Study On Starch From Ginseng And Other Nine Chinese Materia Medica

Many traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs),nonconventional starch sources,are rich in starch,such as different Fritillaria species and Dioscorea opposita Thunb.Extensive researches have been conducted on the structure and functional properties of commercial starches obtained from seeds(corn,waxy corn),tubers and roots,due to their ready availability and extensive utilization in food and non-food applications.However,starch,as the most abundant carbohydrate in the rhizome of different species,are always ignored and discarded during the isolation of small-molecule active components,which results in a large waste of TCM resources.(1)Ten different Asian ginseng cultivars(Panax ginseng)from China and Korea were characterized for their starch-related physicochemical and functional properties.American ginseng(Panax quinquefolious)flour and starch were also assessed as contrast.All the ginseng samples were investigated for their morphological,crystalline and thermal properties,as well as in vitro digestibility.The starch-related properties of ginseng flours were investigated and used as reference for breeding of cultivated ginseng for the first time.(2)The morphology,functional group changes,crystalline proper-ties and physicochemical properties of starches separated from eight dioscorea plants were investigated.Amylose content of starches was observed to be from 16.08% to 22.27.The shape of the eight kinds of starch granules varied from round or elliptical to lenticular or irregular,polygonal.The crystal type of Huang Shan Yao starches were A-type pattern.However,the starches separatedfrom Q i Ye and Shu Liang showed B-type pattern.Others all showed as C-type pattern.Based on the data above,cluster analysis was carried out.The eight plants could be separated into different groups,which helped with plant classification.(3)Physicochemical and bio-functional properties of three starc hes including native starch,the dual enzyme-treated starch(DES)and the cross-linked carboxymethyl starch(CCS)were investigated in the current study.For the first time,the anti-constipation and hypolipidemic effect of yam starches are demonstrated.The modified starches were proved to be better for improving the small intestine propulsion function by generating more SCFAs.Hypolipidemic effect was also evaluated by monitoring the triglyceride(TG)and total cholesterol(TC)levels in mice.This study reports new bioactive starches,with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.In order to make full use of the resource of TCM and and analyse of the genetic relationships of medicinal plants,the morphological,crystalline and thermal characteristics,and pasting properties of starches were carried out.Starch characterization could be of value for identification of different ginseng cultivars and classification of dioscorea plants.Further more,bio-functional activities were evaluated for application of native and modified yam starches.