Selenium increases chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll and carotenoids of Lycium chinense leaves.
BACKGROUND
Leaves of Lycium chinense L. are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and as functional food in China and south-east Asia. Polyphenols are important active compounds in leaves of L. chinense L, but their compositions are still not very clear. Selenium has been reported to increase some components of plants. In this study, the composition of polyphenols of L. chinense leaves were analysed, and the effects of selenium on the polyphenols and other components were studied.


RESULTS
The main polyphenols were identified as rutin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and apigenin-7-O-(6'-O-acetyl) glucose-rhamnose. Chlorogenic acid showed the highest average content of 78.36 g kg⁻¹. Rutin, quercetin and kaempferol were determined at low contents from 3.85 g kg⁻¹ to 7.08 g kg⁻¹. Correlation coefficients between selenium and chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids were: R² = 0.963 (P = 0.002), 0.943 (P = 0.005), 0.957 (P = 0.003) and 0.943 (P = 0.005), respectively. Selenium (0.01-0.05 g kg⁻¹) significantly increased chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll and carotenoids by 200-400% and reduced rutin by 400-900%.


CONCLUSIONS
L. chinense can be an alternative source of chlorogenic acid. Selenium significantly increased chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids, hence increasing the medicinal value of L. chinense leaves. Rutin, quercetin, kaempferol and apigenin-7-O-(6'-O-acetyl) glucose-rhamnose proved to be not significantly influenced by selenium.
Key Laboratory of Biologic Resources Protection and Utilization of Hubei Province, School of Biological Science and Technology, Hubei University for Nationalities, Enshi, 445000, China. djz22cn@yahoo.com.cn
Jing Z
JZ
Dong
Ying
Y
Wang
Shu H
SH
Wang
Ling P
LP
Yin
Guan J
GJ
Xu
Cheng
C
Zheng
Can
C
Lei
Ming Z
MZ
Zhang
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002681:China; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005308:Fertilizers; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis; D018527:Hydroponics; D032305:Lycium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009753:Nutritive Value; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012431:Rutin / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005308:Fertilizers; D005419:Flavonoids; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; D002338:Carotenoids; C037184:chlorophyll b; D012431:Rutin; D012643:Selenium; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D000077194:Chlorophyll A