Comparison of the bioactive components of the ecotypes and cultivars of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) herbs

The concentrations of the bioactive components, acteoside, aucubin and catalpol, and the production yield, crude protein (CP) and crude ash contents in 25 ecotypes (Et) of plantain (PL, Plantago lanceolata L.), found in northern Japan, and commercial cultivars, Grasslands Lancelot (GL) and Ceres Tonic (CT), were investigated. The quantitative determination of bioactive components was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The acteoside content of some of the 25 Et was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than CT and numerically higher than GL and other Et. Most of the Et had numerically higher concentrations of catalpol and aucubin than the GL and CT. The CP and crude ash content of the Et were comparable with those of the GL and CT. The dry matter (DM) yields of some of the Et was numerically greater than that of the cultivars. The present data suggest that most of the Et are comparable to the cultivars in respect to the concentration of bioactive components and DM yield as well as CP and crude ash contents and could be used as pasture like GL and CT.