Work

Metabolomic screening integrated with quality evaluation to pinpoint candidate markers in Chenpi infested by Tribolium castaneum

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of Tribolium castaneum (TC) infestation on the quality of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi) and identified potential infestation-related markers. Overall, infestation significantly reduced the contents of phenolic acids and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity. Untargeted UPLC-MS analysis annotated 1162 metabolites. Using VIP > 1, FC > 1.5 or < 0.66, and P < 0.05 (uncorrected) as screening criteria, 53 and 134 differential metabolites were identified in the 50 TC vs No TC and 100 TC vs No TC comparisons, respectively, with organoheterocyclic compounds showing the most pronounced increase in abundance. Enrichment analysis revealed that purine metabolism was significantly upregulated after infestation. In this pathway, uric acid, hypoxanthine, and xanthine accumulated markedly with increasing TC density and showed significant correlations with the quality deterioration of infested Chenpi. Therefore, these three purine-related metabolites were proposed as candidate markers associated with TC infestation.

Source: Food Chemistry X

DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104686

Authors: Yunxia Cheng, Meng Li, Qiujuan Ma, Jinrong Tang

Institutions: Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Henan Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis

Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,330