Abstract
In recent years, Akebia trifoliata used to restore rocky
desertification environment. We first discovered that the medicinal
content of A. trifoliata will increase in rocky desertification
habitats, but its mechanism of action is not clear. In this study,A. trifoliata was planted in normal habitats and rocky
desertification habitats, and changes in the content of secondary
metabolites and related enzyme activities were analyzed. The results
showed that: (1) the biomass of the roots, stems and leaf of A.
trifoliata reduced significantly, but the content of secondary
metabolites increased significantly in rocky desertification habitats.
It is mainly reflected in the content of tannins in leaves, flavonoids
in roots, and total phenols in roots, stems and leaves. (2) A.
trifoliata changed the enzyme activities of PAL (Phenylalanine
ammonialyase), C4H (Cinnamate-4-Hydroxylase) and 4CL (4-Coumarate:
Coenzyme A Ligase), thereby regulated the increase in the content of
secondary metabolites in rocky desertification habitat. (3) the content
of medicinal components of A. trifoliata increased significantly
in rocky desertification habitat. The highest content of oleanolic acid
in the roots from July to August, and the highest content of
α-hederagenins in the stems in July; (4) principal component analysis
showed that the main response index of A. trifoliata secondary
metabolites and related enzymes in rocky desertification habitats was
total phenols. This study revealed the response mechanism of A.
trifoliata secondary metabolites and related enzymes in rocky
desertification habitats. It not only provided a new choice for the
exploiting of medicinal resources of A. trifoliata , but also
provided a new theoretical basis for A. trifoliata to restore
rocky desertification environment.