Quality variation and biosynthesis of anti-inflammatory compounds for Capparis spinosa based on the metabolome and transcriptome analysis

Xiaoying Liu; Alimu Aimaier; Weilan Wang; Yuliang Dong; Peng Han; Jiang He; Lihong Mu; Xinhui Wang; Jinyao Li

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1224073

Quality variation and biosynthesis of anti-inflammatory compounds for Capparis spinosa based on the metabolome and transcriptome analysis

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Jul 17:14:1224073. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1224073. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xiaoying Liu¹, Alimu Aimaier¹, Weilan Wang¹, Yuliang Dong¹, Peng Han¹, Jiang He², Lihong Mu¹, Xinhui Wang³, Jinyao Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
² Key Laboratory of Uygur Medicine, Xinjiang Institute of Materia Medica, Urumqi, China.
³ College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Capparis spinosa L. fruits as edible and medicinal plant, has anti-inflammatory activities. The different morphological characteristics of C. spinosa fruits from Ili, Turpan, and Karamay may affect their anti-inflammatory components and functions.

Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of C. spinosa fruit was assessed using an LPS-induced inflammatory cell model. Furthermore, the differences in anti-inflammatory compounds were analyzed by metabolome and RNA-seq. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory mechanism was elucidated using network pharmacology.

Results: In the study, we found that the 95% ethanol extracts (CSE) obtained from the three kinds of fruits showed remarkable anti-inflammatory effects both in vivo and in vitro. However, the CSE derived from Ili fruits significantly reduced CD86 levels on DCs. As a result of metabolomic analysis, the metabolic profiles of Ili fruits differed significantly from those of the other two habitats, which were consistent with transcriptome analysis. A total of 15 compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity were subjected to screening, revealing a greater accumulation of flavonoids in the Turpan and Karamay districts. Notably, phenolic compounds were identified as the principal anti-inflammatory components in C. spinosa.

Conclusion: There were significant differences in the morphology, metabolites, transcriptional levels, and anti-inflammatory activity of C. spinosa from the three districts.

Keywords: Capparis spinosa; RNA-seq; anti-inflammation; metabolome; quality variation.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31760260), Key research and development program in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2022B03002-2), and the Young Qihuang Scholars Project of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine ([2021] No. 200).