Bioactivity-guided optimization of Gastrodia elata cultivation: integrated modulation of spawn wood length, tree species and pit size.

Abstract

Gastrodia elata serves as a natural product source for treating neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, yet inconsistent planting practices cause significant variations in its therapeutic components. This study investigated how spawn wood length, tree species and pit size influenced yield and bioactive compound accumulation. Bioactive compounds were quantified by HPLC, and anti-neuroinflammatory activities of major components were validated in LPS-induced BV2 microglial cells. The highest total and graded yields were achieved with 15 cm spawn wood length. Birch and cherry species yielded significantly higher production, with birch showing the highest accumulation of parishin A and B. The 0.4 m² pit size resulted in the highest total yield and contents of parishin A and B, while maintaining relatively high levels of gastrodin and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Consistent with previous reports, parishin A and B exhibited potent anti-neuroinflammatory activities, with IC₅₀ values below 0.1 μM for NO inhibition, surpassing gastrodin (2.30 μM) and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (0.65 μM). By integrating planting conditions, yield, multi-component contents, and anti-inflammatory activities, a bioactivity-guided cultivation optimization of G. elata was explored to identify the most effective cultivation parameters. The results showed that it could simultaneously enhance both yield and enrichment of anti-neuroinflammatory components, positioning G. elata as a promising natural product source of molecules with enhanced anti-neuroinflammatory potential.