Comparative analysis of differential metabolites between Calophaca sinica and Glycine max based on LC-MS metabolomics technology

Abstract

Calophaca sinica is a rare wild plant endemic to North China. To explore the nutritive value of C. sinica, the comparative metabolomics of C. sinica and Glycine max (as control group) seeds were studied by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results were as follows: (1) A total of 1 857 metabolites were detected in these two species, and 1 698 metabolites were similar in composition and content (>90%), and only 159 differential metabolites (<10%). (2) Among the metabolites, nine were different in components, of which five were unique to C. sinica, and the others 150 were different in content, of which 48 chemical components (about 30%) were higher in C. sinica than in Glycine max. (3) Eight pathways were significantly enriched with differential metabolites (P<0.1) by KEGG annotation, and it mainly including the biosynthesis pathways of primary metabolite (various amino acid) and secondary metabolites (such as matairesinol, arachidonic acid and diterpenoids). (4) Among these statistically significant differential chemical components, of which lower content in Calophoca sinica are mainly primary metabolites, and higher content are mainly secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites play an active role in regulating blood glucose, repairing bone damage, enhancing immunity, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. In summary, the result supports that the nutritional value of C. sinica is similar to that of Glycine max, and it also has a positive effect on improving human sub-health status. Meanwhile, this study provides us a relatively comprehensive understanding of the nutritive value and metabolic components of Calophaca sinica and necessary data for the deep development and efficient utilization of C. sinica resources in future.

Keywords

• calophaca sinica
• glycine max
• lc-ms
• metabolome
• component analysis