Sodium Nitroprusside Improved the Quality of Radix Saposhnikoviae through Constructed Physiological State under Adversity

Abstract

The quality of botanicals is closely related to the growing environment, usually with a better quality under adverse conditions. The quality of the cultivated under good conditions were heavily declined. Radix Saposhnikoviae is one of the most commonly botanicals in Asian countries, the price of the cultivated is only 1/10 to 1/3 of that of the wild, therefore improved the quality of the cultivated Radix Saposhnikoviae is an urgent issue. The fresh Radix saposhnikoviae roots were treated with 0.03, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mmol/L SNP, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, secondary metabolite synthesis enzymes such as PAL, ACC and CHS, and the contents of NO, O2·ˉ, H2O2, MDA, and secondary metabolite chromones were determined. The quality of Radix Saposhnikoviae was evaluated with antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects, and inflammatory factors. The NO contents in the fresh roots of Radix saposhnikoviae were significantly increased under SNP, which led to a significant increase of O2·ˉ, H2O2, and MDA. The activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and POD showed an increase, reach a peak on the 2nd and the 3rd day. The activities of PAL, ACC, and CHS were also significantly enhanced, resulting in the increased secondary metabolite contents of Radix Saposhnikoviae in all groups, especially the 0.5 mmol/ L SNP, the four active ingredients, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, 4'-O-β-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, and sec-O-glucosylhamaudol, increased by 90.5%, 252.1%, 52.2% and 153.7%, respectively, on the 3rd day, which was accomplished by biosynthesis. The pharmaceutical effects of Radix saposhnikoviae under 0.5mmol/L SNP were significantly enhanced. Exogenous SNP can induce physiological states under the adverse conditions and significantly improve the quality of Radix Saposhnikoviae, which can provide a new way for high-quality production.