[Comparative study of the constituents from 10 Rhodiola plants].

The comparison of the components in 10 species of Rhodiola by GC method showed that sucrose and peak A, a unknown constituent, exist in all of 19 samples collected in the east area of Qinghai Province and in high quantities. However, salidroside, a known active component from the genus, is found from only 5 species with the quantity of more than 0.3%. There are 5 plants containing lotaustralin, a known oral toxic compound, and with the highest quantity in the plant of Rh. kirilowii. The content of the two compounds above varies as plants and habitats are different.