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In the Atractylodes lancea (A. lancea)-maize intercropping system, maize can promote the growth of A. lancea, but it is unclear whether this constitutes an aboveground or belowground process. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the root system interaction between A. lancea and maize using three different barrier conditions: no barrier (AI), nylon barrier (AN), and plastic barrier (AP) systems. The biomass, volatile oil concentration, physicochemical properties of the soil, and rhizosphere microorganisms of the A. lancea plant were determined. The results showed that (1) the A. lancea - maize intercropping system could promote the growth of A. lancea and its accumulation of volatile oils; (2) a comparison of the CK, AI, and AP treatments revealed that it was the above-ground effect of maize specifically that promoted the accumulation of both atractylon and atractylodin within the volatile oils of A. lancea, but inhibited the accumulation of hinesol and β-eudesmol; (3) in comparing the soil physicochemical properties of each treatment group, intercropping maize acidified the root soil of A. lancea, changed its root soil physicochemical properties, and increased the abundance of the acidic rhizosphere microbes of A. lancea at the phylum level; (4) in an analysis of rhizosphere microbial communities of A. lancea under different barrier systems, intercropping was found to promote plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enrichment, including Streptomyces, Bradyrhizobium, Candidatus Solibacter, Gemmatirosa, and Pseudolabrys, and the biomass of A. lancea was significantly influenced by PGPR. In summary, we found that the rhizosphere soil of A. lancea was acidified in intercropping with maize, causing the accumulation of PGPR, which was beneficial to the growth of A. lancea.

Sulfur Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) is a common medicinal herb in Asian countries. A practical protocol combining metabolomics, pharmacology, and cytotoxicity was developed to comprehensively evaluate the influence of sulfur-fumigation on the quality of Baizhi. Furocoumarins could be transformed into sulfur-containing compounds during the sulfuring process, among which 1 and 3 were purified with relatively high abundance and identified as 3,4-dihydrobyakangelicin-4-sulfonic acid and (4R,12S)-3,4-dihydrooxypeucedanin hydrate-4-sulfonic acid (OXH-S), respectively. OXH-S was found to be an addition product of sulfite and oxypeucedanin hydrate (OXH-N). Then, the cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of OXH-N, OXH-S, and water extracts of sulfured (extraction-S), and unsulfured Baizhi (extraction-N) were evaluated. OXH-S and extraction-S were less toxic than OXH-N and extraction-N, respectively. A comparison of OXH-N with OXH-S and extraction-N with extraction-S showed no significant differences in anti-inflammatory activity. These results suggest that sulfur fumigation can reduce toxicity and does not influence the anti-inflammatory activity of Baizhi, even after chemical composition changes. The proposed protocol based on marker screening, pharmacology, and safety evaluation provides a scientific basis for the standardization and regulation of sulfured Baizhi and other medical materials.