Identification of geographical origin and different parts of Wolfiporia cocos from Yunnan in China using PLS-DA and ResNet based on FT-NIR

The Dynamic Accumulation Rules of Chemical Components during the Medicine Formation Period of Angelica sinensis and Chemometric Classifying Analysis for Different Bolting Times Using ATR-FTIR

The dried roots of the perennial herb Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (AS) are commonly used as medicinal and edible resources. In commercial planting, early bolting and flowering (EB) of ca. 60% in the medicine formation period reduces root yield and quality, becoming a significant bottleneck in agricultural production. In the cultivation process, summer bolting (SB) occurs from June to July, and autumn bolting (AB) occurs in September. The AB root is often mistaken for the AS root due to its similar morphological characteristics. Few studies have involved whether the root of AB could be used as herbal medicine. This study explored and compared the accumulation dynamics of primary and secondary metabolites in AS and EB roots during the vegetative growth stage (from May to September) by light microscopy, ultraviolet spectrometry, and HPLC methods. Under a microscope, the amount of free starch granules and oil chamber in the AS root increased. On the contrary, they decreased further from EB-Jul to EB-Sep. By comparison, the wall of the xylem vessel was slightly thickened and stacked, and the cell walls of parenchyma and root cortex tissue were thickened in the EB root. Early underground bolting reduces soluble sugar, soluble protein, free amino acids, total C element, total N element, ferulic acid, and ligustilide accumulation, accompanied by the lignification of the root during the vegetative growth stage. Furthermore, a total of 55 root samples from different bolting types of AS root (29 samples), SB root (14 samples), and AB root (12 samples) were collected from Gansu Province during the harvesting period (October). The later the bolting occurred, the less difference there was between unbolted and bolted roots in terms of morphological appearance and efficacy components. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with the attenuated total reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) provides a "holistic" spectroscopic fingerprinting of all compositions in the tested sample. The ATR-FTIR spectrum of the AB root was similar to that of the AS root. However, the number and location of absorption peaks in the spectra of SB were different, and only one strong absorption peak at 1021 cm-1 was regarded as the characteristic peak of C-O stretching vibration in lignin. The ATR-FTIR spectra can be effectively differentiated based on their various characteristics using orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA). Results were assessed using multiple statistical techniques, including Spearman's correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and OPLS-DA. Among these methods, the ATR-FTIR data demonstrated the most effective outcomes in differentiating between viable and non-viable roots for their application in herbal medicine. Essential substances are ferulic acid and flavonoid, which are much more abundant in the AB root. It provides a material basis for the pharmacological action of the AB roots and a theoretical basis for improving their availability.

Geographical region traceability of Poria cocos and correlation between environmental factors and biomarkers based on a metabolomic approach

The edible values of P. cocos from different origins vary significantly, therefore, it is important to investigate the traceability of geographical regions and identify the geographical biomarkers of P. cocos. The metabolites of P. cocos of the different geographical origins were assessed using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The OPLS-DA could clearly discriminate the metabolites of P. cocos from the three cultivation regions (YN, Yunnan; AH, Anhui; JZ, Hunan). Finally, three carbohydrates, four amino acids, and four triterpenoids were selected as biomarkers for P. cocos origin tracing. Correlation matrix analysis revealed that the contents of biomarkers were closely related to geographical origin. Altitude, temperature, and soil fertility were the main factors responsible for the differences in biomarker profiles in P. cocos. The metabolomics approach provides an effective strategy for tracing and identifying the biomarkers of P. cocos from different geographical origins.

ResNet and MaxEnt modeling for quality assessment of Wolfiporia cocos based on FT-NIR fingerprints

As a fungus with both medicinal and edible value, Wolfiporia cocos (F. A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb. has drawn more public attention. Chemical components' content fluctuates in wild and cultivated W. cocos, whereas the accumulation ability of chemical components in different parts is different. In order to perform a quality assessment of W. cocos, we proposed a comprehensive method which was mainly realized by Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy and ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC). A qualitative analysis means was built a residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) to recognize synchronous two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) images. It can rapidly identify samples from wild and cultivated W. cocos in different parts. As a quantitative analysis method, UFLC was used to determine the contents of three triterpene acids in 547 samples. The results showed that a simultaneous qualitative and quantitative strategy could accurately evaluate the quality of W. cocos. The accuracy of ResNet models combined synchronous FT-NIR 2DCOS in identifying wild and cultivated W. cocos in different parts was as high as 100%. The contents of three triterpene acids in Poriae Cutis were higher than that in Poria, and the one with wild Poriae Cutis was the highest. In addition, the suitable habitat plays a crucial role in the quality of W. cocos. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model is a common method to predict the suitable habitat area for W. cocos under the current climate. Through the results, we found that suitable habitats were mostly situated in Yunnan Province of China, which accounted for approximately 49% of the total suitable habitat area of China. The research results not only pave the way for the rational planting in Yunnan Province of China and resource utilization of W. cocos, but also provide a basis for quality assessment of medicinal fungi.