Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Distinct Anthocyanin Profiles in Napier Grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i> Schumach.) Cultivars
Plant secondary metabolites regulate plant growth and serve as valuable pharmaceutical resources. Napier grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i> Schumach.), a Poaceae species, shows potential as a functional food. In this study, we employed high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with a da...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2582 |
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| Summary: | Plant secondary metabolites regulate plant growth and serve as valuable pharmaceutical resources. Napier grass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum</i> Schumach.), a Poaceae species, shows potential as a functional food. In this study, we employed high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with a data-independent acquisition (DIA) strategy for the untargeted detection of anthocyanins, a group of secondary metabolites, in napier grass. Clear MS<sup>2</sup> fragmentation patterns were observed for anthocyanins, characterized by diagnostic aglycone signals and sequential losses of hexosyl (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>O<sub>5</sub>), deoxyhexosyl (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>O<sub>4</sub>), pentosyl (C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>8</sub>O<sub>4</sub>), and <i>p</i>-coumaroyl groups (C<sub>9</sub>H<sub>8</sub>O<sub>3</sub>). Based on matching with authentic standards and an in-house database, ten anthocyanins were identified, seven of which were newly reported in napier grass. In a single-laboratory validation analysis, both absolute and semi-quantitative results reliably reflected the specific distribution of metabolites across different cultivars and plant organs. The purple cultivar (TS5) exhibited the highest anthocyanin content, with the cyanidin 3-<i>O</i>-glucoside content reaching 5.0 ± 0.5 mg/g, whereas the green cultivar (TS2), despite its less pigmented appearance, contained substantial amounts of malvidin 3-<i>O</i>-arabinoside (0.7 ± <0.1 mg/g). Flavonoid profiling revealed that monoglycosylated anthocyanins were the dominant forms in floral tissues. These findings shed light on napier grass metabolism and support future Poaceae breeding and functional food development. |
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| ISSN: | 2304-8158 |