Targeted Development-Dependent Metabolomics Profiling of Bioactive Compounds in Acanthopanax senticosusby UPLC-ESI-MS

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry targeted metabolomics strategy was applied to analyze protocatechuate, syringin, eleutheroside E, isofraxidin, hyperoside, kaempferol, and oleanolic acid, the active compounds in 3-year-old, 5-year-old, and 9-year-old Acanthopanax senticosus. Then, targeted metabolomics was conducted with 3 growth year plants to identify 19 phenolic metabolites related to the above-mentioned active compounds, including 9 C6C3C6-type, 6 C6C3-type, and 4 C6C1-type. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the bioactive metabolite data, and targeted metabolic profiling was used for marker compound classification and characterization. The results showed that 7 active compounds in the roots and stems in the 3 growth year plants differed. The principal component “Q” values showed that the total contents of 7 active compounds in 5-year-old roots and stems were higher than in other growth years. Results of targeted metabolomics profiling of 19 phenolic metabolites showed that the C6C1-type compounds accumulated in 9-year-old plants, the C6C3-type in 3-year-old plants, and the C6C3C6-type in 5-year-old plants. The stems had the greatest accumulations of the phenolic metabolites. C6C1and C6C3-type metabolites are the most abundant in both roots and stems. In conclusion, the active compounds and pharmacological effects of A. senticosusin different growth years are different. The best harvest age for A. senticosusroots and stems was 5 years. The accumulation of 19 phenolic metabolites in different growth years also showed significant differences.