November Determined as Optimal Harvest Time for Ligustri Lucidi Fructus

Ligustri lucidi fructus (LLF), also known as glossy privet fruit, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, including liver disease, kidney disease, and rheumatism (1). The harvest time of LLF is important for ensuring its pharmacological activity, but there is no consensus on the optimal time.

Ligustrum tree with blue berries on a tree branch | Image Credit: © Anna - stock.adobe.com

To address this issue, researchers in China conducted a metabolomics analysis of LLF harvested at different times during the growing season. Published in the Journal of Separation Science, their work found that 166 metabolites were expressed at different harvest times. Among these, 59 metabolites increased in content with the growth period, while 35 metabolites decreased in content.

The researchers also found that November was the optimal harvest time for LLF based on multivariate statistical analysis. This is because the content of many important metabolites, such as specnuezhenide, nuezhenoside G13, and neonuezhenide, was at its highest in that month. In addition, the researchers identified 10-hydroxyligustroside, oleoside 11-methyl ester, and salidroside as evaluation indicators of immature LLF. The aforementioned specnuezhenide, nuezhenoside G13, and neonuezhenide were identified as evaluation indicators of mature LLF. This information can help ensure that LLF is harvested at the best time when pharmacological activity is at its highest.

This study used a combined platform of ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole-(linear ion trap)-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QqQ-LIT-MS/MS) to conduct the metabolomics analysis. This technique is highly sensitive and selective. It can be used to identify and quantify a wide range of metabolites.

To prepare samples for analysis, the researchers dried and ground the LLF fruits. The ground samples were then extracted with methanol and centrifuged. The supernatant was collected and filtered before being analyzed by UHPLC–QqQ-LIT-MS/MS.

The researchers used a variety of statistical methods to analyze the metabolomics data, including principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and variable importance in projection (VIP). These methods were used to identify differential metabolites and to determine the optimal harvest time for LLF.

The results of this study can be used to improve the quality and efficacy of LLF-based traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). By harvesting LLF at the optimal time, practitioners can ensure that the desired herb contains the highest levels of important metabolites. This will lead to more effective treatments for patients. The evaluation indicators identified in this study can be used to assess the quality of LLF products, ensuring that consumers are purchasing the highest-quality products that contain the active ingredients they need.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence and has been edited to ensure accuracy and clarity. You can read more about our policy for using AI here.

Reference

(1) Li, X.; Jia, J.; Li, T.; et al. Metabolomics Analysis of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus at Different Harvest Times During the Whole Growing Period Based on Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry. J. Sep. Sci. 2023, e2300196. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202300196