Method of Harvesting the Crude Drug Based on Distribution of Alkaloids in the Hook and in the Stem with Hook of Uncaria rhynchophylla ¹

Abstract

The distribution of the content of the pharmacologically active oxindole alkaloids in the hook and in the stem of the crude drug “Cho-to-ko” (dried stem with hooks of Uncaria rhynchophylla) prepared from the cultivated plants were investigated. The total oxindole alkaloid content of the stem was similar to that of the hook portion. It was also found that the area closest to the hook showed a slightly higher alkaloid content than the hook, and that the content of the oxindole alkaloid tended to decrease as the distance from the hook increased. Therefore, the presence of the hook does not affect the quality of the crude drug as far as the oxindole alkaloid content is concerned.

Uncaria rhynchophylla - Cho-to-ko - oxindole alkaloids - harvesting methods