Open Access

ARTICLE

Identification of Secondary Metabolites of Lycium ruthenicum Murray by UPLC-QTOF/MS and Network Pharmacology of Its Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Chen Chen^#,*, Chunli Li^#, Tengfei Li, Qianhong Li, Luyao Li, Fengqin Liu

Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Featured Resource Plants, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, China

* Corresponding Author: Chen Chen. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(3), 793-807. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.063549

Received 17 January 2025; Accepted 20 February 2025; Issue published 31 March 2025

Abstract

Lycium ruthenicum Murray, a plant widely cultivated in northwestern China, is integral to traditional Chinese medicine, with applications in treating menstrual disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and menopausal symptoms. Despite its recognized medicinal value and use as a functional food, comprehensive knowledge of its metabolites and their pharmacological effects remains limited. This study presents an innovative approach using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF/MS) to conduct a detailed analysis of both wild and cultivated L. ruthenicum samples. A total of 62 peaks were detected in the total ion current profile, with 59 metabolites identified based on accurate mass and MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct chemical profiles that effectively differentiate between wild and cultivated samples, identifying six key chemical markers crucial for the classification of L. ruthenicum varieties. Furthermore, a comprehensive interaction network was constructed, highlighting the top 20 significant pathways, which elucidates the components–targets–pathways–disease relationships. These findings not only provide a robust methodology for quality assessment and geographical discrimination of L. ruthenicum but also lay a theoretical foundation for its future exploration in traditional Chinese medicine, thereby enhancing its potential as both a medicinal and functional food source.

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Keywords

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