Research progress on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Polygonatum sibiricum
The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia includes three types of Polygonatum sibiricum, namely Polygonatum sibiricum Red, Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, and Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl. According to the shape of the root, it is commonly known as “chicken head yellow essence”, “ginger shaped yellow essence”, and “big yellow essence”. The genus Polygonatum is widely distributed, with 79 species in China. It can grow on mountains with an altitude of 80-28000 meters. Huangjing is mainly produced in the three northeastern provinces of China, as well as in the northwest, Hebei, eastern Anhui, Zhejiang and other places; Duohua Huangjing is mainly produced in Sichuan, Anhui, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places; Dianhuangjing is mainly produced in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places.
Huangjing, first recorded in the “Biography of Famous Doctors”, has a sweet and mild taste, and is non-toxic. It mainly nourishes the middle and qi, removes dampness, and soothes the five organs. Long term consumption can lighten the body, prolong life, and prevent hunger. Therefore, people believe that Polygonatum sibiricum is a “elixir of immortality and longevity”, widely used in the development of health foods as a supplement. Chen et al. summarized the effects of Rhizoma Polygonati on anti fatty liver, anti diabetes, kidney protection, anti Alzheimer’s disease, heart protection and anti-cancer from the perspective of modern pharmacological effects. However, the differences in pharmacological effects are closely related to the chemical composition of Polygonatum sibiricum, such as polysaccharides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinone compounds, volatile substances, plant sterols, lignans, and various useful amino acids for the human body. Among them, polysaccharides and saponins are the most widely studied chemical components in Polygonatum sibiricum. Compared with the existing reviews, this paper reclassifies the pharmacological effects of Rhizoma Polygonati Rhizoma and supplements its anti atherosclerosis, anti HIV, antioxidant and other effects. In addition, it also summarizes the chemical components identified by three Rhizoma Polygonati Rhizoma, the synthetic pathways of Rhizoma Polygonati polysaccharide and saponins, and the related products of Rhizoma Polygonati Rhizoma, in order to provide ideas for the treatment and prevention of modern diseases and the development and research of health products.
Huangjing, as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has high medicinal value and healthcare benefits. However, regarding the three types of Polygonatum sibiricum specified in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, research on their chemical composition and pharmacological effects has mainly focused on Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum sibiricum, with less research on Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum sibiricum; The chemical composition research of Polygonatum sibiricum mainly focuses on polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids, with little research on other trace components; The research on its pharmacological effects has only focused on the medicinal parts and simple efficacy verification, without conducting in-depth pharmacological mechanism studies. Therefore, we should start from the individual chemical components and structures of Polygonatum sibiricum, study its in-depth mechanism of action, identify its drug targets, clarify its pharmacological basis, and provide a foundation for the further development and utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum drugs, health foods, and cosmetics.