Comprehensive comparison of biomass, nutritional and functional metabolites, and antioxidative effects of Polygonum multiflorum cultivated through different seedling methods

Abstract

Polygonum multiflorum (PM) is a tuberous medicinal plant noted for its various beneficial effects. Plant tissue culture can produce significant metabolites, driving innovative advancements across agricultural and biotechnological industries. This research compared nutritional and functional metabolites and antioxidant effects of PM cultivated by seed, cuttage, and tissue culture. Tissue culture significantly increased root biomass and metabolite yield. The levels of nutritional metabolites, such as fatty acids, free amino acids, and minerals, and functional metabolites, such as phytochemicals, varied significantly with the cultivation method. Furthermore, the antioxidant effects of PM grown by tissue culture were comparable to those grown from seeds. This study demonstrated that plant tissue culture enhances the medicinal and nutritional properties of PM by optimizing metabolite production. Furthermore, tissue culture promotes sustainable practices and conservation efforts in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.