Distinct Quality Changes of Asparagus during Growth by Widely Targeted Metabolomics Analysis

Abstract

Asparagus is a popular vegetable and traditional medicine consumed worldwide due to its health benefits. The quality of asparagus, mainly attributed to small components like flavonoids and steroid, is quite differential as a result of different environments and maturities. However, the accumulation pattern and regulatory mechanism of metabolites in asparagus remain unclear so far. Herein, widely targeted metabolomics analysis was employed to study the quality and chemical composition variances of four asparagus, including three green asparagus of different maturities and one white asparagus. A total of 1045 metabolites were annotated in asparagus in which flavonoids and phenolic acids accounted for 37.51% of the total. Green asparagus was found to be rich in flavonoids, while white asparagus contained more steroids. Additionally, 461 biomarkers were screened between matured green and white asparagus, which is much more than that filtered among three green asparagus at different growth stages. These results indicated that sunlight has a stronger effect on the metabolism of asparagus compared to the general development of asparagus. Linoleic acid metabolism and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism were active during green asparagus growth, while flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis resulted as two of the most important pathways when asparagus was exposed to sunlight.

The quality evaluation of 30 Asparagus officinalis L. varieties

“…The correlation coefficient between rutin and protodioscin was 0.345, which was consistent with the previous research results that genetic factors and light conditions affected the content of rutin and protodioscin in asparagus (Lee et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2022;Yi et al, 2019). The correlation between the mineral selenium and the other six indicators was also low (r < .5).…”

“…There was a significant positive correlation among total phenols, flavonoids, and rutin, especially between flavonoids and rutin (r = .93, p < .01), as rutin comprises the largest proportion (55%-98%) of flavonoids in asparagus (Liu et al, 2022;Yi et al, 2019).…”

“…Shandong Province is the place where the majority of Chinese asparagus is produced and exported (Liu et al, 2022).…”

Comparison of the inedible parts of white and green asparagus based on metabolomics and network pharmacology

“…Based on our previous study and the MS/MS data reported in the literature, 4,10–28 a total of 342 metabolites were tentatively identified, which were divided into 11 categories, including 53 saponins, 47 flavonoids, 133 lipids, 33 phenolic acids, 31 amino acids, peptides and derivatives, 10 carbohydrates, 7 nucleosides, 9 organic acids, 4 alkaloids, 3 lignans and norlignans and 12 other compounds. The base peak intensity (BPI) chromatograms of the inedible parts of white and green asparagus are shown in ESI Fig.…”

Furan fatty acid amounts and their occurrence in triacylglycerols of white asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) from the German market

“…The analytical protocol included the gaining of lipids from asparagus lyophilizates by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), the transfer of FAs and FuFAs into the corresponding methyl esters (FAMEs and FuFA‐MEs) and finally, their determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry operated in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC/MS‐SIM). Also, asparagus had been previously studied by non‐targeted metabolomic studies (Jiménez‐Sánchez et al, 2016; Liu et al, 2022), without indicating the presence of FuFAs. Hence, we additionally measured five white asparagus ASE extracts on FuFA‐containing TAGs by using LC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) (Wiedmaier‐Czerny & Vetter, 2023).…”