[Relationships between Dendrobium quality and ecological factors based on partial least square regression]

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Cheminformatics
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Context:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) production relies on identifying optimal ecological conditions for medicinal plant cultivation.
• Understanding the relationship between environmental factors and the chemical composition of Dendrobium species is crucial for quality control and cultivation.
• Geographic Information System (GIS) data provides a valuable resource for analyzing ecological suitability for TCM production.

Purpose:

• To investigate the correlation between eleven ecological factors and the chemical components of Dendrobium species.
• To identify the key ecological factors influencing the content of specific chemical compounds in Dendrobium officinale, Dendrobium nobile, and Dendrobium chrysotoxum.
• To determine the optimal geographical production areas for these Dendrobium species using Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

Summary:

• Partial Least Square (PLS) regression revealed significant variations in chemical component content within Dendrobium species across different regions.
• Polysaccharide content in D. officinale positively correlated with soil type; dendrobine in D. nobile correlated with annual precipitation; erianin in D. chrysotoxum was influenced by air temperature.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified Zhejiang Province as optimal for D. officinale, Guizhou Province for D. nobile, and Yunnan Province for D. chrysotoxum.

Impact:

• This research provides a scientific basis for the cultivation and sustainable production of high-quality Dendrobium species for Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Identifying optimal growing regions can enhance the yield and chemical consistency of Dendrobium, improving its therapeutic efficacy.
• The findings facilitate targeted cultivation strategies, ensuring a stable supply of key Dendrobium-derived compounds for medicinal use.