한국산 재배작약 중 "의성 작약" (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.)을 대상으로 작약근의 주 활성물질로 평가되는 paeonilforin, albiflorin 및 5종의 phenolic compounds 함량의 생육년수별 변화양상을 조사한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 생육년수별 의성작약의 생근굵기는 1년생이 5.3mm, 2년생이 10.3mm, 3년생이 15.6, 4년생이 19.1mm로 뚜렷한 차이를 나타내어 생육년수에 따라 일정한 경향으로 생근의 굵기가 증가 하였다. 생육년수별 paeoniflorin, albifiorin, (+)-catechin 및 benzoic acid의 함량은 가는 뿌리인 1년생의 함량이 높았고, gallic acid, (+)-taxifo.in 3-O-β-D glucoside 및 (-) -epicatechin 함량은 굵은 뿌리인 3~4년생의 함량이 더 높았다. 의성작약에 함유된활성 물질 증 (-) -epicatechin을 제외한 paeoniflorin, albiflorin 및 phenolic compounds의 각 함랑은 껍질이 있는 유피근이 껍질을 제거한 거피근보다 전반적으로 높은 양상을 나타내었다.
This study was conducted to establish the standard of quality evaluation in Korean cultivated peony root(Paeoniae Radix). The diameter of fresh root and the concentrations of paeoniflorin, abliflorin and five phenolic compounds at different root ages in Euisung cultivar were investigated. The diameters of fresh root were 5.5mm, 10.3mm, 15.6mm and 19.1mm in one-year, two-year, three-year and four-year-old, respectively. It was also found that the diameter of fresh root was uniformly increased with the increase of root age. The concentrations of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, (+) -catechin and benzoic acid in one-year-old peony root(6.44%, 1.55%, 0.80% and 0.36%, respectively) were higher than those in three-(3.49%, 0.62%, 0.43% and 0.26%) or four-year-old(3.28%, 0.47%, 0.34% and 0.20%). The concentrations of gallic acid, (-) -epicatechin and (+) -taxiforin 3-O-β-D-glucoside were higher in three- (0.26%, 0.09% and 0.26%, respectively) or four-year-old (0.26%, 0.10% and 0.29%) than those in one-year-old (0.25 %, 0.08 % and 0.23 %) by contraries. Excepting (-) -epicatecin, the concentrations of paeoniflorin, albiflorin and four phenolic compounds in the root of unremoved cork layer were higher than those in the root of removed cork layer.