Widely targeted metabolomic and KEGG analyses of natural deep eutectic solvent-based saponins extraction from Camellia oleifera Abel.: Effects on composition

Zhenqian Wei; Weiyan Zhang; Menghao Du; Haiyan Zhong; Xuezhi Fang

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139333

Widely targeted metabolomic and KEGG analyses of natural deep eutectic solvent-based saponins extraction from Camellia oleifera Abel.: Effects on composition

Food Chem. 2024 Apr 12:450:139333. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139333. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zhenqian Wei¹, Weiyan Zhang², Menghao Du¹, Haiyan Zhong³, Xuezhi Fang⁴

Affiliations

¹ The Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 73(#), Daqiao Road, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 311400, China.
² The Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 73(#), Daqiao Road, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 311400, China; Food Science and Technology College, Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Changsha City, Hunan Province 410004, China.
³ Food Science and Technology College, Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Changsha City, Hunan Province 410004, China.
⁴ The Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 73(#), Daqiao Road, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province 311400, China. Electronic address: fxzhn@caf.ac.cn.

PMID: 38636384
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139333

Abstract

Camellia saponins are important by-products of Camellia Oleifer Abel. processing. In this study, an eco-friendly method based on natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs, proline and glycerol at a molar ratio of 2:5) was established to extract saponins from C.oleifera cakes. The content of saponin (702.22 ± 1.28 mg/g) obtained using NaDES was higher than those extracted using water or methanol. UPLC-Q-TOF MS analysis of chemical structure showed that the difference in the extraction technique alter individual saponins. A widely targeted metabolomic approach and KEGG metabolic pathway analysis showed that the upregulated metabolites in the NaDES-based extract mainly included flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids; and they were involved in arginine and proline metabolism, metabolic pathways, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and flavonoid biosynthesis. The present study proposes a selective substitute for use in the extraction of camellia saponins with composition analysis.

Keywords: Camellia saponin; KEGG analysis; Natural deep eutectic solvent; UPLC-Q-TOF MS; Widely targeted metabolome.