Abstract:
In this paper, the content of active ingredients and antioxidant capacity of different parts of Hoxylon and Red Willow
Cistanche deserticola, from Hotan Cele County, Xinjiang, were evaluated. The results showed that the active substances, including total phenols, total flavonoids, total sugars, and verbascoside of Red Willow
Cistanche deserticola, were the highest in the lower part of the plant, and decreased in the middle and upper parts. In terms of total phenols and total flavonoids, the contents of the lower part of Red Willow
Cistanche deserticola (38.35 mg GAE/g DW, 35.61 mg RE/g DW) were 2.47 and 10.95 times compared to the lower part of Hoxylon
Cistanche deserticola, respectively. The upper part of Hoxylon
Cistanche deserticola showed the highest content of echinacoside with 92.93 mg/g DW. And the total triterpene content of the lower part-especially that of Hoxylon
Cistanche deserticola was significantly higher than the upper and middle part (
P<0.05), at 6.75 mg OAE/g DW. In addition, it was found that the antioxidant properties of both Hoxylon and Red Willow
Cistanche deserticola were strong, and the highest antioxidant capacity was observed in their lower parts (IC
50 DPPH: 7.15 and 5.95 mg/mL; IC
50 ABTS+: 5.19 and 3.28 mg/mL, respectively). As shown in the correlation analysis, the contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, total sugars, and verbascoside in
Cistanche deserticola were negatively correlated with IC
50 DPPH and IC
50 ABTS+. The results demonstrated that the content of echinacoside was the most abundant in the upper part of Hoxylon
Cistanche deserticola. And the lower part of Red Willow
Cistanche deserticola was rich in total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total sugars and verbascoside, compared to the corresponding part of Hoxylon
Cistanche deserticola. This paper lays the theoretical groundwork for the standardization and in-depth development of functional products derived from
Cistanche deserticola from various regions.