Analysis of Differentially Expressed Metabolites of Fresh and Dried Wolfberry Fruit in Ningxia Based on UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS

The project studied the differences of dried and fresh wolfberry fruit in Ningxia region. Using non-targeted metabolomics analysed the differential metabolites of wolfberry fruit. The observed variables were determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS). Differential metabolites were screened out by mathematical statistical methods (principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares analysis (PLS-DA), univariate statistical analysis, cluster analysis, volcano plot) to identify and analyse all metabolites. The results showed that 35 different metabolites were identified in the fresh and dried wolfberry fruit. The expression of organic acids, amino acids and flavonoids was up-regulated, while the expression of nucleotides, phenolic acids and coumarin compounds was down-regulated. This study revealed the characteristic compounds of fresh and dried wolfberry fruit in Ningxia. The research would provide a theoretical basis for the material basis of different wolfberry fruits.