Variation of Kukoamine A (KuA) and B (KuB) contents and related meteorological factors for Cortex Lycii radicis of different areas

Abstract Kukoamines are polyamine alkaloids present in Cortex Lycii (LyC), which is the root bark of Lycium chinense Mill. or L. barbarum L. Environmental conditions and geographical distribution influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of Kukoamines in Lycium species, thus directly affecting the quality of LyC. To identify the factors that influence Kukoamine A (KuA) and Kukoamine B (KuB) accumulation, the KuA and KuB contents of L. chinense and L. barbarum LyC collected from different areas or potted L. barbarum LyC with soil collected from different areas were measured, and the correlation of Kukoamine contents with meteorological factors and soil constituents were analyzed. In both L. barbarum and L. chinense, the KuA and KuB contents of LyC planted in Zhongning were significantly higher than those of LyC planted in other areas. Three L. barbarum species planted in soil collected from different areas presented significant difference in the KuA and KuB content of LyC. The contents of both KuA and KuB showed negative correlation with annual precipitation, mean temperature, and mean humidity, while positively correlated with soil pH, altitude, mean diurnal temperature difference, and annual sunshine hours, but there was no significant correlation with any soil compositions. It might be illustrated that soil pH and meteorological factors are important aspects affecting the quality of LyC.