Relationship between inorganic elements content of Angelica sinensis and its growing altitude,latitude and longitude

AIM To investigate the relationship between inorganic elements content of Angelica sinensis and its growing altitude,latitude and longitude.METHODS The contents of nine kinds of inorganic elements( Zn,Fe,Mn,Mg,Ni,Ca,Na,K and Cu) in 91 batches of A.sinensis from ten growing areas with different growing altitude,latitude and longitude were determined by AAS( atomic absorption spectroscopy).Correlation analysis,path analysis and decision coefficient analysis were used for study.RESULTS The content of inorganic elements in A.sinensis had significant differences among the most growing areas.Na level with altitude,K and Cu levels with latitude and longitude had a significant positive correlation,Ca level had a significant negative correlation with altitude.Their interaction manifested that altitude affected K and Mn levels,latitude represented the decision factor of Ca,Ni and Na levels,and longitude was the main influencing factor of Ca and Mg,respectively.CONCLUSION The growing altitude,latitude and longitude must be considered in order to concentrate beneficial trace elements and reduce harmful trace elements to human being in the selection of growing areas of A.sinensis.