Comparative metabolomics analysis revealed biomarkers and distinct flavonoid biosynthesis regulation in Chrysanthemum mongolicum and C. rhombifolium.

INTRODUCTION: Chrysanthemums are traditional flowers that originated in China and have high ornamental, economic and medicinal value. They are widely used as herbal remedies and consumed as food or beverages in folk medicine. However, little is known about their metabolic composition. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this work were to determine the metabolic composition of and natural variation among different species of Chrysanthemum and to explore new potential resources for drug discovery and sustainable utilisation of wild Chrysanthemum. METHODS: The metabolomes of Chrysanthemum mongolicum (Ling) Tzvel. and Chrysanthemum rhombifolium H. Ohashi & Yonek. were compared using a widely targeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: In total, 477 metabolites were identified, of which 72 showed significant differences in expression between C. mongolicum and C. rhombifolium, mainly in flavonoids, organic acids and nucleotides. The flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathway showed significant enrichment among the differentially expressed metabolites. The contents of genkwanin, trigonelline, diosmin, narcissoside, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, linarin, N',N'-p-coumarin, C-hexosyl-tricetin O-pentoside, chrysoeriol, acacetin and kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside were significantly different between the two species and represent potential biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The types of flavonoid-related metabolites in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway differed between C. mongolicum and C. rhombifolium. The mechanisms underlying the unique adaptations of these two species to their environments may involve variations in the composition and abundance of flavonoids, organic acids, and nucleotides. These methods are promising to identify functional compounds in Chrysanthemum species and can provide potential resources for drug discovery and the sustainable utilisation of Chrysanthemum plants.

Phenolic glycosides from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.

Five new chlorophenolic glucosides, curculigine E (1), curculigine F (2), curculigine G (3), curculigine H (5), curculigine I (6) and one new phenolic glycoside, orcinoside H (4), together with eight known phenolic glycosides (7-14) were isolated from the Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Their structures were established by spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV, MS, 1D and 2D NMR). The isolated phenolic glycosides were evaluated for antiosteoporotic activity against MC3T3-E1 cell line using MTT assays. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 showed moderate antiosteoporotic activity with the proliferation rate of 10.1-14.1%.

Sesquiterpenoid derivatives from Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov.

Eight sesquiterpenoids, named Ferulaeone A-H (1-8), and seven known sesquiterpenoid derivatives were isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov. Their structures were established by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, and biosynthetic pathways leading to these compounds were proposed. The cytotoxicity of all these isolates against HepG2, MCF-7, and C6 cancer cell lines was evaluated and compounds 6-11, 13 exihibited various degrees of cytotoxic effect. Among them, compounds 9-11 displayed the highest potency against C6 with IC(50) values 34, 36, and 31 µM, respectively.