Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses characterize the tissue-specific flavonoid biosynthesis and quality formation in the ethnomedicine Melastoma dodecandrum
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. is a prominent medicinal plant traditionally utilized in the southern China for treating gynecological inflammation disorders, representing significant potential for pharmaceutical development. However, systematic phytochemical characterization of this species remains incomplete, and the tissue-specific distribution and accumulation of its primary bio-active flavonoids remain unclear. In this study, nine samples (roots, stems, and leaves from three biological replicates) were analyzed using HPLC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics and Illumina HiSeq 4000 transcriptome sequencing to systematically elucidate the spatial distribution of flavonoids across different plant organs, alongside the organ-specific expression patterns of key biosynthetic genes. Metabolomic profiling revealed that flavonoids, predominant flavonols, were significantly enriched in foliar and root tissues. A total of 20 major flavonoids were putatively identified: 5 compounds were annotated at Level 2 (database-matched, matching score > 0.7), and 15 at Level 3 (database-matched, matching score > 0.5), among which quercetin-3- O -glucosyl-(1 → 2)-rhamnoside emerged as the most abundant constituent in both leaves and roots, positioning it as a key candidate for further pharmacological evaluation. Leveraging the published reference genome of M. dodecandrum for transcriptome analysis, we systematically identified key catalytic enzyme genes within the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, Among them, CHS and FLS—representing the rate-limiting and branch-point regulatory steps—showed organ-specific expression patterns that closely correlated with the tissue-specific accumulation of flavonoid metabolites. Integrated KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that flavonoid-specific metabolic pathways dictate the distinct metabolic differentiation among different organs. In conclusion, this study decodes the molecular mechanism governing the chemical quality formation of M. dodecandrum by linking differential framework for the sustainable development and high-value utilization of this medicinal resource.
Source: Results in Chemistry
Authors: Qianwen Xiong, Shufei Wang, Jing Li, Xiasheng Zheng
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,870
OpenAlex ID: W7208753248