Processing method for regulating quality of yunnan yellow tea by adversity stress
By using programmed temperature-controlled stress treatment and processing and drying steps, the problems of insufficient quality and efficacy in the processing of Chinese medicinal materials were solved, the polysaccharide content and active ingredients of Polygonatum yunnanense were increased, and the efficient processing of medicinal materials was achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YUNNAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE MEDICINE
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
Smart Images
Figure CN118767038B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine processing technology, specifically to a processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense by utilizing abiotic stress. Background Technology
[0002] *Polygonatum yunnanense* is a perennial herb belonging to the genus *Polygonatum* in the family Liliaceae. Its rhizome is used medicinally. It is one of the three native plants listed in the 2015 edition of the *Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China* as a medicinal material for *Polygonatum*. It has the effects of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen and moistening the lungs, and benefiting the kidneys. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is mainly used to treat various diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, lymph node tuberculosis, leukopenia, diarrhea, constipation, and insomnia. *Polygonatum yunnanense* has a long history of medicinal use, and ancient Chinese medicine formulas such as *Polygonatum yunnanense* pills and *Erjing pills* are still in use today. Modern Chinese medicine compound preparations made primarily from *Polygonatum yunnanense* include *Zishen Rongjing pills*, *Xiaoke Jiangtang tablets*, *Xiaotangling capsules*, *Polygonatum yunnanense* injection, *Shenhuang granules*, and *Kangleshou oral liquid*. *Polygonatum yunnanense* is not only widely used in traditional Chinese medicine but is also a famous dietary tonic. Its fleshy rhizome has the effects of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen and moistening the lungs, and benefiting the kidneys and promoting body fluids, earning it the reputation of "the soil that tonifies both qi and blood." With the development of the big health industry, Yunnan Polygonatum, as a food and medicine of the same origin, has been widely welcomed by the market and has broad market prospects. It has been listed as a key local medicinal material variety for development in Yunnan Province.
[0003] Traditional processing of Chinese medicinal herbs involves cutting freshly harvested herbs into slices, chunks, segments, or petals using conventional methods. While this reduces the number of steps involved in drying, soaking, cutting, and re-drying, thus helping to maintain quality to some extent, it doesn't alter the nature of the herbs. Freshly harvested herbs are still alive and have a high water content; their life processes are ongoing, and the physicochemical changes, such as the interconversion of chemical components, are still occurring. When subjected to environmental stress, they will resist this stress through the production of secondary metabolites, resulting in high-quality herbs with good external appearance and internal composition. As a medicinal herb that grows in the subtropical climate of Yunnan, *Polygonatum yunnanense* (Yunnan Polygonatum) has strong resistance to high temperatures and drought. Therefore, selecting environmental stressors for processing *Polygonatum yunnanense* at its origin to improve its quality and efficacy is crucial for enhancing the content of its active ingredients and improving its quality. This approach, starting from the source of the herb and processing it at its origin, is of great significance for the development of the *Polygonatum yunnanense* industry in Yunnan. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for preparing costus root slices, which addresses the problem of optimizing processing methods at the place of origin and further improving the quality and efficacy of Polygonatum odoratum.
[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, on the one hand, this invention provides a processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense using abiotic stress. Fresh Polygonatum yunnanense is used as raw material, and a programmed temperature control method is used to subject it to abiotic stress. The stressed Polygonatum yunnanense is then washed, processed, sliced, and dried to obtain the finished product. The abiotic stress is either heat stress or cold stress.
[0006] This invention applies gradual "abiotic stress" to fresh Polygonatum yunnanense through programmed temperature control. Starting from room temperature, the temperature is gradually increased or decreased at fixed times and temperatures. This stimulates the secretion of secondary metabolites while protecting the physiological structure of Polygonatum yunnanense, maintaining its good metabolic efficiency, regulating its quality, and improving its medicinal components.
[0007] Furthermore, a programmed temperature increase method was used to subject fresh Polygonatum yunnanense medicinal materials to heat stress. Specifically, the medicinal materials were placed in a 25°C oven, and the temperature was increased by 5°C every 24 hours, with the final temperature ≤45°C.
[0008] Furthermore, a programmed cooling method was used to subject fresh Polygonatum yunnanense to cold stress. Specifically, the medicinal material was placed in an artificial climate chamber at 16°C, and the temperature was reduced by 4°C every 24 hours until the final temperature was ≥0°C.
[0009] Furthermore, the final temperature is ≤40℃; or ≤35℃; or ≤30℃.
[0010] Furthermore, the final temperature is ≥4℃; or ≥8℃; or ≥12℃.
[0011] Furthermore, the processing method is selected from one or more combinations of boiling, steaming, stewing, quenching, and simmering; or selected from one of boiling or steaming.
[0012] Furthermore, the drying method is selected from one of oven drying, forced air drying, shade drying, sun drying, and freeze drying; preferably, the drying method is oven drying.
[0013] Furthermore, the drying temperature is 50-60℃; or 50-58℃; or 50-55℃; or 50-52℃; or 52-58℃.
[0014] Furthermore, before subjecting fresh Polygonatum yunnanense to abiotic stress, remove the soil and fibrous roots, and do not wash with water.
[0015] On the other hand, the present invention provides Yunnan Polygonatum slices prepared by the above method.
[0016] Beneficial effects: Compared with existing technologies, this invention applies gradual "abiotic stress" to freshly harvested Polygonatum yunnanense, avoiding damage to the plant's physiological structure caused by rapid or large temperature changes, which would affect its ability and efficiency in secreting secondary metabolites. This invention significantly increases the polysaccharide content of Polygonatum yunnanense and enhances the activity of sucrose synthase at the source of the medicinal material, thereby improving the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense. This invention is simple to operate and highly operable, providing a new approach to the processing of medicinal Polygonatum yunnanense at its place of origin. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a graph showing the effect of cold and heat stress on the polysaccharide content of Polygonatum yunnanense according to the present invention;
[0018] Figure 2 This is a graph showing the effect of cold and heat stress on the activity of sucrose synthase in Polygonatum yunnanense.
[0019] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the effect of cold and heat stress on the extract of Polygonatum odoratum in this invention. Detailed Implementation
[0020] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. Experimental methods in the following embodiments that do not specify specific conditions are generally performed under conventional conditions or as recommended by the manufacturer. Unless otherwise specified, the test materials used in the following embodiments were purchased from conventional biochemical reagent stores. Unless otherwise stated, percentages and parts are by weight. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those familiar with the art. Furthermore, any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be applied to the present invention. The preferred embodiments and materials described herein are for illustrative purposes only.
[0021] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following embodiments are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.
[0022] Based on the understanding that freshly harvested medicinal herbs are in a vibrant state with high water content, their life activities are still ongoing, and physicochemical changes such as the interconversion of chemical components have not yet ceased, their external form and internal material composition are in a state of flux as life activities progress, the inventors applied "abiotic stress" to freshly harvested medicinal herbs. This involved using the plant's own secondary metabolites (secreted by plants in response to harmful stimuli, which are often also the medicinal substances in the herbs) to resist external environmental stress and ensure plant growth and development. Therefore, this study investigated the temperature regulation mechanisms of fresh Polygonatum yunnanense under abiotic stress.
[0023] Example 1: Investigation of the optimal heat stress conditions for Polygonatum yunnanense
[0024] Fresh *Scutellaria baicalensis* were harvested, and the soil was slightly removed, but not washed with water. They were divided into a heat stress group and a raw material group, with 10 kg in each group. The heat stress group was placed in a 25℃ oven, with the temperature increased by 5℃ every 24 hours. Two kg of the material was removed at 25℃, 30℃, 35℃, 40℃, and 45℃ respectively. 50 g of the material was frozen at -80℃ without any treatment for testing sucrose synthase activity. The remainder was washed, steamed thoroughly, cut into thick slices, and dried at 55℃ for determining polysaccharide content. The raw material group was washed directly without any treatment, steamed thoroughly, cut into thick slices, and dried at 55℃.
[0025] Example 2: Investigation of the optimal cold stress conditions for Polygonatum yunnanense
[0026] Fresh *Scutellaria baicalensis* were harvested, and the soil was slightly removed, but not washed with water. They were divided into a cold-stress group and a raw material group, with 10 kg in each group. The cold-stress group was placed in a 16℃ artificial climate chamber, with the temperature decreasing by 4℃ every 24 hours. Two kg of the material was removed at 16℃, 12℃, 8℃, 4℃, and 0℃. 50 g of the material was frozen at -80℃ without any treatment for testing sucrose synthase activity. The remainder was washed, steamed thoroughly, sliced into thick pieces, and dried at 55℃ for determining polysaccharide content. The raw material group was washed directly without any treatment, steamed thoroughly, sliced into thick pieces, and dried at 55℃.
[0027] The efficacy of the Polygonatum yunnanense from Examples 1-2 was determined:
[0028] (1) Determination of polysaccharide content in Polygonatum odoratum slices:
[0029] 1.1 Preparation of the test sample: Accurately weigh about 0.20 g of the fine powder of the test sample dried to constant weight at 60℃, place it in a round-bottom flask, add 60 mL of 80% ethanol, heat in a water bath under reflux for 1 h, filter while hot, wash the residue 3 times with 10 mL of 80% hot ethanol each time, place the residue and filter paper in a flask, add 60 mL of water, heat in a boiling water bath under reflux for 1 h, filter while hot, wash the residue and flask 4 times with hot water each time, combine the filtrate and washings, cool, transfer to a 100 mL volumetric flask, add water to the mark, shake well, and the test sample solution is obtained;
[0030] 1.2 Preparation of Standard Curve: The content of Polygonatum polysaccharide was determined using anhydrous glucose according to the method for content determination in the 2015 edition of the Pharmacopoeia (Part I). 33 mg of anhydrous glucose reference standard, dried to constant weight at 105℃, was accurately weighed and placed in a 100 mL volumetric flask. Water was added to dissolve and dilute to the mark, and the solution was shaken well to obtain a solution containing 0.33 mg of anhydrous glucose per mL. 0.1 mL, 0.2 mL, 0.3 mL, 0.4 mL, 0.5 mL, and 0.6 mL of the reference solution were accurately measured and placed in 10 mL stoppered test tubes. Water was added to each tube to bring the volume to 2.0 mL. 1 mL of 6% phenol solution was accurately added, and the solution was shaken well. Then, 5 mL of sulfuric acid was accurately added. Using the corresponding reagents as blanks, the absorbance was measured at a wavelength of 490 nm using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (Appendix VA). A standard curve was plotted with absorbance as the ordinate and concentration as the abscissa.
[0031] 1.3 Determination of the test sample: Take 0.5 mL of the test sample solution and place it into a 10 mL stoppered dry test tube. Add water to each tube to a final volume of 2.0 mL. Accurately add 1 mL of 6% phenol solution, shake well, and then accurately add 5 mL of sulfuric acid. Using the corresponding reagent as a blank, measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 490 nm using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Plot the absorbance as the ordinate and the concentration as the abscissa, and calculate the weight (mg) of anhydrous glucose in the test sample solution using a standard curve. The result is obtained.
[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, under heat stress conditions, the polysaccharide content first increased and then decreased from 25℃ (close to room temperature) to the maximum temperature of 45℃. The polysaccharide content at 30℃, 35℃, and 40℃ was significantly higher than that of the original medicinal material group, with the highest polysaccharide content and the most significant effect at 35℃. It can be seen that at 25℃ (close to room temperature), the temperature did not have a stress effect on the medicinal material, so the polysaccharide was naturally consumed after 24 hours, resulting in a decrease. As the temperature gradually increased, the stress effect intensified, and Polygonatum yunnanense secreted secondary metabolites to resist the high temperature, thus increasing the polysaccharide content. When the temperature reached above 35℃, the excessive temperature may have damaged some of the structure of Polygonatum yunnanense, reducing its resistance and weakening its ability to secrete secondary metabolites, leading to a decrease in polysaccharide content, but it was still higher than that of the untreated raw material group.
[0033] Under cold stress, the polysaccharide content did not increase or decrease significantly compared to the raw material group, and was similar to the polysaccharide content in the untreated raw material group.
[0034] (2) Determination of the synthase activity of Polygonatum yunnanense: Take 1 mL of supernatant and add it to a container containing reaction solution (0.1 mL UDPG, 0.1 mL fructose, 0.1 mL Hepes-NaOH, 0.2 mL MgCl2). l2In a test tube, incubate at 37°C for 30 min, then in a boiling water bath for 10 min, and cool. Add 0.1 mL of NaOH, shake well, incubate in a boiling water bath for 10 min, and cool. Add 1 mL of resorcinol and 3.5 mL of 30% hydrochloric acid, incubate at 80°C for 10 min, cool, and measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 480 nm.
[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, under heat stress, the sucrose synthase activity in the heat stress group was generally higher than that in the cold stress group and also higher than that in the raw material group. Specifically, the sucrose synthase activity in the heat stress group at 35℃, 40℃, and 45℃ was significantly higher than that in the raw material group, with the highest sucrose synthase activity at 45℃. The sucrose synthase activity at 25℃ was similar to that in the raw material group, and did not achieve the effect of stress. Under cold stress, the sucrose synthase activity increased slightly, but not significantly.
[0036] (3) Determination of extract content of Polygonatum odoratum: Accurately weigh approximately 2–4 g of the test sample and place it in a 100–250 ml conical flask. Accurately add 50–100 ml of dilute ethanol, seal tightly, weigh, and let stand for 1 hour. Then connect a reflux condenser, heat to boiling, and maintain a gentle boil for 1 hour. After cooling, remove the conical flask, seal tightly, weigh again, replenish the lost weight with dilute ethanol, shake well, filter through a dry filter, accurately measure 25 ml of the filtrate, place it in an evaporating dish that has been dried to constant weight, evaporate to dryness on a water bath, dry at 105 °C for 3 hours, cool in a desiccator for 30 minutes, and quickly and accurately weigh. Calculate the content (%) of water-soluble extract in the test sample based on the dried product.
[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the results of extract content were similar to those of polysaccharide content. The extract content of both the heat stress group and the cold stress group was slightly higher than that of the original medicinal material group. The increase in the heat stress group was more significant than that in the cold stress group. As the temperature increased, the extract content increased, but the increase decreased after the temperature was too high, and reached a peak at 35℃. It can be seen that 35℃ stress is the most suitable for Polygonatum yunnanense, which can enhance its medicinal components and improve the quality of the medicinal material without damaging the structure and activity of Polygonatum yunnanense.
[0038] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art, under the guidance of the present invention, can make various similar representations without departing from the spirit and claims of the present invention, and such modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense using abiotic stress, characterized in that, Fresh Polygonatum yunnanense was used as raw material. The material was subjected to abiotic stress using a programmed temperature control method. The stress-treated Polygonatum yunnanense was then washed, processed, sliced, and dried to obtain the finished product. The abiotic stress was heat stress. The fresh Polygonatum yunnanense medicinal material was subjected to heat stress by a programmed temperature increase method, specifically: the medicinal material was placed in a 25℃ oven, and the temperature was increased by 5℃ every 24 hours, with the final temperature ≤45℃.
2. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The final temperature of the thermal stress is ≤40℃.
3. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The final temperature of the thermal stress is ≤35℃.
4. The processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The processing method is selected from one or more combinations of boiling, steaming, stewing, quenching, and simmering.
5. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The preparation method is selected from either boiling or steaming.
6. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drying method is selected from one of the following: oven drying, forced air drying, shade drying, sun drying, and freeze drying.
7. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The drying method is selected from oven drying.
8. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The drying temperature is 50-60℃.
9. The processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drying temperature is 50-58℃.
10. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying temperature is 50-55℃.
11. The processing method for regulating the quality of Polygonatum yunnanense using abiotic stress according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying temperature is 50-52℃.
12. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying temperature is 52-58℃.
13. The processing method for regulating the quality of *Polygonatum yunnanense* using abiotic stress as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before subjecting fresh Polygonatum yunnanense to abiotic stress, remove the soil and fibrous roots, but do not wash with water.