Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Accumulation of Flavonoids and Related Gene Expressions in Different Organs of Astragalus membranaceus Bge

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the important medicinal plant in China and Korea. It is used to increase metabolism and digestion, enhance the immune system, and promote the healing of wounds and injuries. In the present study, we used quantitative real-time PCR to investigate the expression of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids, in addition to high-performance liquid chromatography to assess calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside accumulation, in the different plant organs of A. membranaceus. The transcript levels of all genes (AmPAL, AmC4H, Am4CL, AmCHS, AmCHR, AmCHI, AmIFS, AmI3′H, and AmUCGT) involved in calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside biosynthesis were the highest in the flower. Calycosin content was ordered as follows: leaf (145.56 μg/g dry weight [DW]) > stem (18.3 μg/g DW) > root (1.64 μg/g DW) > flower (0.09 μg/g DW), whereas calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside content was ordered as follows: root (4.88 μg/g DW) > stem (3.86 μg/g DW) > leaf (2.0 μg/g DW) > flower (not detected). All genes exhibited the highest transcription levels in the flower, whereas calycosin and its glycoside content were the highest in the leaf and root, respectively. Our results indicate that the enhancement of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside in the roots may originate from high calycosin accumulation in the stem and leaf. Thus, the mechanisms regulating calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside content differ in the different organs of A. membranaceus. The results are expected to provide baseline information from which the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in the different organs of A. membranaceus may be elucidated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ferrer, J. L., Austin, M. B., Stewart, C. J., & Noel, J. P. (2008). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 46, 356–370.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tang, N. P., Zhou, B., Wang, B., Yu, R. B., & Ma, J. (2009). Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 39, 352–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wilson, R. T., Wang, J., Chinchilli, V., Richie, J. P., Virtamo, J., Moore, L. E., et al. (2009). American Journal of Epidemiology, 170, 717–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang, Y., Chen, S., & Yu, O. (2011). Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 91, 949–956.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lin, L. Z., He, X. G., Lindenmaier, M., Nolan, G., Yang, J., Cleary, M., et al. (2000). Journal of Chromatography A, 876(1–2), 87–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Toda, S., & Shirataki, Y. (1998). Phytotheraphy Research, 12, 59–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu, D. Z., Fan, Y., Hen, Z. F., Song, C. Q., & Hu, Z. B. (2000). Pharmacology Clinic Chinese Material Medicine, 16, 16–18.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fan, Y., Wu, D. Z., Gong, Y. Q., Zhou, R. Y., & Hu, Z. B. (2003). European Journal of Pharmacology, 481, 33–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Choi, S., Park, S. R., & Heo, T. R. (2005). Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 15, 1258–1266.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee, Y. M., Choi, S. I., Lee, J. W., Jung, S. M., Park, S. M., & Heo, T. R. (2005). Food Science and Biotechnology, 14, 263–267.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakamura, T., Hashimoto, A., Nishi, H., & Kokusenya, Y. (1999). The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 119, 391–400.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu, C. J., Huhman, D., Sumner, L. W., & Dixon, R. A. (2003). Plant Journal, 36(4), 471–484.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pan, H. Y., Fang, C. M., Zhou, T. S., Wang, Q. Z., & Chen, J. K. (2007). Plant Cell Reports, 26, 1111–1120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Russel, D. W. (1971). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 246, 3870–3878.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Dixon, R. A., & Paiva, N. L. (1995). The Plant Cell, 7, 1085–1097.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Graham, M. Y. (2005). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 39, 1784–1794.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gambino, G., Perrone, I., & Gribaudo, I. (2008). Phytochemical Analysis, 19, 520–525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Qi, L. W., Yu, Q. T., Li, P., Li, S. L., Wang, Y. X., Sheng, L. H., Yi, L. (2006). Journal of Chromatography A, 1134, 162–169.

  19. Zheng, X. Y. (2005). Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, China.

  20. Wagner, H., Bauer, R., Xiao, P. G., Chen, J. M., Michler, G. (1997). Wald, Germany, Kötzting/Bayer.

  21. Ma, X. Q., Shi, Q., Duan, J. A., Dong, T. T., & Tsim, K. W. (2002). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50, 4861–4866.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dhaubhadel, S., McGarvey, B. D., Williams, R., & Gijzen, M. (2003). Plant Molecular Biology, 53, 733–743.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Gillissen, B., Burkle, L., Andre, B., Kuhn, C., Rentsch, D., Brandl, B., et al. (2000). Plant Cell, 12, 291–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lykkesfeldt, J., & Moller, B. L. (1993). Plant Physiology, 102, 609–613.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu, T., Bligh, S. W. A., Gu, L. H., Wang, Z. T., Liu, H. P., Cheng, X. M., et al. (2005). Fitoterapia, 76, 157–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ906938)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, Republic of Korea

    Yeon Bok Kim, Aye Aye Thwe, Xiaohua Li, Pham Anh Tuan, Shicheng Zhao, Jong Won Lee & Sang Un Park

  2. National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, 92 Bisanro, Eumseong, Chungbok, 369-873, Republic of Korea

    Chun Geon Park

Authors
  1. Yeon Bok Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aye Aye Thwe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaohua Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pham Anh Tuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shicheng Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chun Geon Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jong Won Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sang Un Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sang Un Park.

Additional information

Y.B. Kim and A.A. Thwe contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kim, Y.B., Thwe, A.A., Li, X. et al. Accumulation of Flavonoids and Related Gene Expressions in Different Organs of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 173, 2076–2085 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-1004-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-1004-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation