Objective To optimize the extraction conditions for 7 flavonoids (taxifolin, myricetin, liquiritigenin, apigenin, naringenin, baicalein, and isoliquiritigenin) from Polygonatum cyrtonema, and clarify the content and distribution characteristics of flavonoids in various organs.

Methods Taking different vegetative tissues of Polygonatum cyrtonema as experimental materials and 7 flavonoids as detection indicators, single-factor test, orthogonal test and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm were combined to determine the optimal extraction conditions for flavonoid quantification. An HPLC method was developed for simultaneous quantification of flavonoids. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were further applied to elucidate the distribution patterns and compositional correlations of flavonoids in different vegetative organs of Polygonatum cyrtonema.

Results The 7 flavonoids showed good linear relationships (r > 0.999 0), and the precision, stability, repeatability and accuracy all satisfied the criteria for quantitative determination. The optimal extraction conditions optimized by PSO were 75% ethanol as the extraction solvent, extraction temperature of 95 ℃, extraction duration of 1.5 h, and solid-liquid ratio of 1∶20. Under these conditions, the total flavonoid extraction efficiency increased by 34.8% compared with that obtained from orthogonal tests. The content of taxifolin was highest in leaves, naringenin and baicalin were mainly enriched in rhizomes, and the content of various flavonoids in flowers and fibrous roots was less than 0.5 mg/g. All tested organs were classified into 3 groups based on principal component and hierarchical clustering analysis. Leaves formed an independent cluster, rhizomes and aerial stems were grouped together, while flowers and fibrous roots constituted the third category.

Conclusion The extraction parameters collaboratively optimized by orthogonal test and PSO algorithm possess high stability and extraction efficiency. The established HPLC quantitative method has high accuracy. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the 7 flavonoids exhibit distinct distribution patterns across various organs of Polygonatum cyrtonema, providing a basis for resource development and quality evaluation.

1. 宋添力, 张钰, 肖强, 等. 黄精化学成分以及药用价值的研究进展[J]. 中华中医药学刊, 2024, 42(11): 119-26.SongTL, ZhangY, XiaoQ, et al. Research progress on chemical constituents and medicinal value of Polygonatum Rhizoma[J]. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024, 42(11): 119-126. DOI: 10.13193/j.issn.1673-7717.2024.11.024.

2. 李彦力, 苏艺, 袁晚晴, 等. 黄精主要活性成分、功能及其作用机制研究进展[J].现代食品科技, 2023, 39(12): 354-363.LiYL, SuY, YuanWQ, et al. Research progress on main active components, functions and action mechanisms of Polygonatum Rhizoma[J]. Modern Food Science and Technology, 2023, 39(12): 354-363. DOI: 10.13982/j.mfst.1673-9078.2023.12.1564.

3. LinHY, WangWH, PengMQ, et al. Pharmacological properties of Polygonatum and its active ingredients for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases[J]. Chin Med, 2024, 19(1): 1. DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00871-0.

4. YeXP, HuYY, ChenYX, et al. Flavonoids from the genus Polygonatum: biological activities and biosynthesis mechanism[J]. Front Nutr, 2025, 12: 1574182. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1574182.

5. 祝艺星, 朱海青, 过利敏, 等. 雪菊总黄酮提取工艺优化及不同溶剂萃取物的抗氧化活性研究[J]. 新疆农业科学, 2026, 63(1): 107-116.ZhuYX, ZhuHQ, GuoLM, et al. Optimization of extraction technology for total flavonoids from Coreopsis tinctoria and antioxidant activity of extracts with different solvents[J]. Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences, 2026, 63(1): 107-116. DOI: 10.6048/j.issn.1001-4330.2026.01.010.

6. WangZ, YangSL, GaoYJ, et al. Extraction and purification of antioxidative flavonoids from Chionanthus retusa leaf[J]. Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2022, 10: 1085562. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1085562.

7. 杜妹玲, 陈志红, 朱轩池, 等. 响应面和粒子群-人工神经网络模型优化微波辅助提取赤芍总苷工艺[J]. 食品工业科技, 2023, 44(15): 248-257.DuML, ChenZH, ZhuXC, et al. Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction process for total paeoniflorins from Paeonia lactiflora by response surface methodology and particle swarm optimization-artificial neural network model[J]. Science and Technology of Food Industry, 2023, 44(15): 248-257. DOI: 10.13386/j.issn1002-0306.2022110133.

8. Jahandideh-TehraniM, Bozorg-HaddadO, LoáicigaHA. Application of particle swarm optimization to water management: an introduction and overview[J]. Environ Monit Assess, 2020, 192(5): 281. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-8228-z.

9. 李运, 王苗, 刘晓玲, 等. 基于HPLC指纹图谱结合多成分含量测定和化学模式识别的大山楂丸质量评价[J]. 中国药学杂志, 2024, 59(24): 2372-2783.LiY, WangM, LiuXL, et al. Quality evaluation of Dashanzha pills based on HPLC fingerprint combined with multi-component content determination and chemical pattern recognition[J]. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024, 59(24): 2372-2383. DOI: 10.11669/cpj.2024.24.010.

10. XuSL, LuoHY, ChenHW, et al. Optimization of extraction of total trans-resveratrol from peanut seeds and its determination by HPLC[J]. J Sep Sci, 2020, 43(6): 1024-1031. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201900915.

11. 徐胜, 屈曾义, 毕健丽, 等. 基于BP-ANN优化提取HPLC特征图谱测定3种黄精辐照前后黄酮含量变化[J].食品工业科技, 2021, 42(5): 257-264.XuS, QuZY, BiJL, et al. Determination of flavonoid content changes in three Polygonatum species before and after irradiation by HPLC characteristic chromatogram based on BP-ANN optimized extraction[J]. Science and Technology of Food Industry, 2021, 42(5): 257-264. DOI: 10.13386/j.issn1002-0306.2020050171.

12. 向泽栋, 薛晴, 于海涛, 等. HPLC波长切换法同时测定经典名方槐花散中5种成分的含量[J].中国药房, 2021, 32(16): 1964-1968.XiangZD, XueQ, YuHT, et al. Simultaneous determination of five components in classical prescription Huaihua San by HPLC with wavelength switching[J]. China Pharmacy, 2021, 32(16): 1964-1968. DOI: 10.6039/j.issn.1001-0408.2021.16.08.

13. LezoulNEH, BelkadiM, HabibiF,et al. Extraction processes with several solvents on total bioactive compounds in different organs of three medicinal plants[J]. Molecules, 2020, 25(20): 4672. DOI: DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204672.

14. WanXL, XiaoQ. Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome provides insights into the mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis in Polygonatum[J]. PloS One, 2025, 20(1): e0318026. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318026.

15. WanK, BanJJ, YangFJ, et al. Transcriptomic analysis reveals the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway involved in rhizome development in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua[J]. Plants (Basel), 2024, 13(11): 1524. DOI: 10.3390/plants13111524.

16. HanZJ, GongQQ, HuangSY, et al. Machine learning uncovers accumulation mechanism of flavonoid compounds in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua[J]. Plant Physiol Biochem, 2023, 201: 107839. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107839.

17. MoXC, WangL, YuCH, et al. Combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis of the distribution of flavonoids in the fibrous root and taproot of Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl[J]. Genes, 2024, 15(7): 828. DOI: 10.3390/genes15070828.

18. 郭海涛, 姜媛媛, 刘浩, 等. 滇黄精多糖的提取工艺优化、纯化及其抗衰老活性研究[J]. 药学学报, 2025, 60(10): 3214-3221.GuoHT, JiangYY, LiuH, et al. Optimization of extraction process, purification and anti-aging activity of polysaccharides from Polygonatum kingianum[J]. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 2025, 60(10): 3214-3221. DOI: 10.16438/j.0513-4870.2025-0600.

19. LiS, CuiHL, WangJY, et al. Qualitative and quantitative analysis on flavonoid distribution in different floral parts of 42 hemerocallis accessions[J]. Front Plant Sci, 2021, 12: 670506. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.670506.

20. LiuCL, XuFR, ZhangQ, et al. Ultrasound-assisted enzyme extraction of total flavonoids from lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) and its antioxidant activity[J]. LWT, 2025, 215: 117224. DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2024.117224.

21. ZhaoC, XuJ, LiuY, et al. Extraction and purification of flavonoids and antiviral and antioxidant activities of Polygonum perfoliatum L[J]. 2025, 30(1): 29. DOI: 10.3390/molecules30010029.

22. XuMH, CaoL, LuDW, et al. Application of swarm intelligence optimization algorithms in image processing: a comprehensive review of analysis, synthesis, and optimization[J]. Biomimetics, 2023, 8(2): 235. DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics 8020235.