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Untargeted metabolomics reveals nomilin-induced changes in glycerophospholipid composition associated with delayed senescence of ‘Zhangji’ strawberry fruits

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Strawberry is a highly perishable fruit, and postharvest senescence is closely associated with changes in membrane lipid composition. Nomilin, a citrus-derived triterpenoid, has demonstrated bioactivity in mammalian systems, but its effects on fruit lipid composition remain unexplored. This study quantitatively evaluated the effects of nomilin treatment on the glycerophospholipid profile of ‘Zhangji’ strawberry fruits using untargeted LC-MS metabolomics. Strawberry fruits were treated with 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 20 μM nomilin and stored at 25 °C for 8 days. Among the concentrations tested, 10 μM nomilin most effectively delayed senescence, as evidenced by maintained firmness and reduced weight loss and decay. Metabolomic analysis identified 174 and 99 differentially accumulated metabolites in positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these metabolites were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolismF. Quantitative analysis showed that nomilin treatment specifically induced the accumulation of six lysophospholipid species: LPA 18:2, LPA 18:3, LPA 16:0, LPC 18:2, LPC 18:3, and LPC 14:0. These findings provide quantitative composition data on nomilin-induced changes in strawberry glycerophospholipids, which may serve as potential quality markers for postharvest senescence and support the development of natural quality-preserving strategies for perishable fruits.

Source: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109645