Levels of Phenolic Acids and Tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. cv. sativa and Salvia bowleyanae Dunn Roots During Growth

Abstract

Phenolic acids and tanshinones are the bioactive compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. and Salvia bowleyanae Dunn, in which anti-cancer action, cardioprotection, hepatoprotection, and other activities have been extensively studied. In this study, we monitored phenolic acid and tanshinone levels in the two Salvia species roots during 12 months (mos.) of field trial. The fresh root weights peaked at 8 mos. of growth for both S. miltiorrhiza Bge. cv. sativa (533.0 ± 98.22 g) and S. bowleyanae Dunn (277.0 ± 34.00 g). Salvianolic acid B was the most abundant phenolic acid in the two Salvia species, peaking at 4–12 and 5–12 mos. of growth for S. miltiorrhiza Bge. cv. sativa (35.82 ± 8.51 mg/g db) and S. bowleyanae Dunn (52.5 ± 5.81 mg/gdb), respectively. The total tanshinone (dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, and tanshinone IIA) levels peaked at 6–8 mos. of growth for both S. miltiorrhiza Bge. cv. sativa (10.23 mg/g) and S. bowleyanae Dunn (3.70 mg/g), and then gradually decreased. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. cv. sativa had both greater phenolic acid and tanshinone production. In conclusion, an optimum cultivation time of 8 mos. has been established for the two Salvia species to obtain the greatest yields of phenolic acids and tanshinones.