Combined analysis of inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites reveals the relationship between flower quality and maturity of Sophora japonica L

Tian-Wang Wang; Jun Tan; Long-Yun Li; Yong Yang; Xiao-Mei Zhang; Ji-Rui Wang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1255637

Combined analysis of inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites reveals the relationship between flower quality and maturity of Sophora japonica L

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Nov 17:14:1255637. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1255637. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Tian-Wang Wang^{1

2}, Jun Tan^{1

2}, Long-Yun Li^{1

2}, Yong Yang¹, Xiao-Mei Zhang¹, Ji-Rui Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Three Grade Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Chemistry, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing, China.
² Chongqing Sub-Center of National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China.

Abstract

Flos Sophorae (FS), or the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L., is widely used as a food and medicinal material in China. The quality of S. japonica flowers varies with the developmental stages (S1-S5) of the plant. However, the relationship between FS quality and maturity remains unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS) were used to analyze inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites, respectively. A combined analysis of the inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites in FS was conducted to determine the patterns of FS quality formation. Sixteen inorganic elements and 173 flavonoid metabolites that accumulated at different developmental stages were identified. Notably, 54 flavonoid metabolites associated with the amelioration of major human diseases were identified, and Ca, P, K, Fe, and Cu were postulated to influence flavonoid metabolism and synthesis. This study offers a novel perspective and foundation for the further exploration of the rules governing the quality of plant materials.

Keywords: Sophora japonica; flavonoid metabolites; inorganic elements; maturation; quality change.

Grants and funding

Financial support was provided by the Performance Incentives and Guidance Special Projects of Chongqing (Grant No. jxjl20210001), the Performance Incentives and Guidance Special Projects of Chongqing (Grant No. zzkjjh2022010), the Basic Research Projects of Chongqing City (cstc2023jxjl-jbky130009), and the Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing (Grant No. cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0828).