Abstract: The contents of the total polysaccharide and the 8 trace elements of 1-7 years-old Bozhou Peony were detected by anthracenone-concentrated-sulfuric-acid colorimetry and AAS, respectively, to explore the dynamic accumulation of polysaccharides and 8 trace elements in Bozhou Peony Paeonia lactiflora, and to provide scientific basis for the optimum harvesting age, quality evaluation and standardized cultivation of Bozhou Peony. The results indicated that cultivating ages would significantly impact the accumulation of polysaccharide and trace elements. The average contents of polysaccharides of Bozhou Peony (from 1 to 7 years) were:(2.06±0.12)%, (3.59±0.17)%, (4.66±0.26)%, (3.14±0.19)%, (2.44±0.03)%, (2.49±0.12)% and (2.94±0.20)%; the mass fractions of Cu, Pb, Cr ,Mg, Ca, Na, Zn and Ba were (4.14±0.39), (5.02±0.87), (1.69±0.07), (300.17±13.64), (1476.66±57.49), (71.88±2.26), (8.58±0.56) and (369.51±26.68) mg/kg(DW), respectively, and all the mental elements were in limits except Pd content in the samples exceeded the standard limit 0.89 mg kg(DW). Our experimental suggested that the Bozhou Peony cultivated for 3 years obtained the highest polysaccharide. There were rich essential mental elements in Bozhou Peony and the contents of heavy mental elements were lower than the limited. There might exist correlation between the trace elements contents and the accumulation of polysaccharide in Bozhou Peony.

Key words: Bozhou Peony Paeonia lactiflora, polysaccharides, trace element, standardized cultivation