miroestrol contents in the two plants depended on ages and locations of cultivation in Thailand. Informations from this study can be applied for the selection of sources and ages of the plants that contain high amounts of the bioactive compounds for further herbal formulation. © ISHS 2005.