In order to reveal the main nutrients and functional ingredients in the shoots of Polygonatum cyrtonema, the polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, and total phenols were determined. The tested samples cultured in Ma'nijiaonong, Hengtang village, Tianmushan town, Lin'an, Zhejiang, which were collected from three provenances(Pan'an and Longquan in Zhejiang and Qingyang in Anhui). The results showed that the polysaccharide content of the shoots varied from 2.34% to 12.73%, roughly one-third of rhizomes. The protein content varied from 107.75 to 192.49 mg·g~(-1), nearly 5.50 times more than rhizomes. Moreover, the average of total amino acid content was 193.13-248.74 mg·g~(-1), approximately 4.16 times of rhizomes. And the essential amino acids account for 35.57%-39.44% of the total amino acids content, which was close to the standard of the ideal protein proposed by FAO/WHO(the essential amino acid/total amino acid is about 40%). In addition, the taste amino acids(TaAA) changed from 160.12 to 208.29 mg·g~(-1), revealing the material basis of "shoots were extremely delicious" in Chinese ancient herbal medicine. Additionally, the total phenols varied from 51.21-58.76 mg·g~(-1), about 2.96 times of rhizomes. The DPPH free radical scavenging rate of tested shoots was over 95%, which obviously superior to rhizomes. Therefore, the shoots of P. cyrtonema is a very high-quality vegetable and functional food with good development potential. Furthermore, the main nutrients and functional substances in P. cyrtonema shoots are closely related to the provenances and harvesting seasons. It is important to improve the quality and yield of the shoots by strengthening the variety of breeding and cultivation techniques.
Amino Acids, Essential/analysis* ; Functional Food ; Nutrients/analysis* ; Plant Proteins, Dietary/analysis* ; Plant Shoots/chemistry* ; Polygonatum/chemistry* ; Polysaccharides/analysis* ; Rhizome

To reveal the main nutrients and functional ingredients in the flowers of Polygonatum cyrtonema and P. filipes, the content of the polysaccharides, saponins, amino acids, total phenols, mineral elements, and the DPPH free radical scavenging rates were determined. The flowers and rhizomes of P. cyrtonema were collected from Qingyang in Anhui and Qingyuan in Zhejiang, while the flowers and rhizomes of P. filipes were collected from Longyou in Zhejiang, respectively. The results showed that the polysaccharides content in flowers varied from 60.88 to 97.00 mg·g~(-1), about half of that in rhizomes. The saponins content in flowers varied from 32.55 to 40.93 mg·g~(-1), which was close to the content in rhizomes. The content of total phenols ranged from 40.79 to 50.95 mg·g~(-1), approximately 4.5 times of that in rhizomes. The total amino acids content in flowers was 111.85 to 131.03 mg·g~(-1), about 2.3 times of the content in rhizomes. The essential trace element content was abundant in flowers. The contents of heavy metal elements were all within the limits set by the standards. The DPPH free radical scavenging rate IC_(50) varied from 1.77 to 3.25 mg·mL~(-1), less than one-fifth of that in rhizomes, showing a significant superiority of antioxidant activity compared to rhizomes. The results initially revealed the fundamental of "the flowers exceed the rhizomes in effect", the common saying about the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs over the years, indicating a great developing potential of the flowers. Besides, as polysaccharides, saponins, amino acids, total phenols and other nutritive substances in flowers differ widely among species and provenances, it's important to develop variety breeding to improve the quality and yield of flowers.
Amino Acids/analysis* ; Antioxidants/analysis* ; China ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Nutrients/analysis* ; Nutritive Value ; Plant Extracts ; Polygonatum/chemistry* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Trace Elements/analysis*

Polygonatum plants are perennial plants of Liliaceae. There are about 60 species reported at home and abroad,32 species in China,mainly distributed in the north temperate zone. Their main chemical components are steroidal saponins,polysaccharides,flavonoids,alkaloids,etc. They have anti-aging,anti-tumor,immunomodulation,antibacterial,antiviral,hypoglycemic and blood lipid effects. With the development of health industry,Polygonati Rhizome used as medicine and food has attracted great attention in recent years,and has become a research hotspot. However,the material basis of its efficacy is unclear and the product quality is uneven,which seriously limited the rapid upgrading of the industry. This review summarizes Polygonatum plants system classification,the chemical composition and pharmacological activity to provide theoretical basis for the development and utilization of Polygonatum plants.
China ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

To reveal the variation of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extractives of rhizomes Polygonatum cyrtonema from different producing areas,growing years,and harvesting seasons,25 wild samples from the main producing areas( provenances) of China and 6 artificial cultivated samples were collected and detected. The 6-year-old rhizomes of the artificial cultivation were gathered from Qingyuan,Zhejiang every 2 months during 2016 to 2017. Anthrone-sulfuric acid method and hot-dip method were used to determine the contents of polysaccharides and alcohol-soluble extractives respectively. The results showed that provenances,age sections and harvesting seasons affected the quality of Polygonati Rhizoma significantly. The content of polysaccharides from different provenances varied from 6. 96% to 20. 09%,and the content of extractives varied from 32. 08% to 78. 99%. The polysaccharides and extractives' content were the highest at 2-year-age sections,active constituents accumulation peaked in the third year,then decreased significantly with age increasing. The contents of polysaccharides and extractives accumulated were highest when aerial parts,up to 15. 39% and 78. 99% respectively. In summary,the activity and consistency fluctuated with producing areas. while such phenomenon indicated a huge potential of breeding. Additionally,the results showed that collecting Polygonati Rhizoma in February or August as herbal textual recorded were unreasonable,neither in spring or autumn according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2015 edition). Because these collecting periods didn't have the highest contents of polysaccharides and extractives. Therefore,based on phenological options,the rhizomes of P. cyrtonema should be harvested when the aboveground parts had just withered.
China ; Ethanol ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Seasons ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

To clarify the change and development of the original plants， medicinal organs， traditional functions， resource distribution of "Huangjing"(Polygonati Rhizome)， a traditional Chinese medicine， we investigated Polygonatum species on the ancient Chinese herbal texts. The name of "Nüwei" was first carried out in the book of Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic. Its effects included two aspects： one was similar to "Weirui"(Polygonati Odorati Rhizome， "Yuzhu")， that was tonifying， nourishing one's vitality， removing wind and dampness， settling five organs， making body lightness， keeping longevity and not being hungry; the second was alike to "Huangjing" recorded in the book of Ming Yi Bie Lu(Appendant Records of Famous Physicians). Specifically， "Weirui" possesses the therapeutic effect of "Nüwei"， while "Huangjing" possesses the tonic effect of " Nüwei". Thereafter， the following ancient Chinese herbal texts kept those two names and function records. Accordingly， we hold the point of view that "Huangjing" was first carried out in the book of Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic in the synonym of "Nüwei". "Yuzhu" included the "Huangjing" in ancient herbal text before Qing Dynasty， that was further confirmed by the research on change and development of the original plants. The identification between "Yuzhu" and "Huangjing" was based on the shape of rhizome and size before early Tang Dynasty. The shape was a key character and used up to now， but size was not reasonable. The opposite phyllotaxy was an important character of authentic "Huangjing" from Tang to Qing Dynasty. The seedling of Polygonatum sibiricum and P. kingianum， the adult plant of P. cyrtonema with alternate leaves were misused as "Yuzhu"("Nüwei" and "Weirui") at that time. Therefore， both "Yuzhu" and "Huangjing" should be used as key words during the search of ancient prescriptions and development of new drugs and health foods. The leaves， flowers， fruits and seedlings could be used as food or medicine other than the rhizomes in ancient China， but they haven't been developed in modern times. The culture of "Huangjing" had a long history starting with Tang Dynasty， which was recorded in Tang poetry. Then in Ming Dynasty， the culture method was described in Compendium of Materia Medica， that was cutting the rhizomes into 2 feet， planting sparsely(they would be grown densely in the next year)， or sowing the seeds. The harvesting and processing were first recorded in Ming Yi Bie Lu： "harvest the roots in February， dry in the shade". Then the processing method was changed to "steaming and drying in the sun， repeatedly for nine times" in Shi Liao Ben Cao(Dietetic Materia Medica) and "harvesting in August as well" in Ben Cao Tu Jing(Commentaries on the Illustrations). No breakthrough has been taken in the breeding of cultivars and key cultivation technologies yet. As to the geo-authentic habitats， Mount Songshan and Maoshan were firstly recorded as the best producing areas of "Huangjing" in Ben Cao Tu Jing. But Maoshan， Jiangsu province and Mount Songshan， Henan province， are not main producing areas in modern China. Consequently， the plantation plan of Polygonati Rhizome needs further study.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Herbals as Topic ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEPolygonatum verticillatum (L.) All. (Ruscaceae), one of the Ashtawarga plants, is widely used for treatment of various ailments. The present study was undertaken to determine the phenolic composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of several extracts (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous) from the rhizomes of the plant.

METHODSCoarsely powdered dry rhizome was successively extracted with different solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethanol and water). The phenolic compositions, in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total condensed tannin content (TTC), were evaluated with the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, aluminum chloride colorimetric assay and vanillin spectrophotometric assay, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays were used to assess the antioxidant potential of each extract. A protein denaturation model and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay were used to evaluate in vitro anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was carried out to demonstrate various phytoconstituents in each extract. Correlation studies were also performed between phenolic composition (TPC, TFC and TTC) and different biological activities.

RESULTSEthanol extract showed maximum TPC (0.126 mg/g, gallic acid equivalent in dry sample), TFC (0.094 mg/g, rutin equivalent in dry sample) and TTC (29.32 mg/g, catechin equivalent in dry sample), as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Chloroform extract exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 90 different phytoconstituents among the extracts. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities had a positive correlation with TPC, TFC and TTC. However, the anticancer activity showed a negative correlation with TPC, TFC and TTC.

CONCLUSIONFrom the present study, it can be concluded that P. verticillatum possessed remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, which could be due to different secondary metabolites of the plant. Phenolic compounds are likely responsible for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, flavonoids and other compounds might contribute to the anticancer potential of the plant.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Phenols ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Polygonatum ; chemistry

In this paper, the five strains of Polygonatum odoratum were used as the experimental materials to test the supercooling point, freezing point, the degree of supercooling, the transition stage time, cooling time and water composition of the plant tissue. The cold resistance of P. odoratum was analyzed with the Gray Correlation Method. The results showed that the cold resistances of the five strains of P. odoratum were different, and the water content of plant tissue had some relevance with freezing point and supercooling point, whereas, it could not be measured when the moisture content was too low. The order of cold resistance of the five strains of P. odoratum was ZJCY, DYYZ, XYYZ, CYYZ and JZ I.
Cold Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; classification ; physiology ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Polygonatum sibiricum on Yin deficiency model rats induced by long-term overload swimming.

METHODExcept for the normal group, all of the remaining rats performed the long-term overload swimming for eight weeks, with five days every week and once every day, to establish the Yin deficiency model. The daily swimming time increased from 10 min to 180 min at the end of the 7th week, with the water depth of 60 cm and the water temperature at 30 degrees C. After the success of the modeling, the rats were orally administered with different doses of aqueous extracts from P. sibiricum (2.5, 10 g x kg(-1)) for eight weeks. After the final administration, their blood were collected from orbits to measure immunoglobulin A, G and M (IgA, IgG, IgM), interleukin 2 and 6 (IL-2, IL-6) and cAMP, cGMP contents in plasma General behavioral indicators (weight, facial temperature, pain threshold and holding power) of rats were observed during the drug administration.

RESULTCompared with the model control group, aqueous extracts from P. sibiricum was given for eight weeks to significantly increase the rat weight and holding power of Yin deficiency model rats, decrease the facial temperature and the sensitivity of pain threshold, and increase IgA, IgG, IgM and IL-6 content and IgG content in serum, but without statistical difference. Aqueous extracts from P. sibiricum (10 g x kg(-1)) could also increase IL-2 content in serum, and decrease cAMP content and cAMP/cGMP ratio.

CONCLUSIONP. sibiricum could improve the general behavioral indicators (weight, holding power, pain threshold and facial temperature), immunologic functions (IgA, IgG, IgM) and cyclic nucleotide (cAMP, cAMP/cGMP), so as to ameliorate such Yin deficiency symptoms as dysphoria in chestpalms-soles, weight loss, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, immunologic dysfunction and cyclic nucleotide system disorders.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEThe microscopic structure and histochemical localization of the Polygonatum sibiricum, P. cytonema, P. filipes, P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum was studied.

METHODScanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital biological microscope (DBM) were applied in the research.

RESULTVenation bundle showed in three types included collateral, amphivasal and incomplete amphivasal bundles. Morphological differences of venation bundles could be seen under the fluorescence microscope. Calcium oxalate existed in the mucilage cells looked similar to columnar crystals under SEM. In rhizome of Polygonatum, polysaccharides presented in mucilage cells, saponins and volatile oil were found in ground tissue.

CONCLUSIONMicrostructure difference of rhizomes would be used for identification of the Polygonatum plants. Polysaccharides and saponins are distributed in different cells of Polygonatum plants.

Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Histocytochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Saponins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo conduct comparative study on the volatile components from Polygonati Rhizoma during processing.

METHODVolatile oil was obtained from Polygonati Rhizoma by steam distillation (SD). Volatile components were concentrated by a purge and trap-thermal desorption (P&T-TD) method, and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which were comparative by analyzed with the method of SD-GC-MS simultaneously.

RESULTThe change in quantity and quality of volatile components in pre and post processed Polygonati Rhizoma were observed. Fifty-one compounds were checked out with SD-GC-MS, while 11 compounds with P&T-TD-GC-MS.

CONCLUSIONThis study is useful to illustrate the mechanism of decreasing toxicity and stimulating components after being processed.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Polygonatum ; chemistry