Comparison of Major Nutritional Components in Polygonatum Germplasm Resources from Different Origins

TL;DR

This study compares the nutritional content of 40 Polygonatum samples from different regions in China to identify those with the highest nutritional value.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive ranking of Polygonatum germplasm resources based on multiple nutritional components and multivariate analyses.

Findings

Polygonatum samples from specific regions showed polysaccharide content exceeding 20%.

High genetic diversity was observed, with total dietary fiber and ash content varying significantly.

Selected accessions offer valuable potential for industrial use as medicinal and edible resources.

Abstract

Polygonatum has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a functional food due to its richness in bioactive compounds and nutritional value. However, comprehensive assessments of the nutritional quality of cultivated Polygonatum germplasm resources remain limited. In this study, 40 Polygonatum germplasms from ten provinces were analyzed for key nutritional components on a dry-weight basis, including polysaccharides, total dietary fiber, vitamin C, protein, and mineral elements. Multivariate analyses (correlation analysis, PCA, membership function scoring, and hierarchical clustering) were applied to comprehensively rank their nutritional quality. Substantial variation was observed across accessions, indicating high genetic diversity. Among them, Polygonatum cyrtonema samples from Huaihua (Hunan), Lu’an (Anhui), Hezhou (Guangxi), and Lishui (Zhejiang), as well as Polygonatum kingianum from Baoshan (Yunnan), exhibited the highest overall nutritional quality, with polysaccharide content exceeding 20%, and the total dietary fiber and total ash contents greater than 24% and 3%, respectively. This study indicates that the substantial variation observed among different Polygonatum germplasm resources increases the likelihood of identifying accessions with high levels of nutritional components, thereby providing a valuable reference for the future industrial development and utilization of Polygonatum as both a medicinal and edible plant resource.

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