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Genotype‐Dependent Chemical Diversity and Bioactivity in Purple Elephant Grass: A Metabolomics‐Guided Evaluation for Animal Nutrition

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Purple elephant grass ( Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone) is a valuable forage crop with potential bioactive properties that influence animal health. This study presents a comprehensive metabolomic characterization of two purple elephant grass genotypes (T441 and T515) using high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), molecular networking, and advanced in silico annotation tools. A total of 142 metabolites were putatively annotated at metabolomics standards initiative (MSI) confidence Levels 2 and 3, encompassing flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, terpenoids, steroids, nitrogen‐containing compounds, and primary metabolites. Flavonoid and anthocyanin profiling revealed genotype‐specific patterns. Van Krevelen and fold‐change analysis highlighted subtle but meaningful metabolic divergences, with discriminant metabolites serving as chemical markers of each genotype. Voltammetric and DPPH assays confirmed distinct antioxidant capacities, with T441 showing slightly higher redox activity, correlating with the abundance of readily oxidizable phenolics. Both genotypes displayed significant anti‐inflammatory activity in vitro, modulating nitric oxide production without cytotoxic effects, linking metabolite composition with functional biological effects. These findings demonstrate that purple elephant grass exhibits a chemically diverse metabolome with genotype‐dependent variations, providing insights into the bioactive potential of flavonoid‐ and anthocyanin‐rich genotypes for forage quality, animal nutrition, and health. Highlights Untargeted HRMS metabolomics annotated 142 metabolites in two purple elephant grass genotypes. Genotype‐dependent metabolic signatures were revealed using molecular networking and chemometric analyses. Flavonoid and anthocyanin profiles explained differences in antioxidant capacity between genotypes. Both genotypes showed anti‐inflammatory activity by modulating nitric oxide production without cytotoxicity. Purple elephant grass is a promising source of bioactive metabolites for improving forage quality and animal nutrition.
DOI: 10.1002/ntls.70084
Authors: Salva Asghar, Erica A. Batista, Eric de Souza Gil, Gracimerio José Guarneire, Ana Mara F. Nunes, Sandra B. R. de Castro, Alessandra P. Carli, Caio César S. Alves, Juarez C. Machado, Abeer M. Alawi Al‐Sakkaf, Teresinha J. A. S. Andrade, Danielle F. Dias, Marisi G. Soares, Nerilson M. Lima
Institutions: Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Embrapa Gado de Leite, Thamar University, Instituto Federal do Maranhão
Language: English
Subfield: Biochemistry
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
Awards: FORTALECIMENTO E AMPLIAÇÃO DAS AÇÕES DE INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO DA UFVJM, DESENVOLVIMENTO DE FORMULAÇÕES NANOENCAPSULADAS DE OFLOXACINA PARA O CONTROLE DA PROLIFERAÇÃO DE CÉLULAS TUMORAIS, DESENVOLVIMENTO DE FORMULAÇÕES NANOESTRUTURADAS DO RÓDIO (III) PARA CONTROLE DE INFLAMAÇÃO AGUDA E DE AUTOIMUNIDADE., INTEGRAÇÃO DE ABORDAGENS ÔMICAS E MODELAGEM PREDITIVA PARA CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO POTENCIAL NUTRICIONAL E ECONÔMICO DE GENÓTIPOS DE FEIJÃO COM TOLERÂNCIA A ESTRESSES HÍDRICOS E RESISTÊNCIA A PATÓGENOS, G5406596785, CONSTRUÇÃO DE UM SENSOR ELETROQUÍMICO COM PAPEL DE GRAFENO PARA DETERMINAÇÃO DE H2O2 LIBERADO POR CÉLULAS VIVAS EM TEMPO REAL, AMPLIAÇÃO E MANUTENÇÃO DO CONJUNTO DE LABORATÓRIOS MULTIUSUÁRIOS DO INSTITUTO DE CIÊNCIAS DA VIDA/UFJF-CAMPUS GOVERNADOR VALADARES PARA SUSTENTABILIDADE AO DESENVOLVIMENTO DE PESQUISAS
OpenAlex ID: W7204131199
FWCI:
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