Linfei Zhao , Rongrong Cai

Jiyang College, Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0012
Received: 28 Mar., 2024    Accepted: 03 May, 2024    Published: 17 May, 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Zhao L.F., and Cai R.R., 2024, Cracking the bioactive code of Rehmannia glutinosa: analysis and functions of active components, Bioscience Evidence, 14(3): 98-109 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0012)

Rehmannia glutinosa, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, is renowned for its diverse pharmacological properties attributed to its bioactive components. This research delves into the intricate bioactive code of R. glutinosa, focusing on the analysis and functions of its active components. Notably, acteoside, a prominent bioactive compound, exhibits significant health benefits, yet its biosynthetic pathway remains partially understood. Recent studies have identified a novel tyrosine decarboxylase (RgTyDC2) from the R. glutinosa transcriptome, which plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of acteoside by converting tyrosine and dopa into tyramine and dopamine, respectively, with a higher catalytic efficiency towards tyrosine. Additionally, the dynamic accumulation of various glycosides and saccharides, including catalpol, acteoside, and ajugol, has been investigated in both the roots and leaves of R. glutinosa. This research highlights the potential of utilizing the often-discarded leaves, which contain significant amounts of these bioactive compounds, thereby enhancing the resource value of the plant. This research synthesizes current findings to provide a comprehensive understanding of the bioactive components of R. glutinosa, their biosynthesis, and their potential applications in medicine.

Rehmannia glutinosa; Acteoside; Tyrosine decarboxylase; Glycosides; Pharmacological activities