Integrated targeted and untargeted metabolomics profiling of Vanilla species from the Atlantic Forest: Unveiling the bioeconomic potential of Vanilla cribbiana.

In this study, we employ both targeted and untargeted approaches to explore the metabolomic profiles of Vanilla spp., with a particular focus on V. cribbiana (VCR) and its comparison with V. planifolia (VP). We also examine V. bahiana and V. chamissonis using targeted approaches. Through advanced analytical techniques, our untargeted LC-HRMS approach led to the annotation of 60 metabolites, revealing a complex chemical composition with 34 novel compounds in the Vanilla genus in VCR and VP. These findings highlight significant flavoring compounds and lay the foundation for a subsequent quantitative estimation approach. Our targeted analysis, which measured key molecules, underscores VCR's potential in producing vanillin and acetovanillone at levels comparable to the commercially valuable VP and even higher levels of vanillic acid. This research enriches our understanding of flavor composition in vanilla species and emphasizes the importance of exploring wild relatives of vanilla crop for sustainable production and biodiversity conservation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Andrea Furtado Macedo, Maria Gabriela Bello Koblitz, Rafael Garret and Joana Paula da Silva Oliveira have patent #PCT/BR2022/050468 pending to Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO) & Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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