The composition differences between small black beans and big black beans from different habitats and its effects on the processing of Polygonum multiflorum

Introduction The roots of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) serve as a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has multiple biological activities. However, many cases of hepatotoxicity in PM have been reported in recent years. Processing PM with black beans decoction is one of the typical processing methods to reduce the hepatotoxicity of PM since ancient times. Objectives To find potential effective constituents, as well as the optimal variety and origin of black beans for the processing of PM. Methods Based on ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography Q‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐MS) analysis, we measured the contents of the two potential toxic compounds (emodin‐8‐O‐glucoside and torachrysone‐O‐hexose) in raw PM (R‐PM), PM processed with big black beans (B‐PM) and PM processed with small black beans (S‐PM). The flow cytometry method analysed the effects of different processed products of PM on apoptosis of L02 cells in different drug concentration. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) and UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐MS together with multivariate statistical analysis were used to systematically analyse the different components between small black beans (Small‐BB) and big black beans (Big‐BB) from 30 different habitats. Results The toxicity was ranked from small to large: S‐PM < B‐PM < R‐PM. Processing PM with black beans could significantly decrease the apoptosis rate of L02 cells, especially when the drug concentration is 80 μg/mL. Besides, we find five differential compounds (α‐arabinose, α‐galactose, proline, isomer of daidzein and isomer of genistein) may be potential active ingredients. In terms of the black beans collected from 30 producing areas, we find that Small‐BB from Weifang in Shandong province was optimum to processing PM, followed by Shangqiu in Henan province, Jilin and Liaoning province. Conclusion The ingredients that affect the processing of PM may be attributed to α‐arabinose, α‐galactose, proline, isomer of daidzein and isomer of genistein in black beans. When the drug concentration is higher, the effect of reducing the hepatotoxicity of PM is better. Besides, Small‐BB was more effective than Big‐BB for reducing the toxicity of PM, especially Small‐BB from Weifang in Shandong, Shangqiu in Henan province and northeast China. 1H‐NMR and UHPLCQ‐Orbitrap‐MS together with multivariate statistical analysis were used to systematically analyze the different components between Small‐black beans and Big‐black beans. The ing