Zhang Lingjin

(Research Center for Bioenvironmental Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037)

Abstract Yellow essence and jade bamboo are rich in essential nutrients, such as Zn, Cu, Se, Sr, K, P, and Mn. The relative stability of nutrient elements and organic compositions in yucca in Beijing and Guizhou is mainly related to the intrinsic phytonutrient genes and physiological characteristics; there is a certain degree of difference in nutrient elements and organic compositions within yellow essential oils in Beijing and Guizhou, which may be mainly subject to the external environment. The nutrient elements of Huangjing and Yuzhu are combined with sugars, glycosides and amino acids to form complexes, which are easy to be absorbed by the human body, and are also conducive to the full realization of their efficacy. The similarities and differences between these two herbs in terms of inorganic and organic components show corresponding same and different characteristics in terms of drug efficacy.

Keywords Huangjing, Yuzhu, Trace elements

The traditional herbs Huangjing and Yuzhu are widely distributed in China and belong to the lily family. The two herbs share many ****s in terms of their biomedical appearance, tissue and structural characteristics, phytogenetic origin and medicinal effects (Lin Lin and Lin Shouquan, 1994). The history of medicinal use has a long history and is regarded as a good tonic, which is now included in health care products, nutritional tonic (Qin Zhiye and Gan Yunguo, 1995; Ran Maoxiong, 1995). In order to promote the utilization and development of wild resources, this paper analyzes the contents of 12 essential elements such as Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr, etc. contained in yellow essence and yuzhu and the background of their existence, the effective chemical compositions combining inorganic and organic, as well as the roles they play in the human body.

1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Sample Collection

The plant and soil samples of yellow essence were collected from Xibeiwang, Badaling, Huanghuayu, Longqingxia, and Songshan Mountains in Beijing, and from Earhong, LiaoNiYao, and SuiFu in LiuZhi, Guizhou. The plant and soil samples were collected from Xibeiwang, Badaling, Dazhuangke in Beijing, and Nak, Sui foot and Laibandeng in Liuzhi, Guizhou. The plant samples were all rhizomes of the original plant, which were washed, dried, crushed by ball milling and stored in a desiccator for reserve.

Soil samples were removed from plant roots, air-dried, pulverized and prepared for use.

1.2 Sample analysis

The plant and soil samples were determined for 12 elements, including P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Sr, Se, Ni and Co. Se was determined by molecular fluorescence photometry in plants and soils, Mn, Mo and Co were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in plants, and all other elements in plants and soils were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The infrared spectra of Huangjing and Yuzhu were the infrared spectra of petroleum ether extract.

2 Analytical results

The trace element contents of yellow essence are shown in Table 1, and the trace element contents of jade bamboo are shown in Table 2.

Table 1 Trace element contents of yellow essence [wB/(μg-g-1)]

Table 2 Trace element contents of jade bamboo [wB/(μg-g-1)]

3 Differences between trace elements of different origin

Trace element content and its morphology is one of the important markers for measuring the quality of herbs, and the trace element content of Chinese herbal medicines often carries regional characteristics. In order to determine whether there is any significant difference in trace elements within Yucca schidigera from Beijing and Guizhou, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using mathematical statistics. As can be seen from Table 3 and Table 4, the variance between different samples of the same herb in the same region is not essentially different, visualizing that this within-group variance is caused by random factors, while the between-group variance describes the differences and similarities between samples from different regions, and the within-group sum of squares of differences for each element is greater than the between-group sum of squares of differences. Also from the between-group and within-group degrees of freedom, we obtained that the significant level was 0.05, and the one-winged negativity domain was (5.59,+∞), and compared with the F-value (between-group variance/within-group variance), the calculated F-values fell outside the negativity domain, which means that the differences of trace elements of yucca in the two regions were not obvious.

Table 3 Trace element contents of soil planted with yucca [wB/(μg-g-1)]

①Percentage content.

Table 4 Soil trace element content of yucca planting [wB/(μg-g-1)]

① Percentage content. For the same plant, the soil corresponds to the plant number.

Biological organisms all selectively draw nutrients from the environment. Beijing and Guizhou, each with its own distinctive characteristics in all aspects of climate, soil, geomorphology, hydrology, vegetation and anthropogenic factors, imply that the differences in the effective concentrations of elements in the soil solutions of the two places may be very large, but the small degree of dispersion of the trace element contents in the yucca of the two places is sufficient to indicate that the bioavailability is relatively stable and constitutes a controlled uptake mechanism of the elements. In other words, the cell membranes of yucca roots allow only a certain amount of substances to enter the plant, and when the intake of an element reaches a certain level, the negative feedback will stop the uptake of that element, obviously, depending mainly on the intrinsic phytotrophic genes and physiological characteristics. However, it should also be seen that even under the same or similar natural ecological conditions in the same region, there are still some differences in the content of the same element between different samples, and the content of Cu, Mo, Zn, Co and other elements in yellow essence and the total content of the corresponding elements in the soil do not show a linear functional relationship, and the external environmental factors (soil composition, structure, redox potential, acidity and alkalinity, ionic concentration of the solution and the form of existence) are still There are some constraints, which may insinuate the complex variation of effective content under the influence of a combination of factors in different contexts.

The same ANOVA (Table 5) was performed on the trace elements in Beijing and Guizhou, with a significant level of 0.05 and a negative domain of (4.96,＋∞), and the F-values of Ca, Cu, Sr, Co, and Ni in the yellow essences in the two places were located in the negative domain, indicating that the differences between the two places in this category of elements were obvious; the F-values of P, K, Mg, Zn, Mn, Mo, and Se were outside the negative domain, but some of them were close to the negative domain. Although the F values of P, K, Mg, Zn, Mn, Mo and Se fall outside the negative domain, some of them have been forced into the lowest value of the negative domain, and the difference between the two places of this kind of elements is not prominent, which in general reflects the degree of dispersion outside the negative domain. Further, the ANOVA of Ca, Cu, Sr, Co and Ni contents in the soils of the two places rooted under the yellow essence (Table 6) showed no significant difference. Comparing Tables 1 and 3, it can be seen that the relative contents of Ca, Cu, Sr, Co, and Ni in the soils of both Beijing and Guizhou were much higher than the relative contents of the corresponding elements within the yellow essence. From this, it can be seen that there are sufficient material sources in the soil, although the total content of an element cannot be used to replace its effective content. However, from the point of view of the same biological attributes possessed by yellow essence of the same genus and species, the differences of the elements within the yellow essence in the two places do not seem to reflect the strength or weakness of its ability of selective absorption of different elements, but are mainly biased by the external environmental conditions on which the plant relies for its survival. Among them, K, Mg, Mn and P are the most distinctive. From the selected soils planted with yellow essence, the whole potassium and magnesium contents in Beijing are higher than those in Guizhou, which is not difficult to understand. The climatic conditions and ecological environment in the south are easy to make the weathering and decomposition of potassium and magnesium-containing minerals such as potash feldspar, mica, dolomite and other minerals, and the potassium and magnesium are easy to be lost; while in the north, the native potassium and magnesium minerals are retained in larger quantities. Although the total content was high, the bioeffective utilization rate (potassium and magnesium content of yellow essence/whole potassium and magnesium content of soil) was still lower than that in the south, thus indicating that effective potassium and magnesium were more fully utilized in Guizhou. The whole Mn content, on the contrary to K and Mg, was mostly higher in Guizhou than in Beijing. This is because in the weathering of primary minerals in the southern region, manganese is preserved with the precipitation of iron and aluminum gels, especially in the appropriate redox state (low pH), the activation of manganese, the effectiveness of the increased, conducive to the absorption of flavonoids. The relative content of phosphorus in yellow essence in Beijing was higher than or close to the relative content of phosphorus in its planting soil, reflecting the unique affinity of yellow essence for phosphorus. The relative content of phosphorus in yellow essence in Guizhou was lower than the relative content of phosphorus in its planting soil, which was consistent with the fact that the effective content of phosphorus in southern soils was lower than that in northern soils, and might reveal the difference between the acidic environment in the south and the alkaline environment in the north.

Table 5 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of trace element contents of yucca in different regions

Note: F0.05 (1,7) = 5.59.

Table 6 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of trace element contents of huangjing in different regions

Note: F0.05 (1,10) = 4.96.

4 Infrared spectra of the fat-soluble extracts of huangjing and yucca

In order to compare the similarities and differences in the organic constituents of Huangjing and Yuzhu from Beijing and Guizhou, the infrared spectra of the fat-soluble extracts of the two herbs were determined (Figs. 1 and 2). Comparing the infrared spectra of the yucca from Guizhou and Beijing (Figure 1), it was easy to find that not only the profiles were basically similar, but also the absorptions at the peaks of 2920 cm-1, 2851 cm-1, 1377 cm-1, 1463 cm-1, and 721 cm-1 tended to be the same, insinuating that the organic constituents of the yucca from the two places were both close to each other and stable, which was consistent with the stabilizing characteristics of the trace elements in the yucca from the two places. This is consistent with the stabilizing characteristics of trace elements in the two places.

Figure 1 Infrared spectra of the fat-soluble extract of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati Sample origin: by1, by2 Beijing, gy1, gy2 Guizhou

Figure 2 shows that the infrared spectra of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati from Guizhou and Beijing are roughly similar in general, but the differences can be clearly distinguished, such as the weak absorption of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati in Beijing at about 3325 cm-1, 1613 cm-1, while the weak absorption of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati in Guizhou and Beijing at about 1613 cm-1, and the weak absorption of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati Odorati Odorati in Guizhou and Guizhou at about 1613 cm-1. For example, Beijing Huangjing showed very weak absorption at 3325cm-1 and 1613cm-1, while Guizhou Huangjing showed two strong absorption peaks at these two places, and the absorption conditions at 1460-400cm-1 were also obviously different between the two places. The results of this analysis are the same as those of the trace element expression, both in the organic and inorganic components, the two places of the yellow essence have both ****similarities and obvious differences.

Figure 2 Infrared spectra of fat-soluble extract of yellow essence Sample origin: bh1, bh2 Beijing, gh1, gh2 Guizhou

5 Relationship between drug efficacy and elemental components

With deeper research, it is now known that proteins or protein complexes in the cell are the receptor for trace elements. Trace elements in living organisms, mostly constructed into organic coordination compounds. In the ligand and trace elements under the synergistic effect of each other, *** with the biochemical processes involved in the organism. In the dynamic equilibrium of the organism, the trace element content will be maintained in a narrow range, and when it exceeds this range, either too high or too low, it can interfere with or block the normal functions of cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus (Cao Ziquan et al., 1993; Wang Kui et al., 1992), resulting in the harm to the organism. Our trace element analyses of Huangjing and Yuzhu, combined with the organic composition analyses done by previous authors, both **** refract the same imprint of drug efficacy. Huang Jing has the function of tonifying qi, nourishing yang, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the kidneys; Yuzhu has the function of nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness, generating fluids and quenching thirst. Their organic components are characterized by high sugar (glucose, mannose, fructose, galacturonic acid, etc.). In addition, the yellow essence contains 11 kinds of amino acids such as aspartic acid, high serine, lysine, as well as Maodiwei glycosides and a variety of anthraquinones; yuzhzhu has saponins (Suzuran bitter glycosides, Suzuranosides, sennosides), quercetin, vitamin A, starch and so on. Trace elements are mainly Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Se, P and so on. Zinc and glucose can be combined to form zinc gluconate, which is easily absorbed by the body, has little toxicity, and can rapidly increase the serum zinc concentration. Zinc and amino acids form complexes that can be converted into biologically active enzymes in the human body - carbonic anhydrase, carboxylase, aspartate transcarbamoylase, lactate dehydrogenase, etc. (Hu Shilin, 1989). The physical and chemical nature of zinc determines its specific biological function, becoming the active center of carbonic anhydrase and carboxylase enzyme molecules with catalytic, structural and regulatory roles. When there are enough zinc ions in zinc-containing enzymes within biological cell membranes, the enzyme activity is enhanced, and the vitality of the glucose-raising hormone, adrenaline, decreases, which inhibits the blood glucose increase; the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in heart and brain cell tissues plays a cardiotonic and sedative role (Levaneder, 1987). Zinc, copper and manganese with glycoside complexes are converted to superoxide dismutase and increase its activity in E. coli; selenium and phosphorus are the main members of selenium-containing phospholipid peroxidation glutathione peroxidase, which is effective in detoxification, anti-inflammation, protection against radiation damage and immunity due to their antioxidant action and scavenging of free radicals. Unfortunately chromium has not been analyzed, but from other sources it was learned that Zhejiang Huangjing contains only 3.9 μg/g of chromium (Cao Ziguan et al., 1993), which has shown its vitality to synthesize natural ligands with amino acids such as serine, and the human intestinal absorption of organic chromium compatibilizers is much easier than that of inorganic chromium. Chromium-containing proteins and nucleic acids can strengthen insulin action, participate in sugar and fat metabolism, and prevent lipid-like substances from precipitating, thus playing a role in lowering blood pressure and preventing atherosclerosis. The low content of chromium (Guangdong, 0.6 μg/g) (Cao Ziguan et al., 1993) and the lack of amino acids combined with it make it less effective than Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati in preventing atherosclerosis.

It should be pointed out that, from people's long-term life experience, the medicinal value of Huangjing and Yuzhu, we combined with its composition and recent research results can only be discussed superficially, because the elements and their organic ligands can be proteins, amino acids, peptides, enzymes, hormones, and other biomolecules, which are transformed in the living organism, migration, the forms of endowment, the mechanism of action, biochemical functions and their synergistic and antagonistic relationships between the elements and their organic ligands. The synergistic and antagonistic relationship between them is not completely clear, especially the stable concentration of trace elements in human tissues is very low, and most of the interactions involve the complexation (or chelation) between biomolecules and the elements, and subtle changes will affect the absorption of the elements and the metabolic function in the body. Only on the basis of in-depth research in molecular biology and cytology, tracking the interrelationships between the active ingredients of drugs, pharmacology and the conditions of action, can we understand the real utility of trace elements and their organic compounds.

6 Conclusion

Through the analysis and comparison of the trace element contents of Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati and Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati in Beijing and Guizhou, the relationship with the active chemical components and their effects were discussed, and the following points of understanding were summarized.

(1) Both yellow essence and yucca are rich in essential nutrients Zn, Cu, P, K, Mn, Se, Cr, Sr, etc. The average content of yellow essence and yucca are as follows. The average content of nutrients, Zn, Cu, Se, Sr, Mn, Ni, P in yellow essence is higher in Jingdi than in Qiandi; Zn, Cu, Se, P in jade bamboo is also higher in Jingdi than in Qiandi, whereas the opposite is true for Sr, Mn, Ni and so on.

(2) The relative stability of nutrient elements in jade bamboo in Beijing and Guizhou is mainly related to the intrinsic phytonutrient genes and physiological characteristics; the more significant difference of nutrient elements in yellow essential oil in Beijing and Guizhou may be mainly subject to the external environment.

(3) The organic compositions of yucca in Beijing and Guizhou were also relatively stable, and the organic compositions of yellow essence in the two places showed some degree of variation.

(4) The nutrient elements of yellow essence and yucca are combined with sugars, glycosides, and amino acids to form complexes, which promote absorption and utilization by the human body and facilitate the full development of their efficacy. These two herbs in the inorganic and organic components of the **** sex and personality, in the drug efficacy also shows the corresponding **** sex and differences.

References

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