Abstract: Six wild and 2 cultivated populations of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.(heshouwu)were collected from main producing areas in China.HPLC was used to determine content of the characteristic component 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside in root in order to appraise their germ plasms.Results of the study showed that, the sample from Guangxi Province is a variety of P.multiflorum Thunb.namely P.multiflorum Thunb.var angulatum S.Y.Liu, and its content of 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside is relatively low.2, 3, 5, 4′-Tetrahydroxy-(stilbene)-2-O-β-D-glucoside contents of samples from Guizhou and Hubei are higher, while those from Sichuan and Henan are lower.It is also found that location, age and environment are the three important factors determining the (accumulation) of 2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside in the plant.

Key words: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, germ plasm, HPLC