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. 2025 Jul 5;14(13):2385.
doi: 10.3390/foods14132385.

Discrimination of Polygonatum Species via Polysaccharide Fingerprinting: Integrating Their Chemometrics, Antioxidant Activity, and Potential as Functional Foods

Zhiguo Liu  1 , Wei Zhang  1   2 , Bin Wang  1
Affiliations

Discrimination of Polygonatum Species via Polysaccharide Fingerprinting: Integrating Their Chemometrics, Antioxidant Activity, and Potential as Functional Foods

Zhiguo Liu et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Polygonati Rhizoma, a renowned edible homologous material, encompasses an array of widely distributed species. Despite their morphological and medicinal similarities, their overlapping distribution and evolving varieties present challenges for their classification and identification. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of polysaccharides extracted from three common species: P. sibiricum, P. cyrtonema, and P. kingianum. An analysis of their monosaccharide composition reveals distinct profiles, with P. kingianum polysaccharides (PKPs) demonstrating a significantly higher glucose content compared to P. sibiricum polysaccharides (PSPs) and P. cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCPs). Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and derivative spectral processing affirm both structural similarities and quantitative differences in functional groups among the species. Multivariate analyses, including HCA, PCA, and OPLS-DA, confidently classify the 12 batches of polysaccharides into three distinct groups (PSPs, PCPs, and PKPs), exhibiting strong model robustness (PCA: R2X = 0.951, Q2 = 0.673; OPLS-DA: R2Y = 0.953, Q2 = 0.922). Importantly, PKPs from number S11 show exceptional in vitro antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging), which directly correlates with their high monosaccharide content and distinctive spectral features. These findings establish a robust foundation for the quality assessment of Polygonatum polysaccharides as potential natural antioxidants in functional foods, positioning PKPs as leading candidates for dietary supplement development.

Keywords: HCA; OPLS-DA; PCA; Polygonati Rhizoma; antioxidant activity; fingerprint identification; functional food ingredient; polysaccharide.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The 12 batches of rhizomes of three common Polygonatum spp. (Polygonatum sibiricum−S1: Jinzhai, Anhui; S2: Danfeng, Shanxi; S3: Songxian, Luoyang; S4: Funiushan, Luoyang. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua−S5: Zunyi, Guizhou; S6: Nanchong, Sichuan; S7: Puer, Yunnan; S8: Jiuhuashan, Chizhou. Polygonatum kingianum−S9: Yuxi, Yunnan; S10: Jinghong, Yunnan; S11: Puer, Yunnan in cultivated; S12: Puer, Yunnan in wild).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Monosaccharide composition and quantitative analysis of three common Polygonatum polysaccharides. (1: Xyl, 10.87 min; 2: Rha, 11.16 min; 3: Rib, 11.98 min; 4: Ara, 12.26 min; 5: β-D-Glc, 15.41 min; 6: Fru, 16.11 min; 7: α-D-Man, 16.55 min; 8: α-D-Glc, 16.79 min; 9: α-D-Gal, 16.88 min; 10: β-D-Man, 17.02 min; 11: β-D-Gal, 17.39 min; 12: GlcA, 18.90 min; 13: GalA, 19.39 min; IS: 19.68 min).
Figure 3
Figure 3
DPPH radical scavenging capacity of polysaccharides from three Polygonatum species. (A) Comparative antioxidant activity among species; (B) P. sibiricum polysaccharides (PSPs); (C) P. cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCPs); (D) P. kingianum polysaccharides (PKPs).
Figure 4
Figure 4
IR fingerprints of three kinds of polysaccharides from three common Polygonatum spp. (Polygonatum sibiricum−S1: Jinzhai, Anhui; S2: Danfeng, Shanxi; S3: Songxian, Luoyang; S4: Funiushan, Luoyang. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua−S5: Zunyi, Guizhou; S6: Nanchong, Sichuan; S7: Puer, Yunnan; S8: Jiuhuashan, Chizhou. Polygonatum kingianum−S9: Yuxi, Yunnan; S10: Jinghong, Yunnan; S11: Puer, Yunnan in cultivated; S12: Puer, Yunnan in wild).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Average spectra of IR second derivatives of polysaccharides from PSPs, PCPs, and PKPs.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The HCA of the polysaccharides from three common Polygonatum spp. (Polygonatum sibiricum−S1: Jinzhai, Anhui; S2: Danfeng, Shanxi; S3: Songxian, Luoyang; S4: Funiushan, Luoyang. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua−S5: Zunyi, Guizhou; S6: Nanchong, Sichuan; S7: Puer, Yunnan; S8: Jiuhuashan, Chizhou. Polygonatum kingianum−S9: Yuxi, Yunnan; S10: Jinghong, Yunnan; S11: Puer, Yunnan in cultivated; S12: Puer, Yunnan in wild).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The PCA of the polysaccharides from three common Polygonatum spp. (A) 2D; (B) 3D. (Polygonatum sibiricum−S1: Jinzhai, Anhui; S2: Danfeng, Shanxi; S3: Songxian, Luoyang; S4: Funiushan, Luoyang. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua−S5: Zunyi, Guizhou; S6: Nanchong, Sichuan; S7: Puer, Yunnan; S8: Jiuhuashan, Chizhou. Polygonatum kingianum−S9: Yuxi, Yunnan; S10: Jinghong, Yunnan; S11: Puer, Yunnan in cultivated; S12: Puer, Yunnan in wild).
Figure 8
Figure 8
The OPLS-DA analysis of three common Polygonatum spp. polysaccharides. (A) 2D; (B) 3D. (Polygonatum sibiricum−S1: Jinzhai, Anhui; S2: Danfeng, Shanxi; S3: Songxian, Luoyang; S4: Funiushan, Luoyang. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua−S5: Zunyi, Guizhou; S6: Nanchong, Sichuan; S7: Puer, Yunnan; S8: Jiuhuashan, Chizhou. Polygonatum kingianum−S9: Yuxi, Yunnan; S10: Jinghong, Yunnan; S11: Puer, Yunnan in cultivated; S12: Puer, Yunnan in wild).
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