Objective: To provide guidance for determining the optimal harvesting time

and controling the quality of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma by measuring the contents of main active ingredients in Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma from different growing ages and harvesting time

and exploring their dynamic variation rule. Method: UV-visible spectrophotometry was used to measure the contents of polysaccharides

flavonoids

saponins

alcohol-soluble extracts in Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma from different growing ages and harvesting time

multiple analysis of variance was used to analyze the experimental results. Result: The variation rule of the contents of main active ingredients in Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma in harvesting time was slow at the early growth

faster at medium-term

slow down at the late growth

and the contents of every ingredients changed to be steady after the end of September

the contents of polysaccharides

saponins

flavonoids

alcohol-soluble extracts in Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma were 7.69%

0.453%

0.141%

57.48% at this stage.The contents of polysaccharides

saponins

flavonoids

alcohol-soluble extracts in Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma didn't sustained increase rapidly with the increase of growing years

and reached the peak after 3 years growth

the contents were 7.67%

0.436%

0.141%

55.59%. Conclusion: The main active ingredients were constantly accumulated with plant growth

but its content did not always maintain a high growth state. The optimal harvest year was 3-year-old

the optimal harvest time was the end of September

the study of dynamic variation rule could provide certain reference basis for improving the medical quality of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma.