Comprehensive investigation on metabolites of Panax quinquefolium L. in two main producing areas of China based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Spatial metabolomics method to reveal differential metabolomes in microregions of Panax quinquefolius roots by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Panax quinquefolius is a natural homology medicine and food that is rich in bioactive ingredients, such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides. The combination of ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) was used for the first time in a spatial metabolomics analysis to comprehensively evaluate the differential components in different microregions of P. quinquefolius. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and DESI-MSI combined with principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis were used to screen differential metabolites. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and DESI-MSI screened 27 and 23 differential metabolites, respectively, among which 15 differential metabolites were identified by both methods. It was found that some components, such as ginsenoside Rg1 and malonyl-ginsenoside Rc, were mainly distributed in P of the transverse slice of P. quinquefolius roots, while ginsenoside Ro and malonyl-ginsenoside Rd were mainly distributed in C. The methods and results of this study could be used to understand the precise localization, biosynthesis, and biological functions of special metabolites in P. quinquefolius.

Comparative metabolomics provides novel insights into correlation between dominant habitat factors and constituents of Stellaria Radix (Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge.)

Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge. (SDL) is the original plant of the traditional Chinese medicine Yinchaihu (Stellaria Radix). It is mainly distributed in the arid desert areas of northwest China, which is the genuine medicinal material and characteristic cultivated crop in Ningxia. This study aims to analyze the effects of different origins on SDL metabolites and quality, as well as to screen the dominant habitat factors affecting SDL in different origins. In this study, metabolites of SDL from nine different production areas were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF MS) based metabolomics. And field investigations were conducted to record thirteen habitat-related indicators. Results showed that 1586 metabolites were identified in different origins, which were classified as thirteen categories including lipids, organic acids and organic heterocyclic compounds derivatives. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the metabonomic spectra of SDL from different origins had various characteristics. What's more, co-expression network correlation analysis revealed that three metabolites modules (MEturquoise, MEbrown and MEblue) were more closely with the habitat factors and 104 hub metabolites were further screened out as the habitat-induced metabolite indicators. Besides, soil texture, soil pH value and soil total salt content were found as the dominant habitat factors which affect SDL metabolites. In conclusion, the study showed different habitat factors had various effects on SDL's quality and established relationship between them, which provide reference for revealing SDL's genuineness formation mechanism and guiding industrial crops practical production by habitat factors selection.

Research progress on metabolomics in the quality evaluation and clinical study of Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng, an essential component of traditional medicine and often referred to as the king of herbs, has played a pivotal role in medicine globally for several millennia. Previously, traditional phytochemical methods were mainly used for quality evaluation and pharmacological mechanism studies of ginseng, resulting in the lack of systematicness and innovation and hindering the development and utilization of ginseng resources. Since the beginning of the new century, systems biology technology represented by metabolomics has shown unique advantages in the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine, establishing a bridge for communication between traditional medicine and modern medicine. P. ginseng, a special herb used in medicine and food, is one of the main research objects for qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolomics and has gradually become the focus of researchers globally. Here, we conducted a comprehensive summary and analysis of numerous studies published in ginseng metabolomics. This review aims to provide more novel ideas for the quality evaluation, development, and clinical application of ginseng in the future and offer more useful technical references for the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine based on metabolomics.