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Establishment of Integrated Quality Regions for the Rare Medicine Food Homology Plant Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk in China
1
Sino-Pakistan International Center on Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, China
2
Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Production & Development of Cantonese Medicinal Materials, Guangzhou Comprehensive Experimental Station of National Industrial Technology System for Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Good Agricultural Practice & Comprehensive Development for Cantonese Medicinal Materials, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
3
The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Biology 2025, 14(12), 1639; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121639
Submission received: 25 October 2025
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Revised: 14 November 2025
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Accepted: 20 November 2025
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Published: 21 November 2025
Simple Summary
This study developed an integrated quality assessment system for the rare medicinal plant Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk. in China. By combining species distribution data, environmental variables, climate projections, and measured compound content (quercetin and kaempferol), a predictive model was created. The results show that suitable habitats, currently concentrated in provinces like Jiangxi and Hunan, are projected to shift northwestward under future climate scenarios. The content of key compounds was significantly linked to specific environmental factors. The research identifies the border region of Guangdong, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces as the optimal integrated quality area. This work provides a multi-scale decision-making framework for the conservation and sustainable use of this valuable plant.
Abstract
This study focuses on the plant Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk, which is unique to China and is characterized by its dual role as both a medicine food homology plant. We developed a novel framework termed “integrated quality regions”, which combines ecological suitability with the spatial distribution of bioactive compounds. Our findings indicate that the distribution of C. paliurus is primarily regulated by precipitation and temperature factors. Currently, the most suitable habitats are concentrated in the provinces of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Hunan; however, under future climate scenarios, the centroid of suitable habitats is projected to shift northwestward. The accumulation of key bioactive compounds, specifically quercetin and kaempferol, is significantly correlated with the precipitation of warmest quarter and the aspect. Through spatial integration analysis, we identified the border region between Guangdong, Hunan, and Guangxi (centering on Yizhang County, Linwu County, and Renhua County) as a potential area for integrated quality regions, characterized by both ecological suitability and high medicinal value. Despite limitations in the sample size, the ecological–chemical synergistic zoning model proposed in this study provides a scientific basis for the conservation, optimal cultivation site selection, and sustainable utilization of C. paliurus resources.
