Untargeted GC-TOFMS Analysis Reveals Metabolomic Changes in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Leaf and Root in Response to Long-Term Drought Stress

Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) is an important traditional Chinese medicine herb. This study aimed to investigate the drought-responsive metabolic profiling in S. miltiorrhiza using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) analysis. Fifty day-old S. miltiorrhiza seedlings were treated with two (moderate drought, MD) and four weeks (high drought, HD) of withholding water. The S. miltiorrhiza leaf and root samples were prepared for the GC-TOFMS analysis. Differential metabolites with substantial changes in content in S. miltiorrhiza leaf and root were identified using multivariate and univariate statistics. A total of 178 and 157 annotated metabolites were detected in S. miltiorrhiza leaf and root, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that significantly discriminant metabolites in S. miltiorrhiza leaf by drought were associated with “galactose metabolism” and “citrate cycle”. In addition, the significantly discriminant metabolites in S. miltiorrhiza root were associated with “starch and sucrose metabolism”. Univariate statistics showed that the content of succinic acid, d-glucose, and oxoglutaric acid in S. miltiorrhiza leaf was increased by drought (fold change, FC > 1.5). Allose, d-xylose, melibiose, mannose, sorbitol, quinic acid, sinigrin, and taurine in S. miltiorrhiza root were decreased by drought (FC < 0.67). There were different metabolic profiles between S. miltiorrhiza leaf and root. However, the influence of drought stress on the pharmacological value and accumulation of bioactive constituents in S. miltiorrhiza should be further investigated.

Comparative Metabolic Study of Two Contrasting Chinese Cabbage Genotypes under Mild and Severe Drought Stress

“…However, the level of quinic acid decreased in both genotypes under mild drought and further decreased with the aggravation of drought in DT. This result was in accordance with a report on broccoli [ 22 ], Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) [ 44 ], peach [ 45 ] and maize [ 46 ]. Especially in broccoli, low levels of quinic acid were considered to be an important signature of drought tolerance [ 22 ].…”

Combining Metabolic Analysis With Biological Endpoints Provides a View Into the Drought Resistance Mechanism of Carex breviculmis

“…For instance aspartic acid was elevated under drought in some studies (Haghighi et al, 2020) while decreased in others (Khan et al, 2019). Such a discrepancy under drought stress was also found in 2-oxoglutarate (Zhang et al, 2021avs. Silvente et al, 2012, malic acid (Lahuta et al, 2022vs.…”

“…For instance aspartic acid was elevated under drought in some studies ( Haghighi et al, 2020 ) while decreased in others ( Khan et al, 2019 ). Such a discrepancy under drought stress was also found in 2-oxoglutarate ( Zhang et al, 2021a vs. Silvente et al, 2012 ), malic acid ( Lahuta et al, 2022 vs. Ashrafi et al, 2018 ), gulose ( Erxleben et al, 2012 vs. Rizhsky et al, 2004 ), succinate ( Zhang et al, 2021b vs. Hamanishi et al, 2015 ). The changes in these metabolites and pathways ultimately lead to changes in external and internal biological endpoints of plants.…”