How Corydalis Yanhusuo Bulbs Produce Healing Alkaloids

Jenn Hoskins
24th May, 2024

How Corydalis Yanhusuo Bulbs Produce Healing Alkaloids

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study identified 702 metabolites in Corydalis yanhusuo bulbs, including 216 alkaloids
  • Key genes involved in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) were identified
  • The expression of these genes was higher during the bulb expansion stage, correlating with increased alkaloid content
Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang, a traditional Chinese herb, has been recognized for its therapeutic properties, particularly its benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) which contribute to sedation, pain relief, blood circulation enhancement, and cancer cell inhibition. Despite its extensive use, the biosynthetic pathway of these alkaloids, especially specific components like tetrahydropalmatine, has been underexplored. The recent study by the Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica[1] aims to fill this gap by conducting extensive metabolome and transcriptomic analyses to construct the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs and identify candidate genes involved in their synthesis. The study identified 702 metabolites, including 216 alkaloids, with protoberberine-type and aporphine-type alkaloids being the primary chemical components in C. yanhusuo bulbs. Key genes for BIA biosynthesis, such as 6-OMT, CNMT, NMCH, BBE, SOMT1, CFS, SPS, STOX, MSH, TNMT, and P6H, were successfully identified. These genes are crucial for the synthesis of BIAs, and their expression levels were found to be higher during the expansion stage of the bulbs compared to the maturity stage, correlating with the alkaloid content. This study builds on earlier research that highlighted the importance of alkaloids in C. yanhusuo. For instance, previous studies have demonstrated the significant effects of quaternary ammonium alkaloids from C. yanhusuo on myocardial ischemia[2] and the necessity for a robust method to profile these alkaloids for quality control[3]. Furthermore, research has shown that specific alkaloids in C. yanhusuo can inhibit drug-resistant cancer cell transporters, enhancing chemotherapy efficacy[4]. The current study's findings on the biosynthetic pathways provide a deeper understanding that can enhance the quality control and therapeutic application of C. yanhusuo. The researchers utilized widely targeted metabolome and transcriptomic analyses, which are advanced techniques that allow for the comprehensive profiling of metabolites and gene expression. Metabolome analysis involves the large-scale study of small molecules, or metabolites, within cells, tissues, or organisms. Transcriptomic analysis, on the other hand, examines the expression of genes to understand their function and regulation. By integrating these two methods, the study was able to map out the biosynthetic pathways of BIAs and identify key regulatory genes. One of the significant findings of the study was the identification of five complete single genes likely encoding the functional enzyme CoOMT, which is involved in the biosynthesis of tetrahydropalmatine, a key alkaloid in C. yanhusuo. This discovery is particularly important as it provides a potential target for metabolic engineering to enhance the production of this valuable compound. The study's findings are consistent with earlier research that used various analytical methods to profile and quantify alkaloids in C. yanhusuo. For example, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass spectrometry (MS) and UV-detection was previously developed to identify and quantify alkaloids in C. yanhusuo[5]. These methods provided the sensitivity and specificity needed for characterizing the alkaloid content, which is crucial for ensuring the quality and efficacy of C. yanhusuo preparations. In summary, the study by the Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica provides a comprehensive understanding of the biosynthetic pathways of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in C. yanhusuo. By identifying key genes and their expression patterns, the research lays the groundwork for future metabolic engineering efforts to enhance the production of these valuable compounds. This work not only builds on previous findings but also opens new avenues for improving the therapeutic applications and quality control of C. yanhusuo.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the mechanism of alkaloid synthesis in Corydalis yanhusuo bulbs.

Published 23rd May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304258

Related Studies

2) Fingerprint-efficacy study of the quaternary alkaloids in Corydalis yanhusuo.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.06.036

3) Alkaloid profiling of the traditional Chinese medicine Rhizoma corydalis using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2014.04.003

4) An isoquinoline alkaloid from the Chinese herbal plant Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang inhibits P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associate protein 1.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.09.059

5) Qualitative and quantitative determination of ten alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang by LC-MS/MS and LC-DAD.

Journal: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, Issue: Vol 45, Issue 2, Oct 2007


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