Determination of Saponin Content in Different Parts of 3 Kinds of Alfalfa

[Objective]The aim was to studt the determination of saponin content in different parts of 3 kinds of alfalfa.[Method]Contents of total saponin in different parts of Medicago sativa L.(including 5 cultivars) ,Medicago lupulina L.and Medicago polymorpha L.from Jiangsu Province were determined by colorimetric method.[Result] Saponin content (1.39% ) in the root of Medicago sativa L.was obviously higher than those in Medicago lupulina L.and Medicago polymorpha L.; There was no obvious difference between saponin contents in the stems of Medicago lupulina L.and Medicago polymorpha L.(RSD=2.4% ) ,which were slightly lower than that of Medicago sativa L.(0.583%) ; The leaf of Medicago lupulina L.had the lowest saponin content (0.623%) .Combining the saponin contents in the 3 different parts,it was found that average content of saponin in root reached 1.335% ,which was obviously more than those in stem (0.596% ) and leaf (0.655%) .[Conclusion]The research provides a certain theoretical basis for the further exploitation of Medicago Linn.resources.