Drug or Toxic? A Brief Understanding of the Edible Corolla of Rhododendron decorum Franch. by Bai Nationality with Comparative Metabolomics Analysis

• Published in: Metabolites Vol. 14; no. 9; p. 484
• Main Authors: Liu, Weiwei, Wang, Ling, Yu, Chenghua, Fan, Zhongyu, Yang, Kaiye, Mo, Xinchun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: androecium/gynoecium; Chromatography; comparative metabolomics analysis; Dams; edible corolla; enrichment analysis of metabolites; Flowers; Flowers & plants; Geographical variations; Lipids; Mass spectrometry; Medicinal plants; Metabolites; Metabolomics; Minority & ethnic groups; Ornamental plants; Population studies; Principal components analysis; Resource utilization; Rhododendron; Rhododendron decorum Franch; Scientific imaging; Secondary metabolites; China; Yunnan China; Rhododendron decorum Franch; androecium/gynoecium; comparative metabolomics analysis; edible corolla; enrichment analysis of metabolites
• ISSN: 2218-1989; 2218-1989
• DOI: 10.3390/metabo14090484

is a traditional ornamental and medicinal plant in China, renowned for its aesthetic appeal and therapeutic properties. Regarding Franch., mainly distributed in Yunnan Province, its corolla is regarded as an edible food by the Bai ethnic group in Yunnan Province. However, it is still unclear why the Bai people choose to use the Rhododendron species in their seasonal diet. Here, we employed comparative metabolomics analysis to explore the variations in the metabolites and the enriched biosynthesis pathways within the different floral organs of Franch. from Heqing and Yulong County. The metabolite analysis showed that 1340 metabolites were identified from the floral organs in the two regions. Comparing the different flower organs of the same region, 85 differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were found from the androecium/gynoecium and corolla in the same region, and 66 DAMs were identified from the same organ in different regions. The KEGG pathway and network analysis revealed significant disparities in both the metabolite composition and enriched pathways among the different floral organs or when comparing the same floral organs across diverse regions, with geographical variations exerting even stronger influences. From the perspective of resource utilization, it was observed that the Franch. populations in Heqing County exhibited the greater accumulation of secondary metabolites within their flowers, rendering them more advantageous for medicinal purposes, albeit potentially more toxic. This study provides novel insights into the utilization of corollaries for potential de novo pharmacy development.