Abstract
Ephedra sinica Stapf. is a shrubby plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine due to its high level of medicinal value, thus, it is in high demand. Ephedrine (E) and pseudoephedrine (PE) are key medicinal components and quality indicators for E. sinica. These two ephedrine-type alkaloids are basic elements that exert the medicinal effect of E. sinica. Recently, indiscriminate destruction and grassland desertification have caused the quantity and quality of these pharmacological plants to degenerate. Predicting potentially suitable habitat for high-quality E. sinica is essential for its future conservation and domestication. In this study, MaxEnt software was utilized to map suitable habitats for E. sinica in Inner Mongolia based on occurrence data and a set of variables related to climate, soil, topography and human impact. The model parametrization was optimized by evaluating alternative combinations of feature classes and values of the regularization multiplier. Second, a geospatial quality model was fitted to relate E and PE contents to the same environmental variables and to predict their spatial patterns across the study area. Outputs from the two models were finally coupled to map areas predicted to have both suitable conditions for E. sinica and high alkaloid content. Our results indicate that E. sinica with high-quality E content was mainly distributed in the Horqin, Ulan Butong and Wulanchabu grasslands. E. sinica with high-quality PE content was primarily found in the Ordos, Wulanchabu and Ulan Butong grasslands. This study provides scientific information for the protection and sustainable utilization of E. sinica. It can also help to control and prevent desertification in Inner Mongolia.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
the open Research Fund of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resource
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Reference82 articles.
1. Scientists & apos; Warning on Climate Change and Medicinal Plants;W.L. Applequist;Planta Medica,2020
2. Expanding, shifting and shrinking: The impact of global warming on species’ elevational distributions;B.G. Freeman;Global Ecology and Biogeography,2018
3. Major shifts at the range edge of marine forests: the combined effects of climate changes and limited dispersal.;J. Assis;Scientific Reports,2017
4. Holocene grassland vegetation, climate and human impact in central eastern Inner Mongolia;F. Huang;Science in China Series D-Earth Sciences,2005
5. The Combination of Ephedrae herba and Coicis semen in Gambihwan Attenuates Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.;J.-W. Jang;Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018.,2018
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献