Untargeted secondary metabolite profiling and putative pathway deduction of a marine Ochrophyte – Iyengaria stellata (Børgesen) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract

This study divulges biochemical traits, mineral makeup, and the secondary metabolite outline of the less explored Ochrophyte, Iyengaria stellata (Børgesen) using untargeted metabolite profiling along the Pingleshwar coast, Kachchh, India. Macro mineral Na (4921.33 ± 0.577 mg/100 g Dry Weight) and micro mineral Fe (859.76 ± 0.98 mg/100 g DW) were found to be in the highest quantities. A total of 108 putative metabolites were detected using both, the positive electrospray ionization mode (+ESI) and negative electrospray ionization mode (–ESI of the Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Time of Flight (LCMS-TOF). The identified metabolites included steroids, terpenoids, ketones, esters, polyphenols, anthraquinones, tocopherol, etc. The metabolomics data obtained from the +ESI mode led to the inference of a putative glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway that shall provide valuable insights for future metabolic engineering studies. This study highlights the first attempt to decipher the secondary metabolite composition of I. stellata thereby further accounting for its potential as a natural source in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions.