Comparative analysis of twenty-five compounds in different parts of Astragalus membranaceus var.mongholicus and Astragalus membranaceus by UPLC-MS/MS

As a traditional Chinese medicine,the root of Astragalus membranaceus var.mongholicus(AMM) or A.membranaceus(AM) has been widely used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years.Till now,the flavonoids,phenolic acids and saponins are considered as the main active components contributing to their therapeutic effect in these plants.In order to clarify the distribution and contents of these compounds in different organs of these plants,a rapid and sensitive analytical method for simultaneous determination of 25 active compounds including seven types(i.e.dihydroflavones,isoflavane,isoflavones,flavones.pterocarpans,phenolic acid and saponins) within 10 min was established using ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).Then,the established method was fully validated and successfully applied to the determination of the contents of these analytes in different parts(root,rhizome,stem,leaf and flower) of AMM and AM.The results indicated that the contents of the same type of compounds in two different species plants were significantly different.Moreover,the obvious differences were also found for the distribution and contents of different type of compounds in five organs of the same species.The present study could provide necessary information for the rational development and utilization of AMM and AM resource.

Study on Tissue Culture and Radiation Mutation of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao

[Objective] The research aimed to study the tissue culture technology and callus induction by radiation mutation of A. membranaceus Bge. [ Method ] With the different parts of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus （ Bge. ） Hsiao aseptic seedling as explants （ leaves, cotyledons, hypocotyls） induced callus, and cotyledon and hypocotyls taken by the method of radiation mutation were studied. [ Result]The results showed that the three explants had relatively high callus induced rate in the medium which respectively made up of MS ＋6-BA 2.0 mg/L ＋ NAA2.0 mg/L, LS ＋6-BA2.0 mg/L ＋NAA0.1 mg/L, MS ＋ 6-BA2.0 rng/L ＋ NAA2.0 rag/L; the optimum mutation time of hypocotyls and cotyledons was 15 minutes; the growth of the callus induced from hypocotyls would be better as the mutation time increased, but when it reached a certain time the growth would be weaken, the induction rate also would be reduced. [ Conclusion] This study will provide the scientific reference in tissue culture and mutation breeding of A. membranaceus Bge.

蒙古黄芪育苗基质的筛选及应用潜力初步评价

为筛选出适宜培育高质量幼苗的育苗基质,促进移栽蒙古黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus var.mongholicus)的生产,以酒糟为主料,牛粪和沼渣为辅料,按不同体积比配制了6种有机复合基质,并对其理化性质,以及碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾的含量进行了测定。通过PLS-DA分析辅料对复合基质性质的影响,采用模糊评价法评估各复合基质肥效,进而筛选出基质F2(酒糟∶牛粪=60∶20)和Z2(酒糟∶沼渣=60∶20),将二者分别与纯土按体积比3∶7混合制成育苗基质后,通过发芽和幼苗生长试验评价应用潜力。结果表明,各有机复合基质理化性质基本符合常规基质要求,分别以牛粪和沼渣为辅料的两组复合基质,F2和Z2的肥效评价系数较高。混合育苗基质“F2+纯土”组的蒙古黄芪种子发芽率最高,且发芽势和发芽指数显著高于“Z2+纯土”组和对照组;同时,该组幼苗的整株长、株高和鲜重等指标也显著优于其他两组。由此可见,有机复合基质F2性能良好,与纯土混合后制成的育苗基质可用于蒙古黄芪优质幼苗的培育,具有较好的应用潜力。

Analysis of principal isoflavone glycosides and aglycones in Radix astragali

Two major isoflavone glycosides [calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （1） and ononin （2）] and their aglycones [calycosin （3） and formononetin （4）] were simultaneously quantified with HPLC/DAD method. Two unknown compounds were identified as calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U1） and formononetin 7-O-β-D-glucopymnoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U2）, respectively, with LC/MS^n. Raw Radix astragli were shown to have higher contents of isoflavone glycosides （1, 2）, but lower contents of aglycones （3, 4） than the processed herbal materials. After being moistened with water and stored up for 24 h at 35 ℃, the glycosides and their m_alonates were almost completely transformed to their corresponding aglycones. The different contents of the isoflavone glycosides and their aglycones in raw and processed Radix astragali materials might be due to enzymolysis of the glycosides during processing.

A reference-grade genome assembly for Astragalus mongholicus and insights into the biosynthesis and high accumulation of triterpenoids and flavonoids in its roots

Astragalus membranaceus var.mongholicus(AMM),a member of the Leguminosae,is one of the most important medicinal plants worldwide.The dried roots of AMM have a wide range of pharmacological effects and are a traditional Chinese medicine.Here,we report the first chromosome-level reference genome of AMM,comprising nine pseudochromosomes with a total size of 1.47 Gb and 27868 protein-encoding genes.Comparative genomic analysis reveals that AMM has not experienced an independent wholegenome duplication(WGD)event after the WGD event shared by the Papilionoideae species.Analysis of long terminal repeat retrotransposons suggests a recent burst of these elements at approximately 0.13 million years ago,which may explain the large size of the AMM genome.Multiple gene families involved in the biosynthesis of triterpenoids and flavonoids were expanded,and our data indicate that tandemduplication has been the main driver for expansion of these families.Among the expanded families,the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family was primarily expressed in the roots of AMM,suggesting their roles in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid compounds.The functional versatility of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase genes in cluster Ⅲ may play a critical role in the diversification of triterpenoids in AMM.Our findings provide novel insights into triterpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis and can facilitate future research on the genetics and medical applications of AMM.

Review of Astragali Radix

Astragali Radix(AR),known as Huangqi in China,is one of the most popular herbal medicines learnt worldwide to reinforce Qi(the vital energy).AR is traditionally prepared from the dried roots of Astragalus membranaceus or A.membranaceus var.mongholicus.It has been reported to have cardiotonic,hepatoprotective,hypotensive,immunostimulant,anti-aging,anti-oxidative,antidiabetic,and anti-inflammatory activities.The bioactive compounds were found to be flavonoids,saponins,polysaccharides,amino acids,and some trace elements.The present paper reviews the studies on AR including history,phytochemistry studies,pharmacological functions,and clinical application in recent years.