Distribution patterns and industry planning of commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal plants in China

Medicinal plants are the primary material basis for disease prevention and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The conservation and sustainable utilization of these medicinal plants is critical for the development of the TCM industry. However, wild medicinal plant resources have sharply declined in recent decades. To ameliorate the shortage of medicinal plant resources, it is essential to explore the development potential of the TCM industry in different geographical regions. For this purpose, we examined the spatial distribution of commonly used medicinal plants in China, the number of Chinese medicinal material markets, and the number of TCM decoction piece enterprises. Specifically, multispecies superimposition analysis and Thiessen polygons were used to reveal the optimal range for planting bulk medicinal plants and the ideal regions for building Chinese medicinal material markets, respectively. Furthermore, we quantitatively analyzed mismatches between the spatial distribution of commonly used medicinal plant richness, Chinese medicinal material markets, and TCM decoction piece enterprises. We found that the areas suitable for growing commonly used medicinal plants in China were mainly distributed in Hengduan Mountain, Nanling Mountain, Wuling Mountain, and Daba Mountain areas. The Thiessen polygon network based on Chinese medicinal material market localities showed there are currently fewer markets in southwestern, northwestern, and northeastern China than in central and southern China. TCM decoction piece enterprises are concentrated in a few provinces, such as Hebei and Jiangxi. We found that the distribution of commonly used medicinal plants, Chinese medicinal material markets and TCM decoction piece enterprises are mismatched in Henan, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Fujian, Chongqing, and Xizang. We recommend strengthening development of the TCM industry in Henan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, Fujian, and Xizang; building more Chinese medicinal material markets in southwestern, northwestern, and northeastern China; and establishing medicinal plant nurseries in resource-rich provinces to better protect and domesticate local medicinal plants.     

分子标记在食（药）用真菌遗传多样性研究中的应用

食（药）用真菌在经济和生态方面都具有重要意义,其遗传多样性研究是资源可持续利用和生物保护学研究的基础,有利于食（药）用真菌种质资源的收集、保存、评价和利用,也有助于其分类学、系统学及进化等的研究。遗传多样性的研究方法很多,分子标记是目前最常用最有效的方法之一。综合分析了分子标记在食（药）用真菌遗传多样性研究中的应用,比较了各种标记的应用范围、优缺点,探讨了分子标记用于食（药）用真菌遗传多样性评价的前景及问题。     

酶法辅助强化中药提取过程研究进展

利用酶法强化中药提取已成为中药开发的重要手段,酶法提取因其反应特异性强、高效、条件温和、易于控制等优点而具有广阔的应用前景。介绍了应用于中药材提取过程中的酶法辅助技术,归纳了酶法在中药材重要活性成分提取、中药提取液的澄清纯化中的应用,分析了酶法辅助提取对中药活性组成的影响,提出了酶法与超声技术的结合应用方法。     

罗霄山脉大型真菌区系分析与资源评价

本文采用踏查法对罗霄山脉地区大型真菌资源进行了为期5年的调查, 共采集标本5,100多号。结合形态学与分子生物学方法, 鉴定出大型真菌2门7纲20目72科218属672种, 其中幕阜山脉115种、九岭山脉168种、武功山脉77种、万洋山脉220种、诸广山脉193种; 新增罗霄山脉新记录属37个、新记录种514种。对罗霄山脉大型真菌物种组成分析表明, 含10种以上的优势科有18科, 其物种数占物种总数的73.36%, 为多孔菌科、蘑菇科、粉褶蕈科等; 含5种以上的优势属有34属, 其物种数占物种总数的55.36%, 包括粉褶蕈属(Entoloma)、鹅膏属(Amanita)、小皮伞属(Marasmius)等; 在该山脉发现中国特有属2个, 中国特有种46个。大型真菌资源利用价值评估表明, 罗霄山脉有食用菌133种、药用菌136种、毒菌87种, 部分种类具有良好的应用前景。本研究为该地区大型真菌资源的保护、利用和管理提供了较重要的科学依据。     

Fruiting patterns of macrofungi in tropical and temperate land use types in Yunnan Province,China

Despite the important contribution of fungi to forest health, biomass turnover and carbon cycling, little is known about the factors that influence fungal phenology. Therefore, in order to further our understanding on how macrofungal fruiting patterns change along a gradient from temperate to tropical climate zones, we investigated the phenological patterns of macrofungal fruiting at five sites along a combined altitudinal and latitudinal gradient in SW China and NW Laos, ranging from temperate to tropical climates. Observations were conducted in the dominant land use types at these study sites: mixed forest (all sites), coniferous forest (temperate sites) and grassland (temperate sites). In total, 2866 specimens were collected, belonging to 791 morpho species, 162 genera, and 71 families. At the site level, the fruiting of ectomycorrhizal (EcMF) and saprotrophic fungi (SapF) occurred at the same time among all land use types. The fruiting season of fungi in the tropical sites began earlier and ended later compared to that of fungi in the temperate sites, which we attribute mainly to the higher temperature and more abundant rainfall of the tropical areas. EcMF taxa richness in temperate forests (both coniferous and mixed forest) showed a distinct peak at the end of the rainy season in August and September, while no significant peak was observed for SapF taxa richness. Neither functional fungal groups showed significant seasonal fluctuations in tropical areas. The temporal turnover of fungal fruiting significantly increased with the shift from tropical to temperate forests along the elevation gradient. In the grasslands, macrofungal abundance was less than 22% of that of corresponding forest sites, and taxa richness was 42% of that of corresponding forest sites. Fungal fruiting showed no significant fluctuations across the rainy season. This work represents a case study carried out over one year, and further measurements will be needed to test if these results hold true in the longer term.     

一个产香大型真菌鉴定及其挥发性成分分析

【目的】开发优质的产香大型真菌资源,丰富挥发性香味成分的获取途径。【方法】本文通过传统形态分类学和分子生物学相结合的方法对采自泰国北部的野生产香大型真菌及其菌株进行鉴定。利用液体发酵、HP20大孔树脂固相萃取和气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)等方法分析发酵液中的挥发性物质。同时筛选了对该真菌液体培养的最佳碳源、氮源及无机盐离子条件。【结果】该真菌经鉴定为茉莉小皮伞Marasmiusjasminodorus,分析发现其主要香味组分及对应的峰面积百分比分别为芳樟醇(33.11%)、5-羟甲基糠醛(4.64%)、4-甲基-5-(β羟乙基)噻唑(4.55%)、甲基麦芽酚(4.49%)、糠醇(4.46%)、桃醛(2.20%)、羟基丙酮(2.18%)等。同时该菌的最优培养液配方中最佳碳源、氮源及无机盐离子为麦芽糖、酵母粉和KH₂PO₄。【结论】本研究表明该大型真菌能够产生多种在现有工业生产中广泛应用的挥发性香味成分,如芳樟醇等,所以其在天然香精香料生产中具有较好的潜在应用前景。     

大别山区中药材资源的开发和利用对策

安徽省大别山区有中药材品种近１８００余种，是天然的药材宣言加。合理的开发利用当地丰富的中药材资源，对于脱贫致富、提高健康水平有重要意义。     

桑黄真菌分子鉴定及遗传多样性分析

药用真菌桑黄具有明显的抗肿瘤、抗氧化、增强免疫等药理活性,但研究者对其基源还没有达成共识,多种Phellinus属真菌被当作桑黄入药使用。采用rDNA ITS序列分析技术,对桑黄真菌进行分子鉴定及遗传多样性分析。通过rDNA ITS序列分析,成功鉴定出一份混淆样品(Phellinus spp-04),并将中国主要使用的桑黄真菌明确鉴定为P.baumii和P.linteus两种,未检测到P.igniarius的使用。依据rDNA ITS序列计算遗传距离并构建系统发育树,结果表明3种主要桑黄真菌存在明显的遗传分化,在系统发育树中明确聚为3个独立菌种类群。在3种桑黄真菌rDNA ITS序列中,存在颠换、转换及插入/缺失3种类型的变异位点,分别在P.linteus、P.baumii和P.igniarius中鉴定出9、9、8种rDNA ITS单倍型序列,不同单倍型菌种间遗传分歧度变化表现出明显的物种差异性。     

Distribution of iron, cobalt, zinc and selenium in macrofungi

Samples of wild growing ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from unpolluted areas and analyzed for their iron, cobalt, zinc and selenium content. Trace elements were determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis. In total, 217 samples, including 87 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi and 43 species of terrestrial saprobes, were examined. Distribution of trace element contents in ectomycorrhizal and saprobic macrofungi was investigated; results are thoroughly compared with previously published data. Doubtful literature data and ability of macrofungi to accumulate/concentrate investigated elements are discussed. Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca was found to concentrate Fe and Russula atropurpurea was confirmed as an effective Zn-accumulating species. Distribution of Se in ectomycorrhizal species was obviously different from that in saprobic species; selenium contents were higher in saprobic species (mostly above 2 ppm).     

黄山大型真菌的物种多样性

安徽黄山属于黄山-怀玉山生物多样性保护优先区域,孕育了极为丰富的生物资源。为了解该区的大型真菌物种多样性,2018-2020年对该区的大型真菌展开了野外调查和标本采集,通过分子生物学方法及子实体形态特征检索比较对获得的标本进行鉴定,并对该区的物种组成、属级地理区系成分、经济真菌和特有成分等进行了统计分析。该地区共发现大型真菌421种,隶属于9纲19目72科200属,其中包含食用菌68种,药用菌31种,毒菌39种,特有种66种。优势科有牛肝菌科Boletaceae、鹅膏科Amanitaceae、红菇科Russulaceae、多孔菌科Polyporaceae、蘑菇科Agaricaceae、小皮伞科Marasmiaceae、光茸菌科Omphalotaceae、球盖菇科Strophariaceae、粉褶菌科Entolomataceae和口蘑科Tricholomataceae 10科,优势属为鹅膏属Amanita、乳菇属Lactarius、蘑菇属Agaricus、金牛肝菌属Aureoboletus、红菇属Russula、粉褶菌属Entoloma、小皮伞属Marasmius、小菇属Mycena、裸脚伞属Gymnopus、粉孢牛肝菌属Tylopilus、栓孔菌属Trametes、丝膜菌属Cortinarius、灵芝属Ganoderma和多汁乳菇属Lactifluus 14属。对黄山大型真菌属级地理成分分析发现该区大型真菌的区系地理成分可分为9类,主要以世界广布成分为主(66.5%),其次是北温带成分(15.5%)和泛热带成分(10.5%)。本研究表明黄山的大型真菌具有丰富的物种多样性,其中食用菌资源较为丰富,主要为世界广布成分,同时也具有较高的特异性。     

Occurrence among macrofungi of the bioconversion of glucosone to cortalcerone

Bioconversion of glucosone to cortalcerone, first discovered in Corticium caeruleum, was found to occur in 43 macrofungi out of the 315 which were screened (13.65%). Relations with taxonomy, ecology and biochemistry are discussed.     

中国森林大型真菌重要类群多样性和系统学研究

大型真菌主要为担子菌门的真菌和少数为子囊菌门的真菌,该类真菌具有重要的经济价值和生态功能,主要生长在森林生态系统中.30年来作者对我国几乎所有类型森林生态中的大型真菌进行了系统调查和采集,共采集标本11.2万号.基于对这些材料的形态学及分子系统学研究,并结合生态学和生物地理学特征,共鉴定出中国森林大型真菌4 250种,...     

Systematics and health effects of chemically distinct tannins in medicinal plants

The research began with an investigation of tannins from traditional medicinal plants and resulted in isolation and structure determination of hundreds of ellagitannins and dehydroellagitannins, as well as their oligomers and oxidized derivatives with various structures specific to each plant species. These polyphenols have been classified according to the stage of oxidative structural transformation and oligomerization, into types I-IV and I+ to IV+, etc. Parallels were found between their oxidative transformations and plant evolution. They were also classified by the linkage units between the monomers, into DOG, GOD, GOG and DOGOD types (D=Diphenoyl, G=Galloyl, O=Oxygen), etc. Besides their fundamental activities, e.g., reduction and anti-peroxidation properties, remarkable biological and pharmacological activities of various potencies have also been found, including, amongst others, inhibition of lipid-peroxidation, mutagenicity of carcinogens and tumor promotion, host-mediated antitumor effects specific to particular tannin structures, antiviral activity and potentiation of antibacterial activity.     

Contribution to the knowledge on macrofungi in mangroves of the southwest India

Forty-six species of macrofungi (27 genera) were recorded in 25 quadrats (625 m²) in five mangroves of the southwest India (Paduhithlu, Nadikudru, Sasihithlu, Thokottu and Batapady). A maximum of 20 species occurred in Sasihithlu with a highest diversity value. Four species belong to coregroup ( ≥ 10 sporocarps/quadrat), while 29 species were confined to specific mangrove (exclusive species). Out of 1591 sporocarps, Paduhithlu supported the highest number of sporocarps (564) followed by Nadikudru (502). Rarefaction curves showed a steep increase in the expected number of species against the number of sporocarps in Sasihithlu. Pearson correlation between biotic factors (species richness, sporocarp richness and species diversity) and edaphic factors (air and soil) was not significantly correlated. Woody litter supported the highest number of macrofungi (26 species) followed by soil (22 species) and least in leaf litter (7 species). Up to one-third of macrofungi recovered in mangroves are economically valuable (edible, medicinal and ectomycorrhizal).     

Structure-radical scavenging activity relationships of phenolic compounds from traditional Chinese medicinal plants

Traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer contain a wide variety of natural phenolic compounds with various structural features and possessing widely differing antioxidant activity. The structure-radical scavenging activity relationships of a large number of representative phenolic compounds (e.g., flavanols, flavonols, chalcones, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, tannins, stilbenes, curcuminoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, lignans, and quinones) identified in the traditional Chinese medicinal plants were evaluated using the improved ABTS*+ and DPPH methods. Different categories of tested phenolics showed significant mean differences in radical scavenging activity. Tannins demonstrated the strongest activity, while most quinones, isoflavones, and lignans tested showed the weakest activity. This study confirmed that the number and position of hydroxyl groups and the related glycosylation and other substitutions largely determined radical scavenging activity of the tested phenolic compounds. The differences in radical scavenging activity were attributed to structural differences in hydroxylation, glycosylation and methoxylation. The ortho-dihydroxy groups were the most important structural feature of high activity for all tested phenolic compounds. Other structural features played a modified role in enhancing or reducing the activity. Within each class of phenolic compounds, the structure-activity relationship was elucidated and discussed. This study reveals the structure-activity relationships of a large series of representative natural phenolic compounds more systematically and fully than previous work. Structure-radical scavenging activity relationships of some natural phenolics identified in the medicinal plants were evaluated for the first time.     

Genetic diversity of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Ypsilandra thibetica (Melanthiaceae): Applications for conservation

Twelve microsatellite markers were developed to determine the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Ypsilandra thibetica, represented by a total of 90 individuals from six natural populations. All twelve microsatellite loci were polymorphic, and the results indicated that a high genetic diversity was present within populations (mean R_S = 4.996; mean H_E = 0.615), with high levels of genetic structure (mean F_ST = 0.165; mean F_IS = 0.692) among populations. This pattern is likely attributable to consanguineous mating, and this hypothesis is supported by a low relatedness coefficient. Our study suggested that environment factors might restrict gene flow among populations. In addition, physical distances between populations were not related to genetic distances, implying that ancestral populations might have been distributed over a wider area. These results suggest that Y. thibetica should be a high priority for conservation managers.     

Quality Control and Assurance: crucial for the sustainability of the applied phycology industry

The chemical and nutritional properties of microalgae are well known, which has led to an ever expanding industry for foods and dietary supplements both in terms of quantity and products. Little has been done to regulate or control quality and assurance in the applied phycology industry and it is known that it varies considerably. Nutritional aspects of produced biomass and consumption as dietary supplements have become issues of concern, especially since the industry is lucrative and fast growing. Various claims are made regarding dietary and food supplements that include health, nutrition, structure and functioning, many often unsubstantiated. Although quality is a subjective term many organisations are involved in testing, controlling and determining criteria. Today quality is more than just standards where it is an "integrated quality management approach" involving amongst others "hazard analyses and critical control points" (HACCP) practices. Microalgae are not recognised as a food or food supplement and they are also not categorised under herbals or botanicals, but as "other supplements". Produced microalgal biomass is subject to contamination from the entire range of contaminants and pathogens. Contamination of products by algal toxins in mixed culture populations also occurs. The industry has largely regulated itself, but there is considerable scope for improvement. There is a need for support and dissemination of information in the industry.     

Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of 112 traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer

Cancer prevention and treatment using traditional Chinese medicines have attracted increasing interest. This study characterizes antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer, comprising 112 species from 50 plant families. The improved ABTS(*+) method was used to systematically assess the total antioxidant capacity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, TEAC) of the medicinal extracts. The TEAC values and total phenolic content for methanolic extracts of herbs ranged from 46.7 to 17,323 micromol Trolox equivalent/100 g dry weight (DW), and from 0.22 to 50.3 g of gallic acid equivalent/100 g DW, respectively. A positive, significant linear relationship between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (all R(2) values>/=0.95) showed that phenolic compounds were the dominant antioxidant components in the tested medicinal herbs. Major types of phenolic compounds from most of the tested herbs were preliminarily identified and analyzed, and mainly included phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, lignans, quinones, stilbenes, and curcuminoids. These medicinal herbs exhibited far stronger antioxidant activity and contained significantly higher levels of phenolics than common vegetables and fruits. Traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer might be potential sources of potent natural antioxidants and beneficial chemopreventive agents.