Phytochemical profile of Tibetan native fruit "Medog lemon" and its comparison with other cultivated species in China.

• A total of 196 components were characterized in Tibetan native fruit "Medog lemon" (ML) with LC-HR MS based integrated strategy. • A total of thirty-three were detected from Citrus genus for the first time, and fifty-five were identified as potential new chemicals. • More than 30 components were screened to showed outstandingly discriminative ability. • ML showed distinct morphological, chemical characters and good antioxidant activity. • ML is a promising food material as a source of abundant bioactive compounds. Tibet's native fruit resources have not been explored and remain underutilized due to geographical isolation. "Medog lemon" (ML), an ethno-species of wild citron, is an important functional food and dietary resource for the local people in southeastern Tibet. Herein comprehensive characterization of components of ML were firstly performed with an integrated strategy based on UHPLC-QE Orbitrap MS. A total of 196 components were characterized, among which 33 were detected from Citrus genus for the first time, and 55 were identified as potential new phytochemicals. The chemical comparison of ML with cultivated citron and fingered citron based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis model and univariate analysis revealed the distinct chemical composition of ML and in which more than 30 differentiated components were identified. The distinct morphological and chemical characters, as well as its good antioxidant properties, indicated ML as a potential new food resource that can be beneficial for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]