Comprehensive comparative evaluation of bioactive compound and antioxidant capacity in different parts of alpine...

A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities in different plant parts (achene, cauline leaf, and rhizome) of alpine bistort, Bistorta vivipara (L.) Gray. Qualitative analysis identified 76 compounds, with flavonoids and organic acids as the predominant chemical classes across all plant parts. Quantitative analyses indicated variations in the content of these compounds across plant parts. Cultured alpine bistort exhibited a consistent trend of higher phytochemical content and greater uniformity compared to the natural alpine bistort across all plant parts. Four compounds (cianidanol, miquelianin, saxifragin, and neochlorogenic acid) showed potential as part-specific discriminators. Among all plant parts evaluated, the rhizome demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses indicated that flavonoids and organic acids serve as the primary antioxidant compounds, acting through multiple targets and pathways. These findings provide important evidence supporting the industrial application of alpine bistort.