Quality variation of ten geographic populations of Epimedium sagittatum as evaluated in common garden practice

Herba Epimedii has been widely used for sexual enhancement, immunity improvement, anticancer, and anti-aging as traditional Chinese medicine and health care plant, and flavonoids and polysaccharides are the major active components. E. sagittatum is the species with the widest distribution, greatest morphological variation, higher medicinal and healthy quality. In this study, the biological characters and functional components of ten populations of E. sagittatum have been evaluated through common garden experiment. Significant difference has been found in the yield of raw materials and the contents of functional components among the ten populations. Our results provides detailed information about the quality of Herba Epimedii, which can serve as benchmark reference as a comprehensive evaluation of medicinal plants. Moreover, this study provides high quality source population of E. sagittatum for further breeding and large-scale cultivation.