Cai Xiaoyang, Li Wenjing, Fan Heling, Zhang Jiaming, Wang Haohan, Qing Yan, Li Min, Gou Yan
School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Sichuan Research Center for Demonstration Project of Entire Industrial Chain of Genuine Medicinal Materials, Chengdu, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Jul 15;16:1542539. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1542539. eCollection 2025.
(L. f.) Ker-Gawl., commonly known for its tuberous roots, is a renowned medicinal plant widely used in traditional medical systems across China, Japan, and parts of Southeast Asia. In China in particular, Ophiopogonis Radix has been employed for thousands of years as both a herbal remedy and a health-promoting food, embodying a long-standing tradition of dual medicinal and dietary use. Based on geographic origin, it is typically classified into two main types: "Chuanmaidong" (CMD) from Sichuan and "Zhemaidong" (ZMD) from Zhejiang. This study investigates the impact of foliar-applied Uniconazole, a triazole-based plant growth regulator, on the agronomic traits and medicinal quality of (cv. Chuanmaidong No.1) under field conditions in Sichuan, China. The research addresses a critical question in medicinal plant cultivation: can yield enhancement via plant growth regulators be achieved without compromising pharmacological quality?
Uniconazole was applied at rates ranging from 7.5, 15, and 30 kg/hm². Plant morphological traits, tuber yield components, bioactive compound contents, and environmental residues were systematically evaluated. Hormonal profiling and degradation kinetics were also assessed to elucidate physiological mechanisms and ecological safety.
Uniconazole application inhibited vegetative growth, reducing plant height and leaf biomass. However, it markedly increased tuber yield-by up to 101.59%-through hormone-mediated morphological remodeling. This was driven by disruptions in endogenous hormone homeostasis, particularly in Abscisic Acid (ABA) - Gibberellic acid 3 (GA) balance and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) - Zeatin Riboside (ZR) coordination, promoting the transformation of root shapes from standard spindle forms to cylindrical or dumbbell types. Dimensional traits improved significantly: root diameter increased by 12.36%, length by 21.75%, and single tuber dry weight by 49.53%. Despite modest increases in polysaccharide and flavonoid levels, total saponins and ophiopogonin D-key pharmacologically active compounds-declined by 35.90% and 63.94%, respectively. Environmental residue analysis showed first-order degradation kinetics, with half-lives of approximately 19.7 days in both soil and root tissue, and final residues falling below detection thresholds.
While Uniconazole enhances short-term economic returns through yield amplification, it poses substantial challenges to medicinal quality and regulatory compliance. The induced morphological deviations complicate adherence to Chinese Pharmacopoeia identification standards and may increase adulteration risks. Most concerning is the sharp reduction in saponins, which undermines clinical efficacy and pharmaceutical processing. This study calls for urgent policy reforms, including mandatory quantification of bioactive markers and routine residue monitoring, to safeguard the integrity of medicinal plant supply chains. A balanced cultivation paradigm is essential-one that reconciles agricultural intensification with the core therapeutic values of medicinal crops: efficacy, safety, and authenticity.
麦冬（L. f.）Ker - Gawl.，以其块根而闻名，是一种著名的药用植物，在中国、日本和东南亚部分地区的传统医学体系中广泛使用。特别是在中国，麦冬已被用作草药和保健食品达数千年之久，体现了其作为药物和食物双重用途的悠久传统。根据地理来源，它通常分为两种主要类型：来自四川的“川麦冬”（CMD）和来自浙江的“浙麦冬”（ZMD）。本研究调查了在四川田间条件下，叶面喷施烯效唑（一种基于三唑的植物生长调节剂）对麦冬（品种：川麦冬1号）农艺性状和药用品质的影响。该研究解决了药用植物栽培中的一个关键问题：能否通过植物生长调节剂提高产量而不影响药理品质？
烯效唑的施用量分别为7.5、15和30 kg/hm²。系统评估了植物形态特征、块根产量构成、生物活性化合物含量和环境残留。还评估了激素谱和降解动力学，以阐明生理机制和生态安全性。
施用烯效唑抑制了营养生长，降低了株高和叶片生物量。然而，通过激素介导的形态重塑，它显著提高了块根产量——增幅高达101.59%。这是由内源激素稳态的破坏驱动的，特别是脱落酸（ABA） - 赤霉素3（GA）平衡以及吲哚 - 3 - 乙酸（IAA） - 玉米素核苷（ZR）协调的破坏，促进了根形状从标准纺锤形向圆柱形或哑铃形的转变。尺寸性状显著改善：根直径增加了12.36%，长度增加了21.75%，单个块根干重增加了49.53%。尽管多糖和黄酮类化合物水平略有增加，但总皂苷和麦冬皂苷D（关键药理活性化合物）分别下降了35.90%和63.94%。环境残留分析显示为一级降解动力学，在土壤和根组织中的半衰期约为19.7天，最终残留量低于检测阈值。
虽然烯效唑通过提高产量增强了短期经济回报，但它对药用品质和监管合规性构成了重大挑战。诱导的形态偏差使符合《中国药典》鉴定标准变得复杂，并可能增加掺假风险。最令人担忧的是皂苷的大幅减少，这损害了临床疗效和药物加工。本研究呼吁进行紧急政策改革，包括强制定量生物活性标志物和常规残留监测，以保障药用植物供应链的完整性。一种平衡的种植模式至关重要——这种模式要在农业集约化与药用作物的核心治疗价值（疗效、安全性和真实性）之间取得平衡。
