Multiscale analysis of the contents of palmatine in the Nature populations of Phellodendron amurense in Northeast China

Palmatine is a valuable ingredient in Chinese medicine that is produced by Phellodendron amurense Rupr. The contents of palmatine content in root bark, trunk bark, perennial branch bark, annual branches, and leaves of the trees with different ages and geographies in Northeast China were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The contents of palmatine in the barks of root, trunk, and perennial branch were significantly higher than those in annual branches and leaves. The contents of palmatine in trunk bark and root bark from Lesser Khingan Mountains increased with age, which is significantly opposite to other three vegetation types. The contents of palmatine in perennial branch bark, annual bark and leaves had no significant regularity. Moreover, the contents of palmatine in samples of root bark, trunk bark, perennial branch bark and annual bark varied significantly with latitude. The nature populations of P. amurense growing at low latitude contained significantly more palmatine than those growing at high latitude. These results provide a scientific basis for the reasonable cultivation and efficient utilization of P. amurense.