Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 275-284 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 281 Additionally, changes in soil physicochemical properties, such as cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN), were found to significantly influence the rhizosphere microbial community, thereby indirectly affecting the growth and medicinal yield of C. yanhusuo. The study provides important references for optimizing the cultivation of C. yanhusuo and enhancing its economic benefits, particularly in selecting appropriate field management practices to promote its medicinal yield. 6.2 Study on optimizing the extraction of C. yanhusuo alkaloids based on Q-markers The main active components of C. yanhusuo are alkaloids, which have significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological effects (Du et al., 2018). However, traditional extraction methods have limitations in terms of alkaloid extraction efficiency and purity, making it difficult to meet the demands of industrial production. Zhang et al. (2020b) optimized the extraction and purification process of C. yanhusuo alkaloids using the Q-marker uniform design method to improve extraction efficiency and active compound content. In the study, a comprehensive scoring and uniform design approach was used, considering factors such as solvent concentration, pH, liquid-to-solid ratio, extraction time, and frequency to optimize the extraction and purification process. Through screening nine types of macroporous adsorption resins, NKA-9 resin was found to have the best separation and purification effects. Under optimal conditions, using 70% ethanol for two rounds of reflux extraction, each lasting 60 minutes, yielded a product with a total alkaloid content of over 50% (Figure 4). The study established a simple and feasible method for extracting and purifying C. yanhusuo, providing an experimental basis for its industrial production. Figure 4 Effects of different ethanol concentrations and volume flows on the elution of eight Q-markers from C. yanhusuo. (a) Elution efficiency at different ethanol concentrations. (b) Elution efficiency at different volume flow rates (Adopted from Zhang et al., 2020b) Image caption: Figure 4a shows that when 70% ethanol is used as the eluent, the concentration of alkaloids reaches the highest level, indicating the best elution efficiency. Figure 4b demonstrates that at a flow rate of 1.5 BV/h and a total eluent volume of 12 BV, nearly all alkaloids are eluted, indicating the highest efficiency under these conditions. The results confirm that 70% ethanol, along with a moderate flow rate and volume, is effective for the elution of C. yanhusuo alkaloids, further supporting the feasibility and stability of the optimized extraction and purification process (Adapted from Zhang et al., 2020b) 7 Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing of Corydalis yanhusuo 7.1 Determining optimal harvest time The optimal harvest time for Corydalis yanhusuo is crucial to maximize the yield and quality of its medicinal tubers. Studies have shown that the growth and medicinal yield of C. yanhusuo can be significantly influenced by the field conditions and cultivation practices. For instance, planting C. yanhusuo in previously flooded fields has been observed to increase tuber yield compared to fields used for peanut rotation or without any rotation (Li et al., 2022). Additionally, the developmental stages of the bulbs, such as bulb initiation, early enlargement, and maturation, are critical periods where the biosynthesis of alkaloids is highly active. Transcriptome analysis has revealed that alkaloid biosynthetic genes are upregulated during these stages, indicating that harvesting at the right developmental stage can enhance the alkaloid content (Liao et al., 2016; Zhao et al., 2024). Therefore, monitoring the growth stages and environmental conditions can help determine the optimal harvest time to ensure high yield and quality of C. yanhusuo tubers.
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