This article systematically reviews and verifies the name， origin， production area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and other aspects of Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma（CARR） by consulting relevant ancient and modern literature， in order to provide a basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. Through textual research， Baiwei has been the official name for CARR， though it also bears alternative names such as Chuncao， Popo Zhenxianbao， Longdan Baiwei. The mainstream base is the roots and rhizomes of Cynanchum atratum. Historical records indicate primary producing areas include Shandong， Anhui， Jiangsu， Shaanxi and Shanxi. Since the late Ming dynasty， varieties from Juxian， Yishui and Rizhao in Shandong have been highly regarded as authentic， commonly known as eastern Baiwei. Since modern times， its quality has been summarized as fine， slender， and straight fibrous roots， pale yellow exterior， whiter interior， and dryness with easy breakability are considered superior. The harvesting time before the Song dynasty was on the third day of the third lunar month， but after the Song dynasty， harvesting was possible in both spring and autumn. The initial processing methods of CARR in ancient times included drying in the shade， removing Lu（the little rhizomes which are on tap of roots）， and removing mustaches， modern methods involve washing and sun-drying. During the Northern and Southern dynasties， processing methods included steaming. In the Song dynasty， drying and light stir-frying were predominant， while wine washing emerged in the Ming dynasty. Modern practices primarily involve using raw， stir-frying or honey processing. Regarding the medicinal properties of CARR， both ancient and modern texts agree it has a bitter and salty taste and is non-toxic. Records prior to the Qing dynasty predominantly describe its nature as extremely cold， while mainstream herbal texts after the Qing dynasty generally characterize it as cold. Before the Ming dynasty， there were no records of its meridian tropism. It was not until the Qing dynasty that it was recorded in the lung meridian. Modern records mainly refer to the stomach， liver， and kidney meridians. Throughout history， its main functions have been to clear heat， diuresis， nourish Yin， and replenish essence， primarily treating Yin deficiency and fever syndrome. Based on the research results， it is suggested that when developing famous classical formulas containing CARR， the dried roots and rhizomes of C. atratum can be selected as its medicinal source. If there are no specific processing requirements， raw products can be selected as medicine. If the processing requirements are specified， corresponding processed products can be selected as medicine according to the original formula requirements.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of modified Buyang Huanwu Tang on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury （CI/RI） in mice via the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1/E3 ubiquitin ligase （PINK1/Parkin） signaling pathway-mediated mitophagy， and to explore the underlying mechanism by which modified Buyang Huanwu Tang improves CI/RI. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups （n = 12 per group）： Sham-operated group， middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Buyang Huanwu Tang groups （8.84， 17.68， 35.36 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and an aspirin group （13.00 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Neurological deficit scores were assessed using the Zea-Longa method. Cerebral infarct volume ratio was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Histopathological changes and neuronal injury in brain tissues were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） assay. Mitochondrial ultrastructure in brain tissue was observed by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. Serum levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PINK1， Parkin， microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B， LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ）， and p62 in brain tissues were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group， the MCAO/R model group showed significantly increased neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volume ratios （P<0.01）. Severe cortical injury on the infarct side was observed， characterized by decreased neuronal density， cytoplasmic vacuolation， nuclear pyknosis， a marked reduction in Nissl bodies， dissolution of Nissl bodies in the cytoplasm of some pyramidal neurons， and blurred cellular boundaries. The number of TUNEL-positive cells increased significantly （P<0.01）. Mitochondria exhibited cristae membrane rupture and matrix vacuolation， with rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane and formation of autophagosomes， the number of which increased significantly. Serum SOD activity decreased significantly （P<0.01）， while MDA content increased significantly （P<0.01）. In infarcted brain tissues of model mice， the relative mRNA expression and protein levels of PINK1， Parkin and LC3B were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， whereas p62 mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， showing statistical significance. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups showed significantly decreased neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volume ratios （P<0.01）. Neuronal density increased significantly， cytoplasmic vacuolation was alleviated， nuclear morphology tended to be more regular and clearer， Nissl body density increased significantly with reduced dissolution and improved contour clarity. The mitochondrial cristae structure was partially restored， with some mitochondria showing autophagosome encapsulation， and the degree of mitochondrial damage was alleviated. Serum SOD activity increased significantly （P<0.01）， while MDA content decreased significantly. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while p62 mRNA and protein expression in the low- and medium-dose modified Buyang Huanwu Tang groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， showing statistical significance. ConclusionModified Buyang Huanwu Tang can upregulate the protein expression levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ and downregulate p62 protein expression， suggesting that it may improve CI/RI by regulating the expression of proteins related to the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway. Regulation of the mitophagy pathway may be one of the mechanisms by which modified Buyang Huanwu Tang alleviates CI/RI in mice.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is fundamentally driven by an imbalance in hepatic fatty-acid flux: the influx of fatty acids exceeds the liver’s capacity for disposal, resulting in excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, predominantly in the form of triglycerides (TGs). The occurrence and progression of MAFLD depend on disordered regulation across multiple metabolic steps, including fatty-acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty-acid oxidation (FAO), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) export. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) is a key transcriptional regulator within the hepatic network coordinating glucose and lipid metabolism. Under metabolic stress and insulin resistance (IR), FOXO1 expression is frequently increased, whereas its inhibitory phosphorylation is reduced. These changes enhance FOXO1 nuclear localization and transcriptional activity, thereby reprogramming the expression of genes related to metabolism in the liver. Because hepatic lipid deposition is the central pathological feature of MAFLD, the functional status of FOXO1 directly influences hepatic lipid homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that FOXO1 can exert bidirectional, environment-dependent effects on hepatic lipid accumulation; however, the molecular basis for this functional switch remains incompletely understood. This review systematically summarizes the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of FOXO1 and its roles in hepatic lipid metabolism, with a particular focus on its crosstalk with insulin signaling. FOXO1 expression is shaped by RNA modifications and epigenetic regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs. Its transcriptional output is precisely governed by post-translational modifications—such as phosphorylation and acetylation—as well as by coordinated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Notably, these regulatory patterns vary markedly across nutritional states, degrees of insulin resistance, and stages of disease. In the fed state, insulin/IGF-1 signaling activates the PI3K-AKT pathway, promoting the inhibitory phosphorylation of FOXO1 and facilitating additional modifications, including acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. Together, these events drive FOXO1 export from the nucleus and dampen its transcriptional activity, suppressing gluconeogenesis and constraining lipogenic programs. Conversely, during fasting or when insulin signaling is weakened, FOXO1 inhibition is relieved. FOXO1 accumulates in the nucleus, binds to DNA, and regulates the transcription of downstream target genes. Mechanistically, FOXO1 can aggravate hepatic lipid accumulation by activating genes involved in TG synthesis while repressing FAO-related pathways, thereby favoring storage over oxidation. However, under specific conditions, FOXO1 may also alleviate the hepatic lipid burden by promoting TG hydrolysis and enhancing VLDL secretion, thereby reducing the net hepatic lipid load. In addition, lipotoxic signals mediated by ceramides and diacylglycerols (Cer/DAG) activate atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), further exacerbating the disruption of the AKT-FOXO1 axis. This vicious cycle ultimately produces a metabolic paradox in which increased hepatic glucose output coexists with persistent, insulin-independent lipogenesis, accelerating MAFLD progression. Importantly, FOXO1 regulation is not uniform: during early metabolic overload, insulin-mediated suppression may remain effective, whereas in advanced insulin resistance, the loss of AKT control permits sustained FOXO1 activity. Such stage-dependent dynamics may help explain why FOXO1 can either promote steatosis or, in certain contexts, support programs that facilitate lipid turnover. Accordingly, interventions should be liver-specific and tuned to the disease stage, aiming to curb maladaptive FOXO1 signaling while preserving its capacity to promote triglyceride hydrolysis and VLDL secretion when advantageous. Overall, this review offers an important perspective on MAFLD pathogenesis, emphasizing FOXO1 as a potential therapeutic target and providing a theoretical basis for developing liver-specific, disease-course-dependent precision interventions.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of M1 bone marrow-derived macrophages （M1-BMDM） with Wnt5a knockdown on liver fibrosis and regeneration in a rat model of liver cirrhosis， and to investigate its gain-of-function effect compared with unmodified M1-BMDM. MethodsPrimary bone marrow-derived macrophages were isolated from rats and were polarized to M1 phenotype to construct M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD cells. A rat model of liver cirrhosis induced by CCl₄/2-AAF was established， and at the end of week 8， rats were randomly divided into model group， M1-BMDM group， M1-BMDM Wnt5a-knockdown empty vector group （M1-BMDM^KD-EV group）， and M1-BMDM Wnt5a-knockdown group （M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group）， with 6 rats in each group. On the first day of week 9， the rats in each group were given a single injection of the corresponding cells via the caudal vein， along with an intraperitoneal injection of a CCR2 inhibitor. Six rats without any treatment were used as normal control group. Samples were collected at the end of week 12 to assess liver histopathology， serum liver function parameters， hepatic stellate cell activation， and the expression levels of mature hepatocyte markers. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had significant alleviation of liver inflammatory response and significant reductions in the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum （all P<0.01）， and the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had a significantly lower serum level of AST than the M1-BMDM group （P<0.05）. The semi-quantitative analysis based on immunohistochemical staining showed that compared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had a significant reduction in the percentage of CD68-positive area （all P<0.05）， and compared with the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group， the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had a significant reduction in the percentage of CD68-positive area and a significant increase in the percentage of CD163-positive area （both P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of CD68 and tumor necrosis factor-α （all P<0.05） and the protein expression level of CD68 （all P<0.01）； compared with the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group， the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had significant increases in the protein and mRNA expression levels of CD163 （both P<0.05）， significant reductions in the protein and mRNA expression levels of CD68 （both P<0.05）， and a significant reduction in the protein expression level of tumor necrosis factor-α （P<0.01）. Sirius Red collagen staining and alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） immunohistochemical staining showed that compared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had significant alleviation of liver collagen deposition and α-SMA-positive area， with the most significant changes in the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group， and compared with the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group， the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had significantly smaller Sirius Red-positive area and α-SMA-positive area and a significantly lower content of hydroxyproline in liver tissue （all P<0.05）. Compared with the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group， the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had significant reductions in the protein and mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and the mRNA expression level of COL-I and TGF-β （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had a significant increase in the protein expression level of HNF-4α in liver tissue （all P<0.05）， and the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had significantly higher protein and mRNA expression levels of HNF-4α and hepatocyte specific antigen than the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group （both P<0.05）. The M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had a significantly higher serum level of albumin than the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group （P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence co-staining showed that compared with the model group， all cell treatment groups had a significant increase in the number of cells stained positive for HNF and HNF-4α and Ki67 （all P<0.01）， and the M1-BMDM^Wnt5a-KD group had a significantly higher number of such cells than the M1-BMDM^KD-EV group （P<0.05）. ConclusionInhibition of Wnt5a expression enhances the therapeutic effect of M1-BMDM on rats with liver cirrhosis induced by CCl₄/2-AAF， which provides new ideas for enhancing the anti-cirrhotic effect of M1-BMDM through genetic modification.

In this paper， by referring to ancient and modern literature， the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name， origin， production area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and others， so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research， it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties， Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name， and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao， Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties， the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica， and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present， I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species， there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia， I. helianthus-aquatili， and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan， Hubei and other places， and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower， the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months， and dried in the sun， and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom， in order to remove impurities， dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition， the roots， whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times， there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos， and in modern times， it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure， small receptacles， large blooms， yellow petals， long filaments， many fluffs， no fragments， and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning， steaming， and sun-drying， supplemented by techniques such as boiling， roasting， burning， simmering， stir-frying， and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties， ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste， slightly warm in nature， and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter， pungent， and salty in taste， with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras， including descending Qi， resolving phlegm， promoting diuresis， and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos， either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements， where no processing instructions are specified， the raw products may be used after cleaning.

To gain an in-depth understanding of the clinical application of Rehmanniae Radix during the Qing Dynasty and to clarify its specifications and corresponding therapeutic effects， this study took Rehmanniae Radix in the prescriptions documented in Research on Medical Cases of the Qing Imperial Court as the research subject. According to historical medical literature， a comprehensive investigation was conducted on the specifications， therapeutic efficacy， frequency of use， dosage， and seasonal patterns of Rehmanniae Radix employed by imperial physicians. The findings revealed that Rehmanniae Radix in the medical cases of the Qing court was primarily classified into three categories： Xiaoshengdi， Zhongshengdi， and Dashengdi. Xiaoshengdi was also referred to as Xishengdi or Cishengdi， all denoting dried Rehmanniae Radix. The term Xishengdi was inconsistently defined in the literature. It should refer to the slender variant of dried Rehmanniae Radix and was utilized as a specific specification in the medical cases of the Qing court. In contrast， the wild fresh roots of Rehmanniae Radix， described as "as slender as fingers"， were commonly documented as fresh Rehmanniae Radix in these medical cases. There were variations in Rehmanniae Radix size and grading between historical and contemporary standards. Furthermore， therapeutic differences were observed among Rehmanniae Radix specifications in the medical cases of the Qing court. Xiaoshengdi and Zhongshengdi exhibited slightly stronger blood-cooling and heat-clearing effects while maintaining a non-cloying Yin-nourishing property. In contrast， Dashengdi demonstrated a greater emphasis on Yin supplementation with relatively milder heat-clearing activity. In the medical cases of the Qing court， the dosage of Rehmanniae Radix in different specifications was usually 11.2-18.7 g per dose， typically administered twice daily. Rehmanniae Radix in different specifications exhibits variations in efficacy， which can provide evidence-based insights for precise clinical application.

In this paper， by referring to ancient and modern literature， the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name， origin， production area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and others， so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research， it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties， Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name， and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao， Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties， the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica， and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present， I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species， there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia， I. helianthus-aquatili， and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan， Hubei and other places， and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower， the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months， and dried in the sun， and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom， in order to remove impurities， dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition， the roots， whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times， there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos， and in modern times， it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure， small receptacles， large blooms， yellow petals， long filaments， many fluffs， no fragments， and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning， steaming， and sun-drying， supplemented by techniques such as boiling， roasting， burning， simmering， stir-frying， and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties， ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste， slightly warm in nature， and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter， pungent， and salty in taste， with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras， including descending Qi， resolving phlegm， promoting diuresis， and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos， either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements， where no processing instructions are specified， the raw products may be used after cleaning.

To gain an in-depth understanding of the clinical application of Rehmanniae Radix during the Qing Dynasty and to clarify its specifications and corresponding therapeutic effects， this study took Rehmanniae Radix in the prescriptions documented in Research on Medical Cases of the Qing Imperial Court as the research subject. According to historical medical literature， a comprehensive investigation was conducted on the specifications， therapeutic efficacy， frequency of use， dosage， and seasonal patterns of Rehmanniae Radix employed by imperial physicians. The findings revealed that Rehmanniae Radix in the medical cases of the Qing court was primarily classified into three categories： Xiaoshengdi， Zhongshengdi， and Dashengdi. Xiaoshengdi was also referred to as Xishengdi or Cishengdi， all denoting dried Rehmanniae Radix. The term Xishengdi was inconsistently defined in the literature. It should refer to the slender variant of dried Rehmanniae Radix and was utilized as a specific specification in the medical cases of the Qing court. In contrast， the wild fresh roots of Rehmanniae Radix， described as "as slender as fingers"， were commonly documented as fresh Rehmanniae Radix in these medical cases. There were variations in Rehmanniae Radix size and grading between historical and contemporary standards. Furthermore， therapeutic differences were observed among Rehmanniae Radix specifications in the medical cases of the Qing court. Xiaoshengdi and Zhongshengdi exhibited slightly stronger blood-cooling and heat-clearing effects while maintaining a non-cloying Yin-nourishing property. In contrast， Dashengdi demonstrated a greater emphasis on Yin supplementation with relatively milder heat-clearing activity. In the medical cases of the Qing court， the dosage of Rehmanniae Radix in different specifications was usually 11.2-18.7 g per dose， typically administered twice daily. Rehmanniae Radix in different specifications exhibits variations in efficacy， which can provide evidence-based insights for precise clinical application.

ObjectiveTo characterize the quality differences among different germplasm and introduced varieties of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots（BSR）， and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms， providing a basis for high-quality production and quality control. MethodsWild BSR from Yulin（YLW） served as the quality reference， we conducted comparative analysis among YLW， locally domesticated wild germplasm in Yulin（YLC3）， Daqing germplasm introduced and cultivated in Yulin（YLDQC3）， and locally cultivated germplasm in Daqing（DQC3）. A combination of traditional pharmacognostic methods and modern multi-omics analyses was employed， including macroscopic traits（appearance， odor）， microscopic features（proportions of cork， phloem， xylem）， cell wall component contents（hemicellulose， cellulose， lignin）， carbohydrate contents（starch， water-soluble polysaccharides）， marker compound contents（ethanol-soluble extracts， total saponins， liposoluble extracts， and saikosaponins A， B₂， C， D）， metabolomics， and transcriptomics， in order to systematically characterize quality differences and investigate molecular mechanisms among these samples. ResultsMacroscopically， Yulin-produced BSR（YLW， YLC3， YLDQC3） exhibited significantly greater weight， length， and upper and middle diameters than Daqing-produced BSR（DQC3）. Odor-wise， YLW and YLC3 had a a fragrance taste， YLDQC3 had a rancid oil odor， and DQC3 had a sweet and fragrant taste. Microscopically， Yulin germplasm（YLW， YLC3） and Daqing germplasm（YLDQC3， DQC3） shared similar structural features， respectively. However， Yulin germplasm showed significantly higher proportions of cork and phloem， as well as stronger xylem vessel staining intensity compared to Daqing germplasm. Regarding various component contents， Yulin germplasm contained significantly higher levels of ethanol-soluble extracts， total saponins， and saikosaponins A， B₂， C， D， while Daqing germplasm had significantly higher levels of hemicellulose， starch， and liposoluble extracts. After introduction to Yulin， the Daqing germplasm（YLDQC3） showed increased starch， water-soluble polysaccharides and liposoluble extracts contents， decreased cell wall component content， but no significant difference in other component contents. Metabolomics revealed that saponins and terpenes accumulated significantly in Yulin germplasm， while alcohols and aldehydes accumulated predominantly in Daqing germplasm. Transcriptomics indicated similar gene expression patterns within the same germplasm but specificity between different germplasms. Integrative metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis identified 145 potential key genes associated with the saikosaponin biosynthesis pathway， including one acetyl-coenzyme A（CoA） acetyltransferase gene（ACAT）， one 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase gene（HMGS）， two hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA（HMG-CoA） reductase genes（HMG）， one phosphomevalonate kinase gene（PMK）， one 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase gene（CLA）， one hydroxymethylbuten-1-aldol synthase gene（HDR）， two farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase genes（FPPS）， one squalene synthase gene（SQS）， one β-amyrin synthase gene（BAS）， 102 cytochrome P450（CYP450） gene family members， and 32 uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase（UGT） gene family members. ConclusionAmong the three cultivated types， YLC3 most closely resembles YLW in appearance， microscopic features， contents of major bioactive constituents， metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles. Yulin germplasm exhibits superior saponin synthesis capability compared to Daqing germplasm， and Yulin region is more suitable for the growth of B. scorzonerifolium. Based on these findings， it is recommended that artificial cultivation in northern Shaanxi and similar regions utilize the local Yulin germplasm source cultivated for at least three years.

ObjectiveBased on the traditional quality evaluation methods summarized in previous dynasties， this paper systematically contrasted the quality differences between wild Polygalae Radix（WPR） and cultivated Polygalae Radix（CPR） from the aspects of character， microscope and chemical composition by modern scientific and technological means， providing a basis for high-quality production and quality control. MethodsCPR and local WPR in Yulin city， Shaanxi province from 1 to 6 years were collected， and a systematic comparative analysis was conducted using traditional pharmacognosy research methods combined with modern multi-omics analysis techniques， including character traits（length， weight， diameter）， cross-sectional microscopic features（proportions of cork， phloem， xylem， etc）， cell wall component content（hemicellulose， cellulose， lignin）， extracts content（water-soluble extract and alcohol-soluble extract）， carbohydrate content（starch， water-soluble polysaccharides）， contents of total flavonoids， total saponins and specific marker compounds（3，6′-disinapoyl sucrose， polygalaxanthone Ⅲ， tenuifoliside A， tenuifoliside C， sibiricose A₅ and A₆） and other indexes. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS） was employed to conduct comparative analysis of secondary metabolites in WPR and CPR， and multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） were combined to screen the key differential components of them. ResultsIn terms of appearance， there were significant differences between WPR and CPR. The characteristics of WPR conformed to the "thick wrinkles on the epidermis" recorded in ancient books， featuring a wrinkled surface and grayish-brown appearance. However， CPR had a finer texture and a yellowish white appearance， with weight， length， and diameter increasing with longer cultivation periods. In terms of microscopy， WPR exhibited a thick cork layer with fissures in the phloem， whereas CPR had a thinner cork layer with uniformly arranged cork cells. Younger PR specimens showed numerous phloem fissures in cross-sections， while older specimens display progressively denser arrangements of phloem parenchyma cells. In terms of the contents of various major components， the contents of water-soluble extract， starch and total saponins in WPR were inversely proportional to the root diameter， while the contents of water-soluble extract， water-soluble polysaccharides and total saponins in CPR decreased with the increase of planting years. The content of xanthones in WPR was significantly higher than that of CPR， while the contents of other major components showed no significant change pattern. Among the six indicator components， the average content of sibiricose A₅ in WPR was significantly higher than that of CPR， followed by slightly higher content of tenuifoliside A. In CPR， the relative content of 3，6′-disinapoyl sucrose and tenuifoliside A was the highest. The former showed an increase in volatility with increasing cultivation years， while the latter showed a decrease in volatility. The results of differential compound analysis based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS showed that there were significant differences in metabolites between WPR and CPR samples. Among them， the seven compounds with the largest differences among WPR samples of different thicknesses were polygalasaponins， and for CPR with different planting years， the main differential compounds were oligosaccharide esters. ConclusionThere are differences between WPR and CPR in character， microscopic structure and chemical composition， and some components are inversely proportional with the increase of diameter and cultivation duration due to the distribution characteristics. However， the longer the cultivation years of PR， the closer it is to the "thick wrinkles on the epidermis" of WPR， which has been respected by generations. It is suggested that this traditional character combined with modern component contents should be used as the index of artificial cultivation and quality control of PR.