AUTHOR=Liu Xiaoying , Aimaier Alimu , Wang Weilan , Dong Yuliang , Han Peng , He Jiang , Mu Lihong , Wang Xinhui , Li Jinyao 

TITLE=Quality variation and biosynthesis of anti-inflammatory compounds for Capparis spinosa based on the metabolome and transcriptome analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1224073

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1224073

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p><italic>Capparis spinosa</italic> L. fruits as edible and medicinal plant, has anti-inflammatory activities. The different morphological characteristics of <italic>C. spinosa</italic> fruits from Ili, Turpan, and Karamay may affect their anti-inflammatory components and functions.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>The anti-inflammatory activity of <italic>C. spinosa</italic> fruit was assessed using an LPS-induced inflammatory cell model. Furthermore, the differences in anti-inflammatory compounds were analyzed by metabolome and RNA-seq.  Additionally, the anti-inflammatory mechanism was elucidated using network pharmacology.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>In the study, we found that the 95% ethanol extracts (CSE) obtained from the three kinds of fruits showed remarkable anti-inflammatory effects both <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic>. However, the CSE derived from Ili fruits significantly reduced CD86 levels on DCs. As a result of metabolomic analysis, the metabolic profiles of Ili fruits differed significantly from those of the other two habitats, which were consistent with transcriptome analysis. A total of 15 compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity were subjected to screening, revealing a greater accumulation of flavonoids in the Turpan and Karamay districts. Notably, phenolic compounds were identified as the principal anti-inflammatory components in <italic>C. spinosa</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>There were significant differences in the morphology, metabolites, transcriptional levels, and anti-inflammatory activity of <italic>C. spinosa</italic> from the three districts.</p></sec>