Going to the field to collect leaves, is it necessary to preserve the leaves in liquid nitrogen to measure flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenes?

Yes, it is recommended to use liquid nitrogen to quickly freeze the leaves immediately after collection and store them at -80°C to maximize stability in the content of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenes.

 

Detailed instructions are as follows:

1. Necessity of liquid nitrogen quick-freezing

(1) Flavonoids and triterpenes belong to small molecule metabolites, while polysaccharides are high molecular products. All are susceptible to degradation or transformation due to enzyme activity, light exposure, and temperature.

(2) Metabolic activity continues in leaves after collection. If the metabolic process is not immediately halted, the content of these target substances may change before analysis, affecting the comparability and accuracy of subsequent data.

(3) Quick-freezing with liquid nitrogen can rapidly inactivate enzymes within the tissues, fixing their metabolic state. This is particularly suitable for complex field sampling conditions where immediate processing is not feasible.

 

2. Recommended storage conditions

(1) After liquid nitrogen quick-freezing, transfer to a -80°C freezer for stable storage for several weeks to months.

(2) If using liquid nitrogen is inconvenient in field conditions, at least temporarily freeze samples in a portable liquid nitrogen tank or dry ice and process them in the laboratory as soon as possible.

 

3. Precautions

(1) Avoid direct sunlight and mechanical damage during collection; process quickly.

(2) Each plant and sampling point should be separately numbered, and information such as time and location should be recorded.

(3) For qualitative screening only (such as preliminary detection of the presence of certain metabolites), cold transport may be considered, but quantitative research must use liquid nitrogen quick-freezing for preservation.

 

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