TY  - EJOU
AU  - Chen,  
AU  - Li, Chunli 
AU  - Li, Tengfei 
AU  - Li, Qianhong 
AU  - Li, Luyao 
AU  - Liu, Fengqin 

TI  - Identification of Secondary Metabolites of <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> Murray by UPLC-QTOF/MS and Network Pharmacology of Its Anti-Inflammatory Properties
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2025
VL  - 94
IS  - 3
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> 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 <i>L. ruthenicum</i> 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 <i>L. ruthenicum</i> 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 <i>L. ruthenicum</i> 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.
KW  - <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> Murray; mass spectrometry; chemometrics analysis; network pharmacology

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2025.063549