Abstract: In order to determine the polysaccharides and heavy metals content of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. raw and processed products from two large-scale Huangjing planting bases in Chongyang County, Xianning City, Hubei Province in different years, as well as the corresponding soil heavy metals content in the planting environment, 10 Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. raw products and 10 soil samples from different years were collected,according to the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, the raw medicine Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. was processed and the polysaccharides content in the processed product was determined using the sulfuric acid anthrone method. The content of heavy metal elements in Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. and corresponding soil was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that as the growth years of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. increased, the polysaccharides content of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When comparing the polysaccharides content of different years, it was found that the polysaccharides content of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. aged 3 or 4 years was higher;after processing, the heavy metals content of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. decreased to varying degrees;there was a difference in the heavy metals content in the soil of these two planting bases. Some planting bases had slight pollution of cadmium elements in the soil, while other heavy metal elements were within the safe range. Taking into account factors such as the growth cycle, heavy metals content, and polysaccharides content of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua., the optimal harvesting period for Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. was the third or fourth year, and the quality of Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua. was relatively good.

Key words: Polygouatum cyrtouema Hua., polysaccharides, heavy metals, soil, correlation