Search

The aims of this study were to explore the significant chemical changes in functional components induced by the traditional processing method and evaluate whether this method based on nine cycles of steaming and drying can effectively enhance the medicinal effects of Polygonatum cyrtonema rhizome. A global analysis on dynamic changes in secondary metabolites during nine processing cycles was performed, and the significantly differentially accumulated secondary metabolites were initially identified based on the secondary metabolome. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLA-DA) on secondary metabolites clearly showed that processing significantly increased the global accumulation of secondary metabolites in processed P. cyrtonema rhizomes compared to unprocessed crude rhizomes. The first six processing cycles induced drastic changes in the accumulation of functional components, while the last three did not induce further changes. The accumulations of most functional components were significantly enhanced after the first three cycles and stabilized after six cycles; meanwhile, the first three cycles also led to numerous new components. However, the enhancing effects were unavoidably reversed or weakened under continued processing lasting 6–9 cycles. Furthermore, continued processing also reduced the contents of a small number of original components to undetectable levels. Processing induced some significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, among which the first three processing cycles enhanced the synthesis of various secondary metabolites and significantly affected the metabolisms of amino acids. In conclusion, this study not only reveals that processing can effectively enhance the medicinal effects, by two main mechanisms including enhancing chemical synthesis and inducing structural transformation of functional components, but also provides theoretical guidance for the optimization of the traditional processing method based on nine cycles of steaming and drying for achieving optimal effects on enhancing the medicinal effects of P. cyrtonema rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background According to Chinese ancient books, both fruits and rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua have medicinal and edible values. Up to now, there is no report about the metabolite profiles and regulatory network in fruits and different year-old rhizomes of P. cyrtonema. Results In this study, we performed integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome to reveal the dynamic accumulation and regulatory network of fruits and different year-old rhizomes in P. cyrtonema. The relative content of phenolic acids, lignans and coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids increased with growth years, while steroids and lipids decreased with it. In addition, the relative content of nucleotides and derivatives, flavonoids, organic acids, steroids and lipids in fruits were higher than rhizomes. Genes that might relate to the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpene saponins and alkaloids biosynthesis were further analyzed by transcriptome analysis, including sacA, GMPP, PMM, CCoAOMT, CHI, ANR, CHS, DXS, GGPS, ZEP, CYP72A219 and so on, for their expressions were positively correlated with the relative content of the metabolites. Additionally, the correlation network in sugar and aromatic amino acids metabolites were constructed to further illustrate the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids and alkaloids in P. cyrtonema, and some transcription factors (TFs) were screened, such as C2C2, MYB, bZIP, GRAS and NAC. Conclusions This study can deepen our understanding of the accumulation patterns and molecular mechanism of the main compounds in P. cyrtonema, and provide reference for the standardize production of P. cyrtonema.

With Polygonatum cyrtonema tender buds as subjects, Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea was prepared using the technology for processing flat green tea after fixation by microwave, pan frying and steaming, respectively. The effects of different fixation methods on the quality of Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea was then explored through physicochemical composition, color and gloss of tea broth, volatile aroma component analysis and organoleptic evaluation. The results showed that the Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea prepared by microwave fixation not only presented good organoleptic properties, but also had the highest contents of water extract, soluble sugar, tea polyphenols and total flavonoids, 48.04%, 14.49%, 1.32% and 1.66%, respectively. A total of 84 volatile olfactory compounds were detected in Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea prepared by the three different fixation methods, mainly consisting of aldehydes (12 types), ketones (11 types), olefins (10 types), alcohols (8 types) and esters (8 types). There were 10, 12 and 7 key aroma components in Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea with microwave, pan frying and steaming fixation, respectively. Among them, ethyl butyrate was a unique key aroma component to microwave fixation, while heptanal, pentanal, hexanal and 1-pentanol were the key aroma components unique to pan frying fixation. Overall, there are differences in the quality of Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea prepared by different fixation methods, among which microwave fixation is more suitable for the preparation of Polygonatum cyrtonema tender bud tea.

Background: According to Chinese ancient books, both fruits and rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua have medicinal and edible values. Up to now, there is no report about the metabolite profiles and regulatory network in fruits and different year-old rhizomes of P. cyrtonema. Results: In this study, we performed integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome to reveal the dynamic accumulation and regulatory network of fruits and different year-old rhizomes in P. cyrtonema. The relative content of phenolic acids, lignans and coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids increased with growth years, while steroids and lipids decreased with it. In addition, the relative content of nucleotides and derivatives, flavonoids, organic acids, steroids and lipids in fruits were higher than rhizomes. Genes that might relate to the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpene saponins and alkaloids biosynthesis were further analyzed by transcriptome analysis, including sacA, GMPP, PMM, CCoAOMT, CHI, ANR, CHS, DXS, GGPS, ZEP, CYP72A219 and so on, for their expressions were positively correlated with the relative content of the metabolites. Additionally, the correlation network in sugar and aromatic amino acids metabolites were constructed to further illustrate the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids and alkaloids in P. cyrtonema, and some transcription factors (TFs) were screened, such as C2C2, MYB, bZIP, GRAS and NAC. Conclusions: This study can deepen our understanding of the accumulation patterns and molecular mechanism of the main compounds in P. cyrtonema, and provide reference for the standardize production of P. cyrtonema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH), as an important economic crop, is used as raw industrial materials and traditional Chinese medicine. There are significant variations in the quality of PCH from different geographical origins. It can be due to the change of the endophytic fungi and soil microbial communities of PCH. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the composition and functional prediction of the main microbial communities in the rhizomes and soil of PCH and explore their impact on medicinal quality. High-throughput sequencing techniques targeting ITS and 16S rDNA were employed to compare the structure and biodiversity differences of endophytic fungi in the rhizomes and soil microbial communities of PCH from 12 different locations in Sichuan and Guangxi province. Heatmap analysis was used for comprehensive statistics and visualization of the richness of rhizome and soil microbial communities from all locations. Venn analysis was conducted to determine the total number of shared fungi between rhizomes and soil, and GraphPad Prism analysis was employed to predict and compare the microbial communities related to phenotypes at the genus level in Sichuan and Guangxi. Tax4Fun and Fungild were used for metabolic function prediction of microbial communities in the rhizomes and soil of PCH. The results revealed the identification of 19,387 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in the rhizomes and 37,990 bacterial ASVs in the soil, with 6,889 shared bacterial ASVs. In addition, 2,948 fungal ASVs were identified in the rhizomes and 8,868 in the soil, with 1,893 shared fungal ASVs. Microbial sequencing results indicated that the fungal communities between soil and rhizomes were mainly composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, while bacterial communities included Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidota, Gammatimonadota, and Firmicutes. Dominant bacterial groups such as Nitrospira, Acidibacter, and fungal groups including Mortierella, Ceratobasidium, and Fusarium were identified as potential contributors to the observed traits. In the top 15 microbial genera, both Sichuan and Guangxi contain 15 bacterial genera, but there are differences in their abundance. Guangxi has three unique fungal genera, including the genera Scleroderma, Russula, and Gliocladiopsis. On the other hand, Sichuan has the unique fungal genus Chamaeota. The correlation analysis between the microbiota and the chemical content from 12 different collecting spots was performed by GraphPad Prism. Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Acidibacter, and Amycolatopsis show an inverse proportionality to total polysaccharides and saponins, while Enterobacter shows a direct proportionality to total polysaccharides and inverse proportionality to saponins. The metabolism pathways show a significant positive correlation with PCH polysaccharides and saponins. This study provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the quality differences between the two major indigenous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neutral Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (NPCP) was isolated and purified from Polygonatum cyrtonema by various chromatographic techniques, including DEAE-52 and Sephadex-G100 chromatography. The structure of NPCP was characterized by HPLC, HPGPC, GC-MS, FT-IR, NMR, and SEM. Results showed that NPCP is composed of glucose (55.4%) and galactose (44.6%) with a molecular weight of 3.2 kDa, and the sugar chain of NPCP was →1)-α-D-Glc-(4→1)-β-D-Gal-(3→. In vitro bioactivity experiments demonstrated that NPCP significantly enhanced macrophages proliferation and phagocytosis while inhibiting the M1 polarization induced by LPS as well as the M2 polarization induced by IL-4 and IL-13 in macrophages. Additionally, NPCP suppressed the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in both M1 and M2 cells but promoted the secretion of IL-10. These results suggest that NPCP could serve as an immunomodulatory agent with potential applications in anti-inflammatory therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (family Asparagaceae) is an endemic plant in China that is valuable for its edible and medicinal uses. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are natural or synthetic compounds that can regulate plant development and metabolism effectively. To explore potential applications of PGRs for improving the yield and bioactivity of this plant, four PGRs, including gibberellic acid (GA3), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), were used in this study and sprayed on the growing seedlings of P. cyrtonema. All of these PGRs did not significantly affect the growth rate of P. cyrtonema, but they had varying effects on the polysaccharide and saponin content in the rhizome. NAA and 6-BA positively affected the polysaccharide content, while most PGR treatments negatively affected the saponin content. Widely targeted metabolomic analysis based on UPLC-MS/MS was conducted and revealed 101 differential metabolites in response to 6-BA, most of which were flavonoids, steroids and lipids. Most of the significantly changed flavonoids decreased under the 6-BA treatment. The study provides insights into the potential use of PGRs for improving the quality of P. cyrtonema, particularly in regulating the content of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Brewing is the property of China Brewing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, an edible resource and medical material, is mainly consumed as a food in China. However, few published studies have comprehensively assessed its nutritional components. In this study, the proximate, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber contents as well as the mineral, vitamin, and amino acid compositions of five sources of P. cyrtomena grown in Yuhang district, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, were investigated. The nutritional profile of the five germplasms was investigated using analytical chemistry methods. All germplasms had a low starch content and contained greater amounts of carbohydrates (23.25–34.29%), protein (2.96–5.40%), Ca (195.08–282.08 mg/100 g), Fe (29.68–59.37 mg/100 g), and vitamin C (60.49–149.86 mg/100 g) in comparison to ginger, yam, and potatoes. The polysaccharide content ranged from 16.92% to 28.48%, representing the main source of carbohydrates. Fructose, a desirable sweetener, was the most abundant monosaccharide, representing 1.06% to 4.88% of the content. P. cyrtonema was found to be high in dietary fiber, with pectin and resistant starch being the major soluble components and hemicellulose being the dominant insoluble dietary fiber. A correlation analysis (CA) revealed significant correlations for the carbohydrate components and dietary fiber fractions with other nutrients. A principal component analysis (PCA) identified significant differences between the nutritional characteristics of the five germplasms, with Huanggang having the highest comprehensive quality scores. Moreover, ten nutrient components were selected as potential indicators that could be used to further evaluate the nutritional quality of P. cyrtomena. Our results demonstrate the rich nutrient composition and characteristics of P. cyrtonema and provide a valuable reference for the future development and utilization of Polygonatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polygonatum cyrtonema (giant Chinese Solomon's seal) is a perennial herb belonging to the family Liliaceae, with significant medicinal and dietary value. However, a severe rhizome rot has led to a decline in the yield and quality of this species. In this study, a fungus was isolated from symptomatic rhizome samples and identified as Fusarium commune through molecular and morphological analyses. In pathogenicity tests, the identification of F. commune as the causative agent of rhizome rot was confirmed by fulfilling Koch's postulates. Biological characteristics indicated that the optimal growth conditions for F. commune were a temperature of 25°C, pH of 8, carbon source of soluble starch, nitrogen source of peptone and a photoperiod of 24 h light. In order to reduce the use of chemical fungicides and explore natural substances to control the disease, the sensitivity of F. commune to seven phytochemicals was studied. Four phytochemicals (honokiol, 2‐allylphenol, magnolol and carvacrol) showed inhibitory activity, with honokiol having a 50% of the maximal effect concentration (EC50) of 9.99 ± 0.14 mg/L. The results of pot experiment showed that the four phytochemicals had significant control efficacy on the rhizome rot of P. cyrtonema, and the highest control efficacy was observed with honokiol. These findings provide a scientific basis for the control of rhizome rot in P. cyrtonema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice cake is a common traditional food in China. In this study, the effect of Polygonatum cyrtonema (PC) on the qualities and characteristics of rice cake was investigated. The incorporation of PC powder in rice cakes endowed a light-yellow color and increased the water content and water absorption of products. Rheological analysis showed that the rice cake containing PC exhibited weak-gel properties. Additionally, PC (40%) inhibited the rice cake aging and lowered the hardness of rice cakes to 13.86 N after 4 h storage. In vitro starch digestion analysis showed that PC (40%) reduced the digestibility of rice cakes by decreasing the starch hydrolysis rate from 88.70 to 58.95%, displaying a low estimated glycemic index (eGI) of 52.14. The findings mentioned above indicated that the inclusion of PC powder in rice cakes enhanced their characteristics and attributes, which also provided an approach for the development of PC products.

Polygonatum cyrtonema seeds have a comprehensive dormancy phenomenon, and analyzing the changes of key genes before and after seeds germination plays an important role in exploring seed physiology and breaking dormancy. Based on high-throughput sequencing technology (Illumina HiSeq 2500), the transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were carried out in four stages of P. cyrtonema seed germination with three biological replicates. The results were as follows: (1) A total of 388 231 Transcripts and 178 319 Unigenes were obtained by de novo assembly. (2) Among the 11 817 Unigenes with significant differences before and after germination, 6 405 were up-regulated and 5 412 were down-regulated. (3) Significant difference genes were enriched and analyzed in the GO enrichment analysis, and the differential expression up- and down-regulation Uningenes were main enriched in biological process and molecular function, which were mainly involved in metabolic processes and catalytic activities. (4) KEGG significant enrichment indicated that the differential expression genes were mainly enriched in ribosome, plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism and other pathways; the up-regulated differential genes were mainly enriched in ribosome 231, plant hormone signal transduction 56, starch and sucrose metabolism 76 and others; the down-regulated differential genes were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis 48 plant hormone signal transduction 48, starch and sucrose metabolism 48, and other pathways; a total of 40 differential genes were involved in the synthesis of auxin pathway key enzymes. Genes encoding sucrose phosphate synthase were down-regulated and genes encoding glycogen phosphorylase were up-regulated in starch and sucrose metabolic pathways. The above results preliminarily identify that plant hormone signal transduction and starch and sucrose metabolism play a key role before and after the germination of P. cyrtonema seeds, and clarify the key genes involved in these two pathways, which provide a reference for further research on the physiology, reproduction and breeding of P. cyrtonema seeds.

The aims of this study were to explore the significant chemical changes in functional components induced by the traditional processing method and evaluate whether this method based on nine cycles of steaming and drying can effectively enhance the medicinal effects of Polygonatum cyrtonema rhizome. A global analysis on dynamic changes in secondary metabolites during nine processing cycles was performed, and the significantly differentially accumulated secondary metabolites were initially identified based on the secondary metabolome. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLA-DA) on secondary metabolites clearly showed that processing significantly increased the global accumulation of secondary metabolites in processed P. cyrtonema rhizomes compared to unprocessed crude rhizomes. The first six processing cycles induced drastic changes in the accumulation of functional components, while the last three did not induce further changes. The accumulations of most functional components were significantly enhanced after the first three cycles and stabilized after six cycles; meanwhile, the first three cycles also led to numerous new components. However, the enhancing effects were unavoidably reversed or weakened under continued processing lasting 6–9 cycles. Furthermore, continued processing also reduced the contents of a small number of original components to undetectable levels. Processing induced some significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, among which the first three processing cycles enhanced the synthesis of various secondary metabolites and significantly affected the metabolisms of amino acids. In conclusion, this study not only reveals that processing can effectively enhance the medicinal effects, by two main mechanisms including enhancing chemical synthesis and inducing structural transformation of functional components, but also provides theoretical guidance for the optimization of the traditional processing method based on nine cycles of steaming and drying for achieving optimal effects on enhancing the medicinal effects of P. cyrtonema rhizome.

Extraction of plant polysaccharides often results in a large amount of proteins, which is hard to eliminate from the crude extract, and conventional approaches for deproteinization are time-consuming and often involve hazardous organic solvents. In this study, ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) was used to create an ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) for the separation of the polysaccharide (PcP) and protein extracted from the rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was first applied to assess the feasibility of the ILATPS, and MgS�€�4 was determined to be the most suitable inorganic salt. By adopting the Taguchi experiment with an L9 (34) orthogonal array, it was found that the best condition for the efficient separation of crude PcP was at 25°C, with 1.5 g of TBABr, 15 mg of PcP, and 2.0 g of MgS�€�4, with the extraction efficiency for the protein and polysaccharide as 98.6% and 93.5%, respectively. The purified PcP was homogeneous, and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 7,554 Da. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated the PcP comprised mannose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 33:13: 8:3.5:2:1. This approach offers a practical tactic to purify polysaccharides of plant origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interplanting the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Polygonatum cyrtonema and Bletilla striata under forest is one of the main modes of under-forest economy, which has good social and economic benefits, but the impact of interplanting on the understory plant diversity is still unclear. By taking the Cunninghamia lanceolata forest interplanted with Polygonatum cyrtonema and Bletilla striata for four years in southwest Zhejiang and the original ecological forest land without interplanting (CK) as the objects, the composition, species and quantity of the understory shrubs, herbs and vines were studied by using the standard land method. The results showed that after 4 years of interplanting Polygonatum cyrtonema and Bletilla striata, the species of herbaceous plants under Cunninghamia lanceolata forest, increased sign迁icantly by 17. 4% --26. 1 % (P<0. 05), while the species of vine plants decreased significantly by 33. 3% (P

Polygonatum cyrtonema seeds have a comprehensive dormancy phenomenon, and analyzing the changes of key genes before and after seeds germination plays an important role in exploring seed physiology and breaking dormancy. Based on high-throughput sequencing technology (Illumina Hiseq 2500), the transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were carried out in four stages of P. cyrtonema seed germination with three biological replicates. The results were as follows: (1) 388 231 Transcripts and 178 319 Unigenes were obtained by de novo assembly. (2) Among the 11 817 Unigenes with significant differences before and after germination, 6 405 were up-regulated and 5 412 were down-regulated. (3) Significant difference genes were enriched and analyzed in the GO enrichment analysis, and the differential expression up- and down-regulation Uningenes were main enriched in biological process and molecular function, which were mainly involved in metabolic processes and catalytic activities. (4) KEGG significant enrichment indicated that the differential expression genes were mainly enriched in ribosome, plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism and other pathways; the up-regulated differential genes were mainly enriched in ribosome 231, plant hormone signal transduction 56, starch and sucrose metabolism 76 and others; the down-regulated differential genes were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis 48 plant hormone signal transduction 48, starch and sucrose metabolism 48, and other pathways; a total of 40 differential genes were involved in the synthesis of auxin pathway key enzymes. Genes encoding sucrose phosphate synthase were down-regulated and genes encoding glycogen phosphorylase were up-regulated in starch and sucrose metabolic pathways. This paper preliminarily clarified that plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism played a key role before and after the seeds germination of P. cyrtonema and analyzed the key genes involved in these two pathways. This study preliminarily clarifies that plant hormone signal transduction and starch and sucrose metabolism play a key role before and after the germination of P. cyrtonema seeds, and analyzes the key genes involved in these two pathways, which provides a reference for further research on the physiology, reproduction and breeding of P. cyrtonema seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a traditional Chinese medicinal food herb which can regulate the liver and Qi, nourish the heart and blood, moisten the lungs and nourish the kidneys with the potential to treat emotional diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua on postpartum depression. Therefore, we investigated whether processed Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua could improve postpartum depression in rat models by regulating monoamines and hormones. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal control (0.9%Nacl), Sham operation (0.9%Nacl), postpartum depression model (0.9%Nacl), fluoxetine (2.5 mg/kg Fluoxetine), low, medium and high dose of processed Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, 10 g/kg) groups. Rats in these groups received drug intervention, and then subjected to Open-field test and Forced swimming test. Brain tissues and serum samples were collected and used to quantify levels of monoamines, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and serum Estradiol. The status of neuronal cells in hippocampus 1 region was examined through hematoxylin-eosin staining, whereas expression of estrogen receptor α and β was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Rats in the model group showed decreased mobility time, the disorder of neuronal cells in hippocampus 1 area, and decreased concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine in brain tissue, norepinephrine and estradiol in serum as well as estrogen receptor α and β expression. They also exhibited increased adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone and corticotropin releasing hormone in serum. However, the treatment with processed Polygonatum cyrtonem Hua or fluoxetine reversed the above abnormalities. Conclusion: The H group showed significant improvement in postpartum depression in rats, and processed Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua can be used as a developing drug for the prevention or treatment of depression.

Extraction of plant polysaccharides often results in a large amount of proteins, which is hard to eliminate from the crude extract, and conventional approaches for deproteinization are time-consuming and often involve hazardous organic solvents. In this study, ionic liquid tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) was used to create an ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (ILATPS) for the separation of the polysaccharide (PcP) and protein extracted from the rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was first applied to assess the feasibility of the ILATPS, and MgSO4 was determined to be the most suitable inorganic salt. By adopting the Taguchi experiment with an L9 (3^4) orthogonal array, it was found that the best condition for the efficient separation of crude PcP was at 25°C, with 1.5 g of TBABr, 15 mg of PcP, and 2.0 g of MgSO4, with the extraction efficiency for the protein and polysaccharide as 98.6% and 93.5%, respectively. The purified PcP was homogeneous, and its weight average molecular weight (Mw) was 7,554 Da. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated the PcP comprised mannose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 33:13:8:3.5:2:1. This approach offers a practical tactic to purify polysaccharides of plant origin.

Polygonatum cyrtonema (P. cyrtonema) is a valuable rhizome-propagating traditional Chinese medical herb. Polysaccharides (PCPs) are the major bioactive constituents in P. cyrtonema. However, the molecular basis of PCP biosynthesis in P. cyrtonema remains unknown. In this study, we measured the PCP contents of 11 wild P. cyrtonema germplasms. The results showed that PCP content was the highest in Lishui Qingyuan (LSQY, 11.84%) and the lowest in Hangzhou Lin'an (HZLA, 7.18%). We next analyzed the transcriptome profiles of LSQY and HZLA. Through a qRT-PCR analysis of five differential expression genes from the PCP biosynthesis pathway, phosphomannomutase, UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (galE), and GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase were determined as the key enzymes. A protein of a key gene, galE1, was localized in the chloroplast. The PCP content in the transiently overexpressed galE1 tobacco leaves was higher than in the wild type. Moreover, luciferase and Y1H assays indicated that PcWRKY31 and PcWRKY34 could activate galE1 by binding to its promoter. Our research uncovers the novel regulatory mechanism of PCP biosynthesis in P. cyrtonema and is critical to molecular-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neutral Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (NPCP) was isolated and purified from Polygonatum cyrtonema by various chromatographic techniques, including DEAE-52 and Sephadex-G100 chromatography. The structure of NPCP was characterized by HPLC, HPGPC, GC-MS, FT-IR, NMR, and SEM. Results showed that NPCP is composed of glucose (55.4%) and galactose (44.6%) with a molecular weight of 3.2 kDa, and the sugar chain of NPCP was →1)-α-D-Glc-(4→1)-β-D-Gal-(3→. In vitro bioactivity experiments demonstrated that NPCP significantly enhanced macrophages proliferation and phagocytosis while inhibiting the M1 polarization induced by LPS as well as the M2 polarization induced by IL-4 and IL-13 in macrophages. Additionally, NPCP suppressed the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in both M1 and M2 cells but promoted the secretion of IL-10. These results suggest that NPCP could serve as an immunomodulatory agent with potential applications in anti-inflammatory therapy.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (family Asparagaceae) is an endemic plant in China that is valuable for its edible and medicinal uses. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are natural or synthetic compounds that can regulate plant development and metabolism effectively. To explore potential applications of PGRs for improving the yield and bioactivity of this plant, four PGRs, including gibberellic acid (GA3), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL), were used in this study and sprayed on the growing seedlings of P. cyrtonema. All of these PGRs did not significantly affect the growth rate of P. cyrtonema, but they had varying effects on the polysaccharide and saponin content in the rhizome. NAA and 6-BA positively affected the polysaccharide content, while most PGR treatments negatively affected the saponin content. Widely targeted metabolomic analysis based on UPLC-MS/MS was conducted and revealed 101 differential metabolites in response to 6-BA, most of which were flavonoids, steroids and lipids. Most of the significantly changed flavonoids decreased under the 6-BA treatment. The study provides insights into the potential use of PGRs for improving the quality of P. cyrtonema, particularly in regulating the content of bioactive compounds.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, an edible resource and medical material, is mainly consumed as a food in China. However, few published studies have comprehensively assessed its nutritional components. In this study, the proximate, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber contents as well as the mineral, vitamin, and amino acid compositions of five sources of P. cyrtomena grown in Yuhang district, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, were investigated. The nutritional profile of the five germplasms was investigated using analytical chemistry methods. All germplasms had a low starch content and contained greater amounts of carbohydrates (23.25–34.29%), protein (2.96–5.40%), Ca (195.08–282.08 mg/100 g), Fe (29.68–59.37 mg/100 g), and vitamin C (60.49–149.86 mg/100 g) in comparison to ginger, yam, and potatoes. The polysaccharide content ranged from 16.92% to 28.48%, representing the main source of carbohydrates. Fructose, a desirable sweetener, was the most abundant monosaccharide, representing 1.06% to 4.88% of the content. P. cyrtonema was found to be high in dietary fiber, with pectin and resistant starch being the major soluble components and hemicellulose being the dominant insoluble dietary fiber. A correlation analysis (CA) revealed significant correlations for the carbohydrate components and dietary fiber fractions with other nutrients. A principal component analysis (PCA) identified significant differences between the nutritional characteristics of the five germplasms, with Huanggang having the highest comprehensive quality scores. Moreover, ten nutrient components were selected as potential indicators that could be used to further evaluate the nutritional quality of P. cyrtomena. Our results demonstrate the rich nutrient composition and characteristics of P. cyrtonema and provide a valuable reference for the future development and utilization of Polygonatum.

Agroforestry has great potential for improving the ecological environment and raising the ecosystem productivity. This study is aim to evaluate the soil quality of bamboo forest and identify the main site factor that influencing the yield of Polygonatum tubers following the agroforestry practices. Four intercropping modes with different culm densities were conducted in Anhui, East China. The minimum data set method (MDS) was applied to evaluate soil quality index (SQI). Based on principal component analysis (PCA), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), available potassium (AK), altitude, and pH were selected as the MDS. The results showed that intercropping significantly increased SQI compared with moso bamboo monoculture. The mode M1(1750 culms/ha) was significantly better than other modes in improving soil fertility and increasing the yield of Polygonatum tubers. Results from random forest and structural equation model (SEM) showed the direct path coefficient of density on Polygonatum tubers yield was the largest, which was −0.83. Altitude, soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) had a small impact, with direct path coefficient of 0.16, 0.10, and 0.15 (p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for managing the moso bamboo and P. cyrtonema agroforestry system in a more effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Polygonatum cyrtonema, one of origins of Polygonata Rhizoma (HuangJing in Chinese), is traditionally steamed repeatedly before being used as herbal medicine in China. However, there has no standard for steaming of HuangJing. Therefore, a comprehensive study for effects of steam on polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema based on saccharide mapping, a powerful method developed for polysaccharides analysis, and pharmacological activity are still necessary, which is helpful to explore the effect of steam on the physiochemical and biological activities of its polysaccharides and develop steaming standard of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Methods To explore the effect of steam on physiochemical and biological activities of P. cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCP), six polysaccharides named PCP0, PCP1, PCP2, PCP3, PCP4 and PCP5 were extracted from the herb consecutively steamed for 0–5 times, respectively. Their molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition and PACE fingerprints were investigated through HPSEC-MALLS-RID, HPAEC-PAD and saccharide mapping based on polysaccharides analysis by using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) and HPTLC, respectively. In addition, their antioxidant ability and immunostimulatory activities on RAW 264.7 cells in terms of NO production and phagocytosis were compared. Results Results suggested that molecular weights could be changed during steam, which increased by first steaming and then decreased with further steaming though all polysaccharides’ molecular weights were 105-107 Da. They all showed irregularly spherical conformation in aqueous solution based on AFM imaging. Their monosaccharide composition and PACE fingerprints were significantly different after steaming, i.e., galactose increased while glucose and mannose decreased, and β-1,4-Galp appeared while β-1,4-Manp increased, after steaming. Steamed PCP significantly increased scavenging activity against ABTS radicals, while PCP0 had the best immunostimulatory effect on RAW 264.7 in terms of NO production and phagocytosis. Conclusions In summary, steam significantly affected the chemical composition and bioactivities of polysaccharides from P. cyrtonema. Considering the balance beneficial effects of steaming on antioxidant and immunopotentiation activities of PCP, 2 times of continuous steam is the optimal choice under the given conditions.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a traditional Chinese herb medicine, and it is widely distributed in China. The intrageneric taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships within Polygonatum have long been controversial due to their morphological similarity and lacking special DNA barcodes. In this paper, the complete chloroplast genome is a relatively conserved quadripartite structure including a large single copy region of 84 711 bp, a small single copy region of 18 210 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats region of 26 142 bp. A total of 342 simple sequence repeats were identified, and most of them were found to be composed of A/T, including 126 mono-nucleotides and 179 di-nucleotides. Nucleotide diversity was analyzed and eight highly variable regions (psbl∼trnT-CGU, atpF∼atpH, trnT-GGU∼psbD, psaJ∼rps20, trnL-UAG∼ndhD, ndhG∼ndhl, ndhA, and rpl32∼ccsA) were identified as potential molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole chloroplast genome showed that P. cyrtonema, within the family Asparagaceae, is closely related to Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum kingianum. The sequence matK, trnT-GGU & ccsA, and ndhG∼ndhA were identified as three DNA barcodes. The assembly and comparative analysis of P. cyrtonema complete chloroplast genome will provide essential molecular information about the evolution and molecular biology for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study focuses on improving the comprehensive utilization rate of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Methods: The contents of total flavonoids, total saponins and total phenols from roots, stems, leaves, flowers and buds, of P. cyrtonema were determined. The scavenging rates of DPPH·, ·OH and nitrites in extracts of above tissue were measured and compared as well. Results: The contents of total flavonoids and total phenols five different kinds of non-medicinal tissue were in the same order, in which from highest to lowest was, leaves, buds, flowers, stems and roots, and the content of total saponins in flower was the highest In terms of antioxidant activity, the DPPH ·, ·OH and nitrite scavenging rate of leaf extract were the highest, followed by buds and flowers. Correlation analysis showed that the clearance of DPPH ·, · OH and nitrite by the extract from different tissue showed a certain positive correlation with the contents of total flavonoids, total saponins and total phenols. Conclusion: The extract of non-medicinal parts of P. cyrtonema has good biological activity.

In this paper, the polysaccharides fingerprints of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. were constructed, combined with various chemometric methods, to evaluate the differences of P. cyrtonema polysaccharides from different origins. The 1-pheny-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) pre-column derivatization-HPLC method was applied to analyze the monosaccharide composition and total polysaccharide content of P. cyrtonema. Furthermore, the fingerprints were further evaluated by chemometric methods, including similarity analysis (SA), cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the composition of monosaccharides was galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, galactose, glucose, and xylose. The similarities were ranged from 0.781 to 0.945. In addition, the content of total polysaccharides was in the range of 7.18% to 16.27%. HCA and PCA all divided P. cyrtonema polysaccharides from different origins into two categories, the samples collected in Cili County, Hunan Province were a separate one. These results indicated that the polysaccharide fingerprints of P. cyrtonema were quite different. Establishing the standardized cultivation technology system of P. cyrtonema is necessary to ensure clinical efficacy and safety.

【Objective】Since 2017, an anthracnose was extensively occurred on P. cyrtonema in the Hunan province of China. The present paper aimed to clarify the pathogen and the sensitivity of the pathogen to fungicides.【Method】The pathogen fungal stains were isolated from symptomatic leaves and identified by both morphological and molecular tools using both the ITS, ACT, CHS-1 and GPDH gene regions. Pathogenicity was confirmed with inoculation experiments that fulfilled the Koch's postulates. On this basis, the indoor toxicity of 5 fungicides to the pathogen was determined by mycelial growth rate method.【Result】By tissue isolation, 16 morphologically identical strains were isolated from the diseased diseased leaves of four plantation in Hunan province, and the colony morphology and culture characteristics of the strains were observed to confirm that they were Colletotrichum sp.. Molecular identification of CLHJY4-3 determined that the pathogen was C. spaethianum. The pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation and the Koch's postulates was verified. The average growth rate of the hyphae of this pathogen was 1.1 cm/day. Conidia were 18.4 to 25.0 μm long and 3.9 to 5.3 μm wide. The seta were dark brown, with 2-3 septs, 79-107 μm long. The results of indoor toxicity determination showed that among the five agents, prochloraz had the strongest inhibitory effect on hyphal growth, EC50 was 0.031 μg/mL, followed by pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole, with the EC50 of 0.049 and 0.252 μg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory effects of thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim were relatively poor, with the EC50 of 2.911 and 1.763 μg/mL, respectively. 【Conclusion】C. spaethianum was the pathogen of leaf spot of P. cyrtonema in Hunan province. Moreover, prochloraz and pyraclostrobin were screened as better fungicides against the pathogen fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema is a medicinal and edible herb rich in polysaccharides, steroidal saponins, and flavonoids that has been widely used as a food, vegetable, and medicine over the years. Although previous studies have preliminarily explored the metabolic and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of the main secondary metabolites in P. cyrtonema, the complex mechanism of microRNA (miRNA)-mediated posttranscriptional regulation remains unclear. Metabolome analysis showed that isoophiopogonanone B, (25S)-pratioside D1, disporopsin, and isodiosgenin-Glc- Glc, which are associated with intermediates in the flavonoids and saponins pathways, were significantly upregulated in the stem and leaf compared with the rhizome, and most saccharides, including arabinose, cellobiose, maltotetraose, and panose, showed the opposite trend, suggesting that they may contribute to the formation and accumulation of the main active ingredients in P. cyrtonema. We found that 4-hydroxymandelonitrile have a relatively good inhibitory effect on a-glucosidase, indicating that it may play a role in hypoglycemic functions. Transcriptome and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) were combined to reveal several candidate genes involved in the accumulation of polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids, including PcSQLE, PcCYP71A1, PcSUS, PcFK, and PcMYB102. Integrated analyses of miRNAs and messengerRNAs (mRNAs) showed that novel_miR14, novel&lowbar;miR49, novel_miR75, and aof&lowbar;miR164 were negatively correlated with alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, including PcAOS, PcSPLA2, PcFRK1, and PcDELLA, indicating that these miRNAs may coordinately regulate the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites in P. cyrtonema. These findings will facilitate in-depth research on the functions of these miRNAs and mRNAs related to the main active substances for pathological and biological regulation, which will be beneficial to provide theoretical guidance for the molecular breeding of P. cyrtonema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema represents a highly valued traditional Chinese medicine. With a growing demand, the imperative arises for the establishment of an efficient tissue culture system for large-scale propagation. Here, we successfully developed a tissue culture system capable of yielding P. cyrtonema seedlings through somatic embryogenesis using immature embryos as explants within a 120-day timeframe. An optimum callus induction rate was achieved through a combination of 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D in MS medium, resulting in the formation of numerous highly active callus. Subsequent transfer of primary callus to a medium containing 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D in MS medium for 30 days yielded induction rates of 97.78%, 89.62%, 73.33%, and 66.67% for globular, heart, torpedo, and cotyledonary embryos, respectively. The highest rate of somatic embryo normal germination (73.33%) was observed in the MS+6-BA 2.0 mg/L+NAA 1.0 mg/L medium. Subsequent transfer of germinated somatic embryos to MS+IAA 0.5 mg/L+IBA 1.0 mg/L medium for 20 days resulted in robust tissue culture seedlings, with a survival rate of 93.33% when transplanted into a seedling substrate consisting of soil: perlite (3:1, v/v). This study not only marks the inaugural instance of somatic embryogenesis in Polygonatum species but also paves a foundation for the advent of breeding traditional Chinese medicinal herb P. cyrtonema via recent advanced biotechnological strategies. [Display omitted] • An indirect somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration system was established in P. cyrtonema. • The system demonstrates robustness and high efficiency in inducing both callus and somatic embryogenesis. • The characteristic embryogenesis stages were observed during the induction of somatic embryos from callus. • Regeneration of P. cyrtonema plantlets can be achieved within 120 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema (P. cyrtonema) is a valuable rhizome-propagating traditional Chinese medical herb. Polysaccharides (PCPs) are the major bioactive constituents in P. cyrtonema. However, the molecular basis of PCP biosynthesis in P. cyrtonema remains unknown. In this study, we measured the PCP contents of 11 wild P. cyrtonema germplasms. The results showed that PCP content was the highest in Lishui Qingyuan (LSQY, 11.84%) and the lowest in Hangzhou Lin’an (HZLA, 7.18%). We next analyzed the transcriptome profiles of LSQY and HZLA. Through a qRT-PCR analysis of five differential expression genes from the PCP biosynthesis pathway, phosphomannomutase, UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (galE), and GDP-mannose 4,6-dehydratase were determined as the key enzymes. A protein of a key gene, galE1, was localized in the chloroplast. The PCP content in the transiently overexpressed galE1 tobacco leaves was higher than in the wild type. Moreover, luciferase and Y1H assays indicated that PcWRKY31 and PcWRKY34 could activate galE1 by binding to its promoter. Our research uncovers the novel regulatory mechanism of PCP biosynthesis in P. cyrtonema and is critical to molecular-assisted breeding.

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Polygonatum cyrtonema, one of origins of Polygonata Rhizoma (HuangJing in Chinese), is traditionally steamed repeatedly before being used as herbal medicine in China. However, there has no standard for steaming of HuangJing. Therefore, a comprehensive study for effects of steam on polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema based on saccharide mapping, a powerful method developed for polysaccharides analysis, and pharmacological activity are still necessary, which is helpful to explore the effect of steam on the physiochemical and biological activities of its polysaccharides and develop steaming standard of Polygonatum cyrtonema. Methods: To explore the effect of steam on physiochemical and biological activities of P. cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCP), six polysaccharides named PCP0, PCP1, PCP2, PCP3, PCP4 and PCP5 were extracted from the herb consecutively steamed for 0–5 times, respectively. Their molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition and PACE fingerprints were investigated through HPSEC-MALLS-RID, HPAEC-PAD and saccharide mapping based on polysaccharides analysis by using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) and HPTLC, respectively. In addition, their antioxidant ability and immunostimulatory activities on RAW 264.7 cells in terms of NO production and phagocytosis were compared. Results: Results suggested that molecular weights could be changed during steam, which increased by first steaming and then decreased with further steaming though all polysaccharides' molecular weights were 105-107 Da. They all showed irregularly spherical conformation in aqueous solution based on AFM imaging. Their monosaccharide composition and PACE fingerprints were significantly different after steaming, i.e., galactose increased while glucose and mannose decreased, and β-1,4-Galp appeared while β-1,4-Manp increased, after steaming. Steamed PCP significantly increased scavenging activity against ABTS radicals, while PCP0 had the best immunostimulatory effect on RAW 264.7 in terms of NO production and phagocytosis. Conclusions: In summary, steam significantly affected the chemical composition and bioactivities of polysaccharides from P. cyrtonema. Considering the balance beneficial effects of steaming on antioxidant and immunopotentiation activities of PCP, 2 times of continuous steam is the optimal choice under the given conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a biodegradable food film, incorporating bioactive components of Polygonatum cyrtonema extracted using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) into a matrix of chitosan and soy protein isolate. The films containing varying concentrations (0 %-5 %) of P. cyrtonema extract (PCE) were characterized. The addition of PCE improved the mechanical (+25.9 MPa for tensile strength), optical (+11.29 mm -1 for opacity), and thermal stability (-14.39 % for weight loss) of the films. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates increased by approximately 1.1 times and 0.5 times, respectively, and malondialdehyde formation reduced by 8 %. The films also effectively inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. The films showed complete biodegradability after 7 days. Using the NADES-PCE coated film reduced the weight loss of sweet cherries by 41.04 % while significantly decreasing the loss of hardness, total phenols, vitamin C, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity, thereby considerably extending the storage life of the sweet cherries. Overall, this study developed a new environmentally friendly packaging material and improved the functionality of the packaging film by leveraging natural plant extracts, demonstrating tremendous potential in the field of food preservation and packaging., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study identified a new species ( Cercospora polygonatum ) that causes gray leaf spot (GLS) disease in cultivated Polygonatum cyrtonema . This fungal species was isolated from the affected region of GLS on P. cyrtonema leaves. Pathogenicity bioassays were conducted based on Koch's postulates. Morphology was examined based on the features of conidiomata, conidiogenous loci, conidia/conidiophores, and conidiogenous cells. The rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, calmodulin, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and histone genes were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the MrBayes tool in Phylosuite. Bootstrap support analysis for phylogenetic placement confirmed the new species, which was significantly different from the closely related species C. senecionis-walkeri and C. zeae-maydis . The morphological characteristics also supported this finding, with the conidiogenous cells of C. polygonatum being considerably shorter than those of C. senecionis-walkeri or C. zeae-maydis . In addition, C. polygonatum was distinguished by its cultural characteristics. As this fungus was isolated from P. cyrtonema , it was named C. polygonatum F.Q. Yin, M. Liu & W.L. Ma, sp. nov. The type specimen (H8-2) was preserved at the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center. This is the first report of GLS caused by C. polygonatum on P. cyrtonema leaves in China. The current study enriches the knowledge regarding Cercospora sp., contributes to the identification of a species causing GLS in P. cyrtonema , and provides useful information for the effective management of this disease., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Agroforestry has great potential for improving the ecological environment and raising the ecosystem productivity. This study is aim to evaluate the soil quality of bamboo forest and identify the main site factor that influencing the yield of Polygonatum tubers following the agroforestry practices. Four intercropping modes with different culm densities were conducted in Anhui, East China. The minimum data set method (MDS) was applied to evaluate soil quality index (SQI). Based on principal component analysis (PCA), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), available potassium (AK), altitude, and pH were selected as the MDS. The results showed that intercropping significantly increased SQI compared with moso bamboo monoculture. The mode M1(1750 culms/ha) was significantly better than other modes in improving soil fertility and increasing the yield of Polygonatum tubers. Results from random forest and structural equation model (SEM) showed the direct path coefficient of density on Polygonatum tubers yield was the largest, which was −0.83. Altitude, soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) had a small impact, with direct path coefficient of 0.16, 0.10, and 0.15 (p < 0.05), respectively. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for managing the moso bamboo and P. cyrtonema agroforestry system in a more effective manner.

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a traditional processing method, the Nine-Steam-Nine-Bask method has been widely used in the special processing of Chinese medicinal materials. With the highly integrated design and innovation of infiltrating equipment, steaming equipment, drying equipment, and other equipment, a new type of integrated equipment for the Nine-Steam-Nine-Bask method was finally developed and successfully applied in Polygonatum cyrtonema processing. Moreover, seven new processes were explored. The longer the steaming time was, the more steaming and drying cycles, the lower the product recovery rate and the higher the energy consumption. The higher the steaming pressure was, the lower the product recovery rate, the higher the energy consumption and the shorter the drying time. The longer the drying time was, the lower the product recovery rate and polysaccharide content, and the higher the energy consumption. The best new process was XGY1, which had the highest overall score. The steaming process was the most time-consuming and energy-intensive production process, followed by the drying process. The obtained results can provide knowledgeable guidance for the further optimization of the integrated equipment of the Nine-Steam-Nine-Bask method and the development and application of technology for processing characteristic Chinese medicinal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema , also known as Huangjing, belongs to the Liliaceae family and is a commonly used medicinal and edible plant in Asia. In recent years, P. cyrtonema root rot disease has frequently occurred in China, significantly impacting its yield and medicinal value. However, the pathogen of the disease has not yet been identified. In this study, we aimed to identify the pathogen causing the root rot disease of P. cyrtonema by applying morphological and molecular methods following Koch's postulates. Twelve fungal strains were isolated from nine diseased rhizomes of P. cyrtonema. Morphological analysis showed that the twelve isolates included eight colony types. Among that strain, HJ-5 has the typical characteristics of Fusarium oxysporum , including single-cell microconidia, chlamydospores, and sickle macroconidia. BLAST alignment and phylogenic tree based on the tef1 , rpb2 , β-tubulin , and ITS genes demonstrated that strain HJ-5 exhibits the highest similarity with Fusarium oxysporum. The strain HJ-5 is identified as F. oxysporum based on morphological and molecular characteristics. In addition, the pathogenicity test showed that among twelve isolates, only strain HJ-5 led to the rhizome softening and rotting on detached rhizomes and living plants of P. cyrtonema , consistent with symptoms observed in the field. To our knowledge, this is the first report on root rot disease in P. cyrtonema caused by F. oxysporum in China, which will provide a clear prevention and management target for the root rot disease of P. cyrtonema. • P. cyrtonema root rot disease has frequently occurred in China, significantly impacting its yield and medicinal value. • This is the first report on root rot disease in P. cyrtonema caused by F. oxysporum in China. • The finding provides straightforward prevention and management target for the root rot disease of P. cyrtonema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new diastereoisomeric phenolic compounds (1, 2) have been isolated from the methanol extract of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua leaves. Their structures were elucidated as (1S,2R) and (1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-ethoxypropan-2-ols by spectroscopic data (1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, HR-ESI-MS, and ORD). In addition, compounds 1 and 2 displayed potential aldose reductase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 29.05 and 22.38 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP) was subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion, followed by in vitro fermentation using human gut microbiota organisms. The results indicated that PCP did not degrade under simulated salivary conditions; however, a certain increase in reducing sugars and monosaccharides, and a slight reduction in the molecular weight of PCP in the gastrointestinal tract were observed, suggesting the partial degradation of PCP. During in vitro fermentation, a large proportion of PCP was degraded by the gut microbiota in fecal samples from both healthy and obese people. The utilization of PCP by the gut microbiota resulted in the generation of abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), leading to a reduction in environmental pH and stimulation of the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, such as Collinsella and Dialister, while impeding the growth of detrimental bacteria like Flavonifractor. The gut microbiota of healthy individuals exhibited greater efficiency in utilizing PCP compared to that of obese individuals. PICRUSt prediction analysis indicated that the regulation of the gut microbiota by PCP was mainly linked to carbohydrate, amino acid, energy, and lipid metabolic pathways. These results suggested that PCP may promote host health by modulating the gut microbiota and exhibiting potential prebiotic properties. • PCP was partially degraded during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. • PCP increases SCFAs levels in faeces from both healthy and obese people. • PCP has different effects on gut microorganisms in healthy and obese people. • PCP has potential prebiotic activity and could be used as functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is not only a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, but also processed into food and cosmetics. However, its large-scale cultivation and application are limited by the low reproduction rate for traditional artificial propagation technology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish an efficient and stable adventitious buds induction system for P. cyrtonema by using one bud rhizome segment as initial explants. The results showed that the optimal medium for the rhizome growth, adventitious buds occurrence and proliferation was MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg·L-1 BA, 1.0 mg·L-1 NAA and 1.0 mg·L-1 KT, with a proliferation coefficient of 6.5. The best rooting medium was found to be half strength of MS medium with 0.5-1.0 mg·L-1 NAA. The survival rate was higher than 95%. Finally, an asexual rapid propagation system of P. cyrtonema was established, which can provide the technical basis for the development of nursery culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new phenolic compounds, (1R,2R)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-methoxypropan-2-ol (1) and (1S,2S)-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethoxypropan-2-ol (2), and one known analog (3) have been isolated from the methanol extract of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua flowers and identified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, HR-ESI-MS, and optical rotations. In addition, compounds 1–3 displayed potential aldose reductase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 22.16, 17.63, and 28.74 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the process of artificial cultivation of Polygonatum cyrtonema, there were widespread problems such as non-standard selection of stand and soil・ In view of these problems, the growth characteristics of Polygonatum cyrtonema interplanted in different stands and its correlation with soil bulk density were analyzed・ The results showed that： Interplanting in different stands had great influence on the growth of Polygonatum cyrtonema and the soil bulk density. The soil bulk density was negatively correlated with the growth indexes of the aboveground and underground parts of Polygonatum cyrtonema. The yield of Polygonatum cyrtonema planted at the edge of the forest was the highest (253. 77 g·zhu-1), and the soil bulk density was the highest (1. 76 g·cm-3) in the understory plot of akebia stem, while the yield of Polygonatum cyrtonema interplanted was the lowest (58. 37 g·zhu-1). The edge of the forest was the optimal plot for planting Polygonatum cyrtonema. And the interplanting of Polygonatum cyrtonema should strengthen the regulation of soil organic matter and stand canopy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni / Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao is the property of Sun-Yat-Sen University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Steaming significantly decreased the polysaccharide content in the rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema. This study aimed to reveal the effects of steaming on structural characteristics and immunomodulatory activities of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP). The results showed that steaming decreased the polysaccharide content in the rhizome by 38.41%. Structural changes of PCP by steaming included molecular degradation, aggregation, and depolymerization, which also affected its immunological activities. Steaming first degraded β-type fructofuranose in PCP from raw rhizome. However, steaming for 2 h and 4 h increased the molecular weight and particle size, and changed the monosaccharide composition of the PCPs. Additionally, PCP at 2 h and 4 h had higher immunological activities than PCP from raw rhizome. Then, a longer steaming time (6–12 h) caused excessive destruction of PCP and had negative impacts on their immunological activities. These results revealed changes in PCP during the steaming process and provided a reference for the processing of Polygonatum cyrtonema, especially for avoiding overprocessing.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a perennial herb of the Asparagaceae family that is used for both dietary and medicinal purposes in China. In September 2019, a new leaf spot disease on Polygonatum cyrtonema was detected and is currently widespread in Huaihua, Hunan Province, China. Pathogenic fungi were isolated and purified from samples of diseased tissue that were collected for morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies. The pathogen was identified using multilocus (ITS, TEF-1, and TUB2) phylogenies, as well as morphological characters, and was found to be clustered but separately divergent from species of Pestalotiopsis . However, there were significant morphological differences between the pathogen and similar species. The pathogen was finally identified as a new species that was designated Pestalotiopsis xuefengensis . This is the first report of Pestalotiopsis xuefengensis serving as the causal agent of gray leaf spot on Polygonatum cyrtonema . This study will provide useful information for the diagnosis and management of this disease., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.