Xibei zhiwu xuebao (Jun 2024)
Interspecific differences in total flavonoid and sugar content in Taraxacum in Shergyla Mountain and their variation with altitude and slope orientation
Abstract
Abstract [Objective] Taraxacum is an important medicinal and edible herb distributed commonly in Xizang. We aim to determine the content of the major pharmacologically active ingredients, including total flavonoids, polysaccharides, and other sugars, in different dandelion species and analyze the effect of altitude and slope orientation to provide guidance for the exploitation and utilization of Taraxacum resources in Xizang. [Methods] Six Taraxacum species were used as materials, including T . eriopodum (D. Don) DC., T . calanthodium Dahlst., T . sikkimense Hand.-Mazz., T . maurocarpum Dahlst., T . grypodon Dahlst., and T . stenoceras Dahlst., which were growing at different altitudes and slopes in Shergyla Mountain of Xizang. The content of total flavonoids and several sugars was analyzed. [Results] (1) The total flavonoid content of T . eriopodum on the west slope at 3 900 m (80.9 mg/g) was higher than the others, and the total flavonoid content of T . sikkimense on the east slope at 2 300 m (29.08 mg/g) was lower than the other samples (P <0.05). (2) The total sugar content of T . grypodon on the east slope at 2 000 m was 440.55 mg/g, which was different from other samples, but T . sikkimense on the west slope at 4 200 m was the lowest (63 mg/g). (3) The highest content of reducing sugar was 61.1 mg/g and the lowest was 35.98 mg/g in all samples, but the difference between different species and different altitudes was not as obvious as total sugar. (4) The polysaccharide content in T . grypodon on the east slope at 2 000 m and T . sikkimense on the west slope at 3 000 m was above 320 mg/g, while the content of T . sikkimense on the west slope at 4 200 m and 3 900 m and T . eriopodum on the west slope at 3 900 m was below 70 mg/g, lower than the other samples. [Conclusion] The total flavonoids and polysaccharides of Taraxacum in Shergyla Mountain are high, which vary among different species. Total flavonoids and polysaccharides are altered oppositely with the changes in altitudes and slopes, while polysaccharides and total sugars show a similar pattern with the changes in altitudes and slope orientation. High altitude and west slope orientation may be conducive to the accumulation of flavonoids, while low altitude and east slope orientation may be conducive to the accumulation of polysaccharides.
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