Targeted and Untargeted Metabolite Profiling of the Ethnobotanical Martynia annua L. Identifies Bioactive Compounds with Medicinal Properties
Résumé
Abstract Martynia annua is an indigenous plant found endemic in the Indian subcontinent where it is commonly used for self-treatment of a variety of ailments and diseases. Previous studies have shown that preparations from the plant have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antiepileptic effects in vitro, but the biochemical composition and active compounds responsible for health benefits remain unknown. The aim of this study was to take extracts from different parts of the M. annua plant and, using targeted and untargeted metabolite profiling and quantitation, provide a comprehensive secondary metabolite profile to identify potential biotherapeutic metabolites. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography, coupled directly to a Thermo Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer, was used for high-resolution targeted and untargeted analysis. 89 metabolites were identified and their relative and selected absolute abundances measured across 5 different parts of the plant (leaf, flower, fruit, stem, and root). A number of the compounds identified are known to have bioactive and therapeutic properties; these include trans-ferulic acid, homovanillic acid, syringic acid, isorhamnetin, apigenin, luteolin, and hispidulin. We report their concentrations in different parts of the plant. Our findings significantly extend the plant metabolite profile of M. annua and amongst the compounds identified, we have highlight those with known biotherapeutic properties. These results provide a foundation for future studies addressing specific compounds that may be responsible for the bioactivity and therapeutic use of M. annua.