Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Metabolite Profiling Research Articles

Metabolomic study of the estrogenic and anti-osteoporotic potential of Erythrina bidwillii leaf.

Erythrina bidwillii Lindl., Leguminosae, constitutes a valuable crop for horticulture and medicine; however, it is rarely investigated. Menopause is a crucial transitional period in women's health. Women worldwide consider the use of phytoestrogens as a safe hormone replacement therapy to alleviate detrimental menopausal symptoms. Thus, the discovery of novel phytoestrogens is highly demanded. The present study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the metabolomic profile and the estrogenic potential of E. bidwillii Lindl. leaf. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling revealed the prevalence of alkaloids, flavonoids, isoflavonoids and fatty acids. Additionally, five erythrinan alkaloids, cristanine A (1), 8-oxoerythraline (2), (+)-erythrinine (3), (+)-erythraline (4) and 8-oxoerythrinine (5), along with the isoflavonoid genistin (6), were isolated. Erythrina bidwillii leaf extract exhibited significant in vivo estrogenic, anti-osteoporotic, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities, utilizing ovariectomized rat model. Moreover, ethyl acetate and hexane fractions possessed significant in vitro estrogeic potential on MCF-7 cell lines. An in silico study of the isolated metabolites revealed that (+)-erythrinine (3) and 8-oxoerythrinine (5) exhibited the highest affinity for ERα and ERβ, respectively, modeling them as potential estrogenic lead metabolites. Therefore, E. bidwillii leaf could be employed as promising hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women after thorough clinical trials.

Metabolome Analysis of Banana (Musa acuminata) Treated With Chitosan Coating and Low Temperature Reveals Different Mechanisms Modulating Delayed Ripening

Banana (Musa acuminata) is one of the most important crop plants consumed in many countries. However, the commercial value decreases during storage and transportation. To maintain fruit quality, postharvest technologies have been developed. Storage at low temperature is a common method to prolong the shelf life of food products, especially during transportation and distribution. Another emerging approach is the use of chitosan biopolymer as an edible coating, which can extend the shelf life of fruit by preventing moisture and aroma loss, and inhibiting oxygen penetration into the plant tissue. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling of the banana ripening process was performed to clarify the global metabolism changes in banana after chitosan coating or storage at low temperature. Both postharvest treatments were effective in delaying banana ripening. Interestingly, principal component analysis and orthogonal projection to latent structure regression analysis revealed significant differences of both treatments in the metabolite changes, indicating that the mechanism of prolonging the banana shelf life may be different. Chitosan (1.25% w/v) treatment stored for 11 days resulted in a distinct accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid metabolite, an important precursor of ethylene that is responsible for the climacteric fruit ripening process. Low temperature (LT, 14 ± 1°C) treatment stored for 9 days resulted in higher levels of putrescine, a polyamine that responds to plant stress, at the end of ripening days. The findings clarify how chitosan delays fruit ripening and provides a deeper understanding of how storage at low temperature affects banana metabolism. The results may aid in more effective development of banana postharvest strategies.

Differential olive grove management regulates the levels of primary metabolites in xylem sap

The conventional management adopted in many Mediterranean olive orchards makes them more vulnerable to climate change and attacks by pathogens, due to the decreased chemical plant defenses. In this scenario, a metabolomic analysis was carried out on the xylem sap (Xsap) of olive plants (Olea europaea L.) grown in the Salento peninsula (Italy). Trials were carried out in two olive groves, one organically and one conventionally managed (controls), successively both converted to sustainable management (i.e. frequent light pruning, soil and foliar fertilization, cover crops). The Xsap was extracted from the shoots of olive plants using a Scholander pressure chamber pressurized with N2 and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling was performed in the Xsap. An untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomic analysis of primary metabolites (including underivatized volatiles) of the Xsap revealed relative abundances of 153 identified metabolites and 336 unknown features across the 12 samples from four groups of samples. Among them, more than half were involved in the primary metabolism. Many of the compounds with increased levels under sustainable management (such as amino acids, soluble sugars, sugar alcohols) have a well-known role as osmoprotectants or are involved in plant defense, growth and development during stress or recovery stages. Sustainable management in olive groves can increase the ability of plants to overcome environmental stressors and enhance ecosystem balance.

The Effect of Cynara scolymus on Blood Pressure and BMI in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Background: Recent studies have suggested that artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) may reduce certain biochemical blood factors but the efficacy of this plant on blood pressure (BP) has not yet been investigated. In this study, we determined the clinical efficacy of C. scolymuson BP and body mass index (BMI) in hypertensive patients as an adjunctive to captopril for the first time. Methods: The total phenolic content and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling in leaves of C. scolymus have been evaluated. A clinical trial was subsequently carried out on 40 patients to determine the effect of C. scolymus on BP and BMI in hypertensive patients. The treatment group received capsules containing C. scolymus(500 mg twice daily) and the placebo group received starch powder for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, and BMI were determined before and after the study. Results: A significant improvement of the BMI was seen in the C. scolymus group compared with the placebo group (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that the consumption of C. scolymus powder as a rich source of phenolic and antioxidant compounds could potentially improve BMI and SBP in hypertensive patients. Therefore, more trials are needed to confirm or reject the antihypertensive impact of artichoke.

Physiology and metabolism of grafted bell pepper in response to low root-zone temperature.

Low temperature is a prominent limiting factor for tropical originated crops production in temperate regions, particularly during cool-season production. The diverse response of two rootstocks (Canon-sensitive and S103-tolerant to low root-zone temperature) was studied when exposed to aeroponically different temperature regimes at the root zone: constant low temperature of 14°C low root-zone temperature (LRZT), transient exposure to LRZT of 27-14-27°C and control temperature of 27°C. Gas exchange, shoot dry mass, and root morphology were measured. Shifts in central and secondary metabolite levels in the leaves and roots were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Low root-zone temperature inhibited photosynthesis and transpiration of both grafted bell pepper plants; however, self-grafted Canon physiology was impeded to a greater extent compared with Canon grafted onto rootstock S103. Rootstock S103 demonstrated higher sink potential contributing to milder reduction of photosynthesis and transpiration during stress compared with self-grafted Canon. This reduction of gas exchange led to a significant reduction of root maximum length and root dry mass in self-grafted Canon in response to the stress at 14°C compared with Canon grafted onto rootstock S103. In response to stress, GC-MS metabolite profiling showed enhance metabolism in both cultivars' leaves, as well as in the roots irrespective of the developmental stage of the plant. This evidence combined indicates enhance gas exchange and carbon assimilation when bell pepper is grafted on S103 under low root-zone temperature.

GC-MS Metabolite Profiling of Extreme Southern Pinot noir Wines: Effects of Vintage, Barrel Maturation, and Fermentation Dominate over Vineyard Site and Clone Selection.

Wine is an extremely complex beverage that contains a multitude of volatile and nonvolatile compounds. This study investiged the effect of vineyard site and grapevine clone on the volatile profiles of commercially produced Pinot noir wines from central Otago, New Zealand. Volatile metabolites in Pinot noir wines produced from five grapevine clones grown on six vineyard sites in close proximity, over two consecutive vintages, were surveyed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The raw GC-MS data were processed using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC2), and final metabolite data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). Winemaking conditions, vintage, and barrel maturation were found to be the most dominant factors. The effects of vineyard site and clone were mostly vintage dependent. Although four compounds including β-citronellol, homovanillyl alcohol, N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide, and N-(2-phenylethyl)acetamide discriminated the vineyard sites independent of vintage, Pinot noir wines from different clones were only partially discriminated by PCA, and marker compound selection remained challenging.

Impact of induced drought stress on the metabolite profiles of barley grain

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of drought stress on the metabolite profiles of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain against the background of natural variability depending on growing location and season. Six barley genotypes were field-grown (i) under normal weather conditions at two different sites and (ii) under induced drought conditions, using a Rain-Out-Shelter. Both trials were performed in three consecutive seasons (2010–2012). Samples were subjected to a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling procedure, based on the extraction and fractionation of a broad spectrum of low molecular weight metabolites ranging from lipophilic (e.g. triglyceride-derived fatty acids, free fatty acids, fatty alcohols, sterols) to hydrophilic (e.g. sugars, sugar alcohols, acids, amino acids and amines) compounds. The comparative assessment of the profiling data by means of multivariate analyses revealed that differences in lipophilic metabolites were mainly due to seasonal impact. In contrast water deficit was strongly reflected in quantitative changes of polar metabolites, irrespective of natural variability. The impact factor growing location was differently pronounced depending on the growing season. Univariate statistical analysis revealed 17 metabolites, including the monosaccharides fructose and glucose, the trisaccharide raffinose, several organic acids and the biogenic amine γ-aminobutyric acid to be significantly (p-value < 0.01) influenced by drought stress conditions.

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolite profiling of worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hemolymph for the study of Nosema ceranae infection

Here, we are presenting a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) approach for the study of infection of the worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) by the newly emerged obligate intracellular parasite Nosema ceranae based on metabolite profiling of hemolymph. Because of the severity of the disease, early detection is crucial for its efficient control. Results revealed that the parasite causes a general disturbance of the physiology of the honey bee affecting the mechanisms controlling the mobilization of energy reserves in infected individuals. The imposed nutritional and energetic stress to the host was depicted mainly in the decreased levels of the majority of carbohydrates and amino acids, including metabolites such as fructose, l-proline, and the cryoprotectants sorbitol and glycerol, which are implicated in various biochemical pathways. Interestingly, the level of glucose was detected at significantly higher levels in infected honey bees. Metabolomics analyses were in agreement with those of multiplex quantitative PCR analyses, indicating that it can be used as a complementary tool for the detection and the study of the physiology of the disease.

Nontargeted Urinary Metabolite Profiling of a Mouse Model of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disorder of the bowel, believed to arise from the dysregulation of intestinal mucosal immunity. The interleukin-10-deficient (IL10-/-) mouse, which develops intestinal inflammation in the presence of gut microflora, serves as a mouse model of Crohn's disease. Nontargeted urinary metabolite profiling was carried out to identify systemic metabolic changes associated with the development of intestinal inflammation caused by IL10-deficiency. Spot urine samples, collected from IL10-/- and wildtype mice at ages 5.5, 7, 8.5, and 10.5 weeks old were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). The data were analyzed using XCMS software, multiple t tests, and ANOVA. Among the key metabolic differences detected were elevated urinary levels of xanthurenic acid and fucose in IL10-/- mice relative to wildtype, indicating upregulation of tryptophan catabolism and perturbed fucosylation in IL10-/- mice. Three short-chain dicarboxylic acid metabolites were decreased in urine of IL10-/- mice relative to wildtype, suggesting the downregulation of fatty acid oxidation in IL10-/- mice. These metabolic differences were reproducible in an independent set of mice. This study demonstrates that nontargeted GCMS metabolite profiling of IL10-/- mice can provide insights into the metabolic effects of IL10-deficiency and identify potential markers of intestinal inflammation.