Metabolomics analysis reveals the effect of fermentation on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Paeonia lactiflora Root

Abstract

Fermentation is an effective means of enhancing the nutritional value of natural medicines, however, it is unclear how the metabolites changed during the fermentation of Paeonia lactiflora root (PLR). This study intends to elucidate how the active constituents and antioxidant activity of PLR change during fermentation. The study examined the levels of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), total flavonoids content (TFC), total phenols content (TPC), and antioxidant capability by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry. The chemical compositions before and after PLR fermentation were compared utilizing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC - MS). The findings from this study indicate that TGP, TFC and TPC peaked at Day 2 of fermentation, and the antioxidant capacity increased after fermentation. Of the 109 detected compounds, 18 were discrepant compounds. In summary, fermentation is an essential strategy for enhancing the functional activity of PLR. The current study could establish a scientific basis for future research on the fermentation of PLR, and provides new insights into the influence of fermentation on chemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity of drugs.