Untargeted LC–MS/MS-Based Metabolomic Profiling for the Edible and Medicinal Plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Under Different Levels of Cadmium Stress

Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza, a medicinal and edible plant, has been extensively applied to treat cardiovascular diseases and chronic hepatitis. Cadmium (Cd) affects the quality of S. miltiorrhiza, posing serious threats to human health. To reveal the metabolic mechanisms of S. miltiorrhiza's resistance to Cd stress, metabolite changes in S. miltiorrhiza roots treated with 0 (CK), 25 (T1), 50 (T2) and 100 (T3) mg kg−1 Cd by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) were investigated. A total of 305 metabolites were identified, and most of them were amino acids, organic acids and fatty acids, which contributed to the discrimination of CK from the Cd-treated groups. Among them, S. miltiorrhiza mainly upregulated o-tyrosine, chorismate and eudesmic acid in resistance to 25 mg kg−1 Cd; DL-tryptophan, L-aspartic acid, L-proline and chorismite in resistance to 50 mg kg−1 Cd; and L-proline, L-serine, L-histidine, eudesmic acid, and rosmarinic acid in resistance to 100 mg kg−1 Cd. It mainly downregulated unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid, linoleic acid) in resistance to 25, 50, and 100 mg kg−1 Cd and upregulated saturated fatty acids (especially stearic acid) in resistance to 100 mg kg−1 Cd. Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, isoquinoline alkaloid, betalain, aminoacyl-tRNA, and tyrosine metabolism were the significantly enriched metabolic pathways and the most important pathways involved in the Cd resistance of S. miltiorrhiza. These data elucidated the crucial metabolic mechanisms involved in S. miltiorrhiza Cd resistance and the crucial metabolites that could be used to improve resistance to Cd stress in medicinal plant breeding.

Physiological and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the cadmium tolerance of Sophora tonkinensis

“…The synthesis and release of unsaturated fatty acids is a plant defense mechanism against abiotic stresses [52]. Salvia miltiorrhiza downregulates unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid) and upregulates saturated fatty acids (stearic acid) under Cd stress [53]. However, the unsaturated fatty acid contents (linoleic, 13-hydroperoxy-9z,11e-octadecadienoic acid) increased with increasing Cd concentration in S. tonkinensis, consistent with previously reported results [54].…”

Temporal physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed molecular mechanism ofCanna indica’s response to Cr stress

“…In plants, amino acids can effectively chelate metal ions in the cytoplasm to reduce the toxic effect of heavy metals on plants (Singh et al, 2016). L-Glutamate is an intermediate for the biosynthesis of oxidized amino acids, which plants can use for secondary metabolisms, such as the biosynthesis of glutamine, proline, and lysine (Yuan et al, 2022b). Glutamine is an essential precursor of glutathione biosynthesis in plants.…”

LC–MS and GC–MS Metabolomics Analyses Revealed That Different Exogenous Substances Improved the Quality of Blueberry Fruits under Soil Cadmium Toxicity

“…Moreover, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis was significantly enriched in all four comparisons, and only the MT treatment significantly increased the expression levels of L-isoleucine, L-arginine, Lhistidine and L-tyrosine (Figures 3, 4D acids, as essential compounds for plant growth, play an important role in physiological metabolism, such as plant nutrition and resistance to Cd toxicity. Studies have shown that accumulation of L-aspartic acid alleviates the toxicity of Cd to Salvia miltiorrhiza, 19 and exogenous L-glutamic acid can reduce oxidative damage and inhibit Cd accumulation in Lens culinaris Medik. 44 Meanwhile, ABC transporters can also maintain cellular osmotic homeostasis by regulating the uptake and transport of secondary metabolites.…”

“…Brassica napus (CB671) can improve Cd tolerance through cell wall polysaccharides, lignin accumulation and the synthesis of antioxidant substances such as anthocyanins . Amino acids ( dl -tryptophan, l -aspartic acid, l -proline, L serine, and l -histidine), organic acids (eudesmic acid and chorismate) and fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid) in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza play an important role in the resistance to Cd toxicity . Lapie et al applied LC–MS and GC–MS and found that with increasing Cd toxicity, the total carbon, sugar, and amino acids in maize root exudates and mucilage decreased.…”

“…18 Amino acids (DL-tryptophan, L-aspartic acid, L-proline, L serine, and Lhistidine), organic acids (eudesmic acid and chorismate) and fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid) in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza play an important role in the resistance to Cd toxicity. 19 Lapie et al 20 applied LC−MS and GC−MS and found that with increasing Cd toxicity, the total carbon, sugar, and amino acids in maize root exudates and mucilage decreased. However, metabolomic studies on ESs to alleviate Cd toxicity in plants have been reported less frequently and are mainly based on LC−MS.…”