Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 88-98 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 89 transcriptomic analyses, have further accelerated the identification of active components in Hangbaiju. Now, more than 60 kinds of flavonoids are known. Some are even regarded as "quality markers" or functional evaluation indicators, used to assist in product development and component control (Wang et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2024). This study systematically analyzed the extraction techniques and composition characteristics of flavonoids in Hangbaiju, and combined with the evaluation of their functional activities, explored their practical application potential in the development of nutritional foods and health care products. We hope to provide feasible solutions for the high-value utilization of Hangbaiju resources, and at the same time offer references for the development and industrialization of natural functional components. 2 Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Hangbaiju Flavonoids 2.1 Types of flavonoid compounds in Hangbaiju Hangbaiju is rich in various flavonoids, primarily flavonols and flavonoid glycosides. Representative components, including luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and others like diosmetin-7-O-glucoside and rutin (Chen et al., 2020; Dong et al., 2023; Zhu et al., 2024). In Hangbaiju, typical monomers that have been identified include luteolin, apigenin, trifoliin and their corresponding glycosides, which are considered to be the main contributors to its biological activity, and are also important quality markers for distinguishing different cultivars (Gong et al., 2019; Chen et al., 2020; Dong et al., 2023). 2.2 Main bioactivities of Hangbaiju flavonoids The flavonoids in Hangbaiju, are particularly outstanding in terms of antioxidation. After the optimization of the extraction process, their ability to scavenge free radicals has been significantly enhanced, which has been confirmed by multiple studies (Gong et al., 2019; Zhu et al., 2024). But, antioxidation is only one of their many functions. In fact, such compounds can also exert anti-inflammatory effects and find their place in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern functional foods by regulating immune responses (Liu et al., 2024). In addition to the above-mentioned functions, the Hangbaiju flavonoids also exhibit antibacterial activity that cannot be ignored. Some studies have pointed out that, they also have potential in protecting the liver and improving cardiovascular function. These functions combined enable it not only to assist in the prevention of various chronic diseases, but also to play an active role in daily health maintenance (Cai et al., 2024; Liu et al., 2024). 2.3 Factors influencing flavonoid content Actually, the flavonoid in Hangbaiju is not fixed. The variety and environmental conditions play a key role. Take "Taiju" and "Duoju" for example. There is a difference in the concentration of the main flavonoids between them. Sometimes, even for the same variety, changing the soil, like with different mineral richness, can also cause changes in the accumulation of certain components, like rutin and apigenin-7-O-glucoside (Gong et al., 2019; Long et al., 2022). Besides, the timing of picking and the post-harvest processing methods also have a significant impact. Flavonoids and caffeylquinic acid substances, have the highest content when the flower buds are just formed. After the flowers are fully open, they will gradually decrease instead (Lu et al., 2024). The duration of sunlight also has a positive effect on the accumulation of flavonoids. Stress conditions, like waterlogging, may interfere with the expression of its biosynthetic genes, thereby altering the final flavonoid composition (Wang et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2024) (Figure 1). 3 Extraction Techniques for Hangbaiju Flavonoids 3.1 Traditional extraction methods Currently, water extraction and ethanol extraction remain the two most commonly used methods for extracting flavonoids fromChrysanthemum morifolium. The advantages of water extraction are obvious—it's safe and easy
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