药用植物有效成分是其发挥临床疗效的物质基础, 也是评价药材质量的重要指标, 而这些有效成分的产生和分布通常有种属、器官、组织以及生长发育时期的特异性。明确药用植物主要药用成分在植物不同生长发育阶段的积累变化规律和形成机制, 对中药品质与临床疗效有重要的指导意义。该文主要概述了不同发育阶段对药用植物不同药用部位(根、茎、叶、花、果实和种子)中有效成分积累的影响, 并对药用植物次生代谢产物合成和积累机制的相关研究技术进行了展望, 为生产实践上调控药用植物次生物质合成、药用植物的合理利用以及提高中药材品质奠定了理论基础。

The active ingredients of medicinal plants are the material basis of their clinical curative effects. They are also important indicators for evaluating the quality of medicinal materials. The synthesis and distribution of these active components show specific patterns depending on the genus, organ, tissue and growth period of the medicinal plant. Elucidating the dynamic accumulation and formation mechanisms of the active components in medicinal plants bears guiding significance for the quality control of medicinal materials and the improvement of clinical curative effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this review, we have summarized recent progresses regarding how different growth stages affect the synthesis and accumulation of effective components in different parts (root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed) of medicinal plants. We also provide an outlook on the research methods applied for the synthesis and accumulation mechanisms of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. This study provides a theoretical basis for the regulation of secondary substance synthesis in production practices, the rational utilization of medicinal plants and the quality improvement of Chinese medicinal herbs.