2. Academic Validation
  3. Organ-Specific Metabolic Shifts of Flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis at Different Growth and Development Stages

Organ-Specific Metabolic Shifts of Flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis at Different Growth and Development Stages

  • Molecules. 2018 Feb 15;23(2):428. doi: 10.3390/molecules23020428.
Jingyuan Xu 1,  Yilan Yu 2,  Ruoyun Shi 3,  Guoyong Xie 4,  Yan Zhu 5,  Gang Wu 6,  Minjian Qin 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 2 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 3 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 5 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 6 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. [email protected].
PMID: 29462853 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020428
Abstract

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine mainly containing Flavonoids that contribute to its bioactivities. In this study, the distributions and dynamic changes of flavonoid levels in various organs of S. baicalensis at different development stages were investigated by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD methods. The results indicated that the metabolic profiles of S. baicalensis changed with growth and development. During the initial germination stage, the seeds mainly contained Flavonols. With growth, the main kinds of Flavonoids in S. baicalensis changed from Flavonols to flavanones and Flavones. The results also revealed that the accumulation of Flavonoids in S. baicalensis is organ-specific. The Flavones without 4'-OH groups mainly accumulate in the root and the flavanones mainly accumulate in aerial organs. Dynamic accumulation analysis showed that the main Flavonoids in the root of S. baicalensis accumulated rapidly before the full-bloom stage, then changed to a small extent. The results suggested the proper harvest time for the aerial parts was at the initial stage of reproductive growth and the flower buds should be collected before flowering. This study deepening the knowledge of S. baicalensis should provide valuable information for guiding the scientific cultivation of this plant and the development and utilization of S. baicalensis.

Keywords

Scutellaria baicalensis; dynamic accumulation; growth; metabolic profile; organ-specific.

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