Meng-Ting Cai: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Yu Zhou: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Wen-Luan Ding: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Yu-Hong Huang: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Ying-Shan Ren: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Zhi-You Yang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China.
Lei Zhang: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Fei Sun: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Hai-Biao Guo: Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Liang-Yun Zhou: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Xiu-Hong Piao: School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: piaoxiuhong@163.com.
Shu-Mei Wang: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: gdpuwsm@126.com.
Yue-Wei Ge: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Engineering & Technology Research Center for Chinese Materia Medica Quality of the Universities of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: geyuewei@gdpu.edu.cn.
Reynoutria multiflora roots are a classical herbal medicine with unique nourishing therapeutic effects. Anomalous vascular bundle (AVB) forming "cloudy brocade patterns" is a typical morphological feature of R. multiflora roots and has been empirically linked to its quality classification. However, scientific evidence, especially for AVB-specific specialised metabolites, has not been comprehensively revealed thus far. Herein, desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) analysis was applied to carry out an in situ analysis of specialised metabolites distributed specifically at the AVB and cork of R. multiflora roots. To enlarge the scope of compounds by DESI detection, various solvent systems including acetone, acetonitrile, methanol, and water were used to assist in the discoveries of 40 specialised metabolites with determined localization. A series of bioactive constituents including stilbenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, and naphthalenes were found specifically around the brocade patterns. Notably, phospholipids were detected from R. multiflora roots by in situ analysis for the first time and were found mainly in the phloem of AVB (PAB). This is the first study to use gradient solvent systems in DESI-MSI analysis to locate the specialised metabolites distribution. The discovery of feature-specific compounds will bridge the empirical identification to precision quality control of R. multiflora roots.
