Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 504-517.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2025.04.004

• Original Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Nutrient Absorption Characteristics of Epimedium brevicornu and Its Relationship with Pharmacodynamic Components

Ying DUAN1,2, Xiaojuan XU1,2, Jie MAO1,2, Chenxia ZHAO3, Huizhen WANG1,2, Honggang CHEN1,2, Jinjin MENG4, Tao DU1,2()   

  1. 1.College of Pharmacy,Gansu University of Chinese Medicine,Lanzhou 730000
    2.Gansu Pharmaceutical Industry Innovation Research Institute,Lanzhou 730000
    3.Tanchang County Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials Development Service Center,Longnan 742500
    4.College of Medicine,Qilu Institute of Technology,Jinan 250000
  • Received:2025-01-02 Online:2025-07-20 Published:2025-07-25
  • Contact: Tao DU E-mail:gslzdt@163.com

Abstract:

In order to explore the absorption and distribution characteristics of nutrient elements and the accumulation of pharmacodynamic components in E. brevicornu, and to clarify the characteristic elements affecting the accumulation of pharmacodynamic components, the dry matter accumulation, nutrient element content and flavonoid content in leaves of 3-year-old E. brevicornu were determined, and the correlation between flavonoid components and nutrient elements in leaves was analyzed. The results showed that (1)with the plant growth, the dry matter accumulation increased first and then decreased, and the dry matter accumulation was rapid and reached the maximum in the post-fruit growth period(T5). (2)The contents of nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) in the upper part showed a decreasing trend at the growth stage, while the contents of potassium(K) in the underground part showed a decreasing-rising-decreasing trend, while the contents of K in the underground part had no obvious change, and the net accumulation of N, P and K was the largest in the fruiting period(T4). (3)The accumulation of 11 nutrient elements during the growth period was listed in a decreasing order: N>Ca>K>Mg>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>B. (4)The accumulation of flavonoids in leaves increased first and then decreased. (5)The correlation analysis showed that the flavonoid content had synergistic effect with the contents of magnesium(Mg), iron(Fe) and copper(Cu), and had antagonistic effect with the contents of boron (B) and manganese(Mn). Stepwise regression analysis showed that N, calcium(Ca), Mn and Fe were the characteristic elements that affected the content of flavonoids in leaves. In conclusion, dry matter accumulation and nutrient accumulation of E. brevicornu were the most critical in the fruiting period. The macroelements should be applied before the fruiting period, mainly N and K fertilizers, ensuring the supply of Mg, Fe and Cu. The accumulation of pharmacodynamic components was the largest in the post-fruit growth period. Combined with the results of this experiment and local climatic conditions, it was recommended that the leaves of E. brevicornu in Linxia of Gansu Province and similar areas should be harvested in early September.

Key words: Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., dry matter accumulation, nutrient absorption characteristics, pharmaco-dynamic components, accumulation and distribution

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