Metabolomics of medicinal plants for pathway exploration using multivariate analysis

Robin Joshi, PhD
CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT),
Palampur | India

Part of the Symposium:
Metabolomics India – Entering the next level of population health

The Himalayan region is a mega hot spot for various biological biodiversity with diversified medicinal plant species having health beneficial properties and industrial significance. Multivariate analysis is employed in metabolomics to statistically analyze the huge amount of analytical chemistry data generated by high-throughput and simultaneous metabolite analysis. Metabolomics assesses medicinal plants not only on the limited number of pharmacologically relevant metabolites but also on the fingerprints of minor metabolites and bioactive chemicals. Mass spectrometry in combination with multivariate data analysis was employed to examine metabolite distribution and visualization at different levels. Changes in metabolite abundance characterize the chemical flux generated by diverse biochemical processes, molecular mechanisms, and biological pathways. The identification of biosynthetic pathways in medicinal plants, which involve a complicated network of interactions involving metabolites, remains a key difficulty. These biosynthesis pathways have now been confirmed and validated through the fate of detected metabolite peak fragments in metabolomics data. The present study recently explored the pathway analysis of flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoids, triperpenoin and steroidal saponins in Citrus medica, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Polygonatum verticillatum, Trillium govanianum, Picrorhiza kurroa, and Camellia sinensis. Metabolomics studies will aid in its agronomic and biotechnology interventions for improved quality production of medicinal plants in near future.

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