Total polysaccharides from Taxus mairei: Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction and analysis of their spatiotemporal accumulation

This study investigated the spatiotemporal accumulation patterns of total polysaccharides in Taxus mairei by examining seasonal and canopy-position variations. Over a 12-month period, total polysaccharide content and relative biomass were monitored biweekly in leaves and stems collected from different canopy positions of 6-year-old plants. Response surface methodology (RSM)-optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was established and applied for quantitative determination of total polysaccharides. Distinct organ-specific accumulation patterns were observed. Total polysaccharide content in leaves reached its maximum during February–March, whereas stem polysaccharides peaked earlier during December–January. Spatial analysis revealed that upper-canopy leaves and middle-canopy stems generally exhibited higher polysaccharide levels than other canopy positions. Relative biomass reached its maximum in April, showing a temporal offset from polysaccharide accumulation peaks. Integration of biomass and polysaccharide dynamics indicated mid-March to mid-April as a favorable harvesting window. These findings provide quantitative evidence of organ-specific and canopy-dependent accumulation patterns of total polysaccharides in T. mairei and provide a basis for further investigation of the physiological processes underlying polysaccharide accumulation and rational utilization of this medicinal plant resource.