Plant-Wide Target Metabolomics Provides a Novel Interpretation of the Changes in Chemical Components during Dendrobium officinale Traditional Processing

Abstract

The traditional processing of Dendrobium officinale (DO) is performed in five necessary processing steps: processing fresh strips, drying at 85 °C, curling, molding, and drying at 35 °C (Fengdou). The antioxidant activity of DO is increased after it is processed into Fengdou. To comprehensively analyze the changes in the functional components, a plant-wide target metabolomics approach was employed. In total, 739 differential chemical components were identified in five processing treatments, mainly highlighting differences in the levels of phenolic acids, flavonoids, lipids, and amino acids and their derivatives, and the glycosylation of aglycone resulted in the upregulation of flavonoid glycoside levels. Temperature is a key factor in DO processing during production. In addition, the enrichment of specific differential chemical components was found mainly in five different metabolic pathways: glucosinolate biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and ubiquinone and other terpene quinone biosynthesis. A correlation analysis clarified that total phenols and flavonoids show a significant positive correlation with antioxidant capacity. This study provides new insights into the influence of the processing processes on DO quality, which may provide guidance for the high-quality production of DO.

Effects of Ethanol Concentrations on Primary Structural and Bioactive Characteristics of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides

“…It is mainly composed of polysaccharides, flavonoids, and alkaloids, etc., and is valued commercially and medicinally in many Asian countries due to its therapeutic benefits [ 1 , 2 ]. The total flavonoids in D. officinale , counting for almost 4% [ 3 ], contributes to its strong antioxidant capacities [ 4 ]. The alkaloids belong to the terpenoid indole alkaloid class with contents of less than 1%, exhibiting certain efficacy in the control of tumors and cardiovascular diseases [ 5 ].…”

Comparison of the Metabolomics of Different Dendrobium Species by UPLC-QTOF-MS

“…(DN) alkaloids and terpenoids are representative components of these plants, with the functions of nerve protection, angiogenesis promotion, and anti-aging effects [12][13][14]. The D. officinale polysaccharides within the plants are highly concentrated, providing significant benefits for hypoglycemia reduction, skin moisturization, and antioxidant effects [15][16][17][18]. The concentration of D. fimbriatum bibenzyl components is high, with superior effects in stomach mucous membrane protection and other areas [19].…”