The Unique Nutriceutical Components of the Ethnic Medicinal Plant-Codariocalyx Motorius

In this study, the nutriceutical components in the traditional medicinal plant of C. motorius were studied for the first time. Results showed that the soluble, reducing and total sugar contents in percentage by fresh weight were 13.1, 8.0 and 19.8 in roots, 7.2, 6.8 and 16.4 in stems, 8.5, 5.1 and 15.6 in leaves, and 7.9, 8.2 and 23.6 in seeds, respectively; crude fiber contents in percentage were 3.8, 5.7, 0.4 and 4.6 respectively; crude protein contents in percentage were 11.0, 8.8, 17.3 and 22.4, and soluble protein contents in percentage were 5.7, 4.9, 8.1 and 8.7 respectively; total amino acid contents in the hydrolytes of roots, stems, leaves and seeds were 4.52, 3.35, 18.2 and 18.86 g/100 g dry weight and essential amino acid contents were 1.72, 1.41, 7.54 and 7.22 g/100 g DW respectively. Crude fat contents in percentage by FW were 9.2, 25.1, 12.5 and 8.5; and unsaturated fatty acid contents in percentage accounting for the total were 85.6, 85.7, 87.3 and 82.2 respectively in roots, stems, leaves and seeds; especially high proportions of linoleic acid existed in different plant parts. The leaves uniquely contain an eicosenoic acid (5.6%). Ca contents were 361.5, 563.4, 552.2 and 91.3 mg, K contents were 356.3, 353.8, 136.9 and 123.8 mg, and Mg contents were 55.9, 54.1, 48.4 and 21.5 mg respectively, by 100 g dry weight. The unique nutriceutical components in C. motorius suggests its great potential for further development as a novel oil and cosmetics resources plant besides the medicinal applications.


Introduction
Codariocalyx motorius (alias Desmodium motorium or D. gyrans or Hedysarum gyrans), also known as telegraph plant, dancing plant, or semaphore plant D Amato et al. [1,2] is a rare and endangered perennial leguminous woody plant belonging to the family Fabaceae Nair and Henry [3]. It is widely distributed throughout Banadesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam Kalirajan et al. [4] The special ultradian rhythmic movements of the lateral leaflets interested many researchers and have been intensively studied.
Each of the large leaves of the C. motorius has two small leaflets at its base. They move constantly along an elliptical path for up to a few minutes. The movements were sensitive to changes in a variety of external environmental factors such as light Sharma et al. [5] temperature Ileperuma [6], high pitch sound waves Ellingsurd [7], etc. Moreover, the mechanism and biological significance of this movement have been studied in detail about the effects of chemicals, DC currents Johnsson et al. [8] and static magnetic fields Sharma et al. [9] The ultradian rhythmic movement accompanied by rhythmic changes of the extra-and intracellular electrical potentials in the pulvinus; membrane depolarization in pulvinar motor cells drives and controls potassium efflux and hyperpolarization potassium influx via potassium channels; and the downward movement is preceded and accompanied by a strong depolarization and upward movement by hyperpolarization Antkowiak et al. [10] It was hypothesized that the movement is to obtain optimum sunlight for the larger leaves by sampling the intensity of sunlight and directing the large leaves to the area of most intensity, a possibly strategy to maximize light by tracking the sun Sharma et al. [5,11] hypothesized that the rapid movements are intended to deter potential predators. C. motorius root has a long history of medicinal value. The roots leaves and flowers of C. motorius have been used in Chinese and Southeast Asian medicine for centuries to treat a medley of inflammatory ailments Kalirajan et al. [4] C. motorius has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat various ailments such as rheumatism, wounds, cough, malaria, pyrexia, dysentery, hepatitis, hemoptysis, etc. and also used as a constituent in herbal tea Sharma et al. [5].
According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, the whole plant could be used as medicine, effective for relieving rigidity of muscles, promoting blood circulation, reducing phlegm and resolving masses Liu and Hao [12]. The leaf ointment can treat bone fractures and the stem-and branch-infused liquor can strengthen the physique and treat recurring illnesses such as rheumatic pain, double ribs ache, rheumatism and sciatica Wang [13]. The leaf juice can smooth and brighten the skin and maintain beauty and keep young Yang and Guo [14]. The plant can also be used to treat summer colds, toxic swellings, snakebites etc. Liu [15]. It has been widely used as an antidote, cardiac-tonic, wound healing ointment in Indian systems of medicine and also has antidysenteric property and used as a remedy for asthma and cough Ghosal et al. [16] There are also reports that the roots, stems and leaves of C. motorius has not yet reported. In this research, the major components in the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of C. motorius, including proteins and amino acids, fat and fatty acids, various carbohydrates and minerals, were systematically analyzed in a hope to understand its nutriceutical value and lay a basis for further research and development of C. motorius related products.

Determination of Soluble Protein Contents: Bradford
Protein Assay Li et al. [23] was applied to determine soluble protein contents. Triplicates were performed.
Analysis of Amino Acids: contents of amino acids in the hydrolytes of the roots, stems, leaves and seeds were determined according to Nan et al. [21] with Hitachi L-8800 Amino Acid Analyzer; and tryptophan was determined by photometry with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde Liu et al. [24].

Determination of Crude Fat and Relative Fatty Acid
Contents: crude fat contents were determined by Soxhlet extraction method Ning [25]; and relative contents were determined by gas chromatography with Shimadzu GC 2100 Nan et al. [26] Triplicates were performed.

Determination of Carbohydrate and Crude Fiber Contents:
the soluble sugar contents were determined by anthrone method Li et al. [23]; the reducing and total sugar contents were determined by 3, 5-dinitro salicylic acid (DNS) He et al. [27]; and crude fiber contents were determined by gravimetric method He et al. [27].

Protein and Amino Acids Contents and Analysis
The contents of crude and soluble proteins in the four different plant parts of C. motorius are significantly different, with seeds > leaves > roots > stems ( Table 2). The hydrolytes of the roots and g/100g DW respectively. In summary, the contents of total, essential amino acids in the leaves and seeds all were comparable and higher than in the roots and stems (Table 3). Notes: Data are represented as mean ±SD (n=3) based on fresh weight and different lowercase letters in the same row indicate significance at P≤0.05.

Crude Fat and Relative Fatty Acid Contents and Analysis
The stems of C. motorius showed the highest crude fat contents (up to 25.1%), followed by the leaves (12.5%), roots (9.2%) and seeds (8.5%  Notes: values are represented as mean ±SD (n=3). Data in the same row with different uppercase letters are significantly different at P ≤0.01.

Motorius with Common Crop Seeds
Compared with other major crops, the carbohydrates in C. motorius were lower, crude proteins were higher than rice and millet, comparable to wheat flour, but lower than legumes (soya bean, mung bean and garden pea). Crude fat contents of C. motorius were relatively high, especially in the stems, much higher than in soya bean (Table 5).

Mineral Contents and Analysis
The calcium contents in the roots, stems and leaves of C. motorius were all shown to be the highest among the other minerals, accounting for 361.48, 563.28, 552.15 mg/100g DW respectively, followed by potassium, respectively 356.3, 353.8, 136.9 mg/100 g DW, and then magnesium, respectively 55.9, 54.1, 48.4 mg/100 g DW. In the seeds, potassium content is the highest (123.8 mg/100 g DW), followed by calcium (91.3 mg/100 g DW) and then magnesium (21.6 mg/100 g DW) ( Table 6). Notes: Data are represented as mean ±SD (n=3) and different uppercase letters in the same row indicate significance at P≤0.01.

Conclusion and Discussion
To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first addressing the major nutriceutical components in the medicinal plant C.
motorius. It was found that the crude protein content in C. motorius is higher than rice and millet, comparable to wheat flour, but lower than several other legumes; the contents of total, essential and semi-essential amino acids in hydrolytes of the leaves and seeds are higher than in the roots and stems. It is worthy to note that there was no detectable amount of cysteine in the hydrolytes of both the roots and stems.  [28,29] Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems).
They are also involved in the transport and oxidation of cholesterols, lack of which will lead to vascular brittleness, the slowdown of the immune system process, and the interference of blood clotting and the increase of the possibility of atherosclerosis occurrence Zielińska et al. [28] As vegetable oils are important in cosmetic industry because of their beneficial effects on the skin Nan et al. [26], it is suggested that oils from C. motorius can be developed for use in cosmetic industry. It is very interesting to note that the leaves of C. motorius uniquely contained an unsaturated ω-9 fatty acid, eicosenoic acid (5.6%). It is the main acid component in the jojoba oil, the so-called "liquid gold" [30],