Advances in Spatial Metabolomics in Medicinal Plants

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0276

Abstract

Abstract:

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an innovative molecular imaging technique offering significant advantages, including label-free analysis, high molecular coverage, and exceptional sensitivity. MSI has been widely used in studies on the spatial distribution of metabolites in tissues. The continuous advancement of this technique has brought spatial metabolomics, a methodology that integrates MSI with metabolomics. This approach allows for simultaneous localization and imaging analysis of metabolites in tissues across diverse biological samples, encompassing animals, plants, and microorganisms. Recently, spatial metabolomics has demonstrated great potential in medicinal plant research as a crucial technique for precise spatial localization of metabolites in tissues. This review first presents the basic principles and experimental procedures of spatial metabolomics, followed by comparisons of several major MSI techniques, including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI), and secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging (SIMS-MSI), where distinctive advantages and limitations of each approach are delineated, as well as key aspects in sample preparation and data processing are addressed. The review subsequently focuses on the applications of spatial metabolomics in medicinal plants, including visualizing the spatial distribution and accumulation pattern of metabolites, clarifying the biosynthesis and transport sites of metabolites, and discovering functional genes associated with biosynthetic pathways in medicinal plants. Finally, this review discusses the current challenges and prospects of spatial metabolomics, aiming to provide a new perspective for investigations in medicinal plant research.

Key words: spatial metabolomics, mass spectrometry imaging, medicinal plants, metabolites, biosynthesis

LIU Yu-shi, LI Zhen, ZOU Yu-chen, TANG Wei-wei, LI Bin. Advances in Spatial Metabolomics in Medicinal Plants[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2025, 41(9): 22-31.

Figures/Tables 2

References 76

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Year	Species	Sample type	Image resolution (μm)	Imaging techniques	Analytes	Reference
2017	Hypericum perforatum L.	Root	5	MALDI	Xanthone	［54］
2017	Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.	Root	50	MALDI	Triterpenoids， alkaloids	［55］
2018	Ginkgo biloba L.	Leaf	50	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids， ginkgolides	［42］
2019	Curcuma longa L.	Root	5-25	MALDI	Curcumin	［56］
2021	Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews. Paeonia lactiflora Pall.	Root	35	MALDI	Paeonol glycosides， tannins， flavonoids	［57］
2021	Panax. notoginseng （Burkill） F. H. Chen ex C. H.	Root	100	MALDI	Notoginsenoside	［58］
2021	Asclepias curassavica L.	Leaf	20-45	MALDI	Cardiac glycosides	［59］
2021	Lycium chinense Mill.	Fruit	25	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids， alkaloids	［60］
2021	Catharanthus roseus （L.） G. Don	Petal	250-500	SALDI	Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids	［61］
2022	Coptis chinensis Franch.	Rhizome	1	SIMS	Alkaloids	［46］
2022	Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.	Root， stem， leaf， petal	100	DESI	Flavonoids， phenolic acids， tanshinones	［44］
2022	Isatis tinctoria L.	Root	80	DESI	Sulfur-containing compounds， alkaloids	［62］
2023	Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Salvia grandifolia W. W. Sm.	Root， leaf	100-200	DESI	Terpenes， phenolic acids， tanshinones	［43］
2023	Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.	Leaf， seed plumule， milky sap	30	MALDI	Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids	［63］
2023	Pueraria lobata （Willd.） Ohwi Pueraria thomsonii Benth.	Root	50	AFADESI	Phenolic acids， flavonoids	［64］
2023	Angelica sinensis （Oliv.） Diels	Root	35	MALDI	Volatile oil	［48］
2023	Taxus wallichiana var.chinensis （Pilg.） Florin	Leaf	20	MALDI	Taxanes， flavonoids， coumarins	［45］
2023	Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.	Root， stem， leaf， fruit	15-20 300	MALDI DESI	Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids	［65］
2024	Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi	Root， stem	10	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids	［66］
2024	Panax quinquefolius L.	Root	120	DESI	Saponins	［47］
2024	Cyclocarya paliurus （Batalin） Iljinsk.	Leaf	200	DESI	Phenylpropanoids， flavonoids， triterpenes	［67］
2024	Fagopyrum tataricum （L.） Gaertn.	Achene	20	MALDI	Flavonoids， phenolic acids	［68］
2024	Angelicae Dahuricae Radix	Root	40	MALDI	Coumarins	［69］
2025	Atractylodes lancea rhizome	Root， stems	200	DESI	Volatile oil	［49］
2025	Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. Fritillaria usuriensis Maxim.	Bulb	75	DESI	Alkaloid	［70］
2025	Camellia sinensis （L.） Kuntze	Root， leaf， bud	100	DESI	Triterpenoid saponins	［71］

Year	Species	Sample type	Image resolution (μm)	Imaging techniques	Analytes	Reference
2017	Hypericum perforatum L.	Root	5	MALDI	Xanthone	［54］
2017	Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.	Root	50	MALDI	Triterpenoids， alkaloids	［55］
2018	Ginkgo biloba L.	Leaf	50	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids， ginkgolides	［42］
2019	Curcuma longa L.	Root	5-25	MALDI	Curcumin	［56］
2021	Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews. Paeonia lactiflora Pall.	Root	35	MALDI	Paeonol glycosides， tannins， flavonoids	［57］
2021	Panax. notoginseng （Burkill） F. H. Chen ex C. H.	Root	100	MALDI	Notoginsenoside	［58］
2021	Asclepias curassavica L.	Leaf	20-45	MALDI	Cardiac glycosides	［59］
2021	Lycium chinense Mill.	Fruit	25	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids， alkaloids	［60］
2021	Catharanthus roseus （L.） G. Don	Petal	250-500	SALDI	Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids	［61］
2022	Coptis chinensis Franch.	Rhizome	1	SIMS	Alkaloids	［46］
2022	Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.	Root， stem， leaf， petal	100	DESI	Flavonoids， phenolic acids， tanshinones	［44］
2022	Isatis tinctoria L.	Root	80	DESI	Sulfur-containing compounds， alkaloids	［62］
2023	Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Salvia grandifolia W. W. Sm.	Root， leaf	100-200	DESI	Terpenes， phenolic acids， tanshinones	［43］
2023	Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.	Leaf， seed plumule， milky sap	30	MALDI	Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids	［63］
2023	Pueraria lobata （Willd.） Ohwi Pueraria thomsonii Benth.	Root	50	AFADESI	Phenolic acids， flavonoids	［64］
2023	Angelica sinensis （Oliv.） Diels	Root	35	MALDI	Volatile oil	［48］
2023	Taxus wallichiana var.chinensis （Pilg.） Florin	Leaf	20	MALDI	Taxanes， flavonoids， coumarins	［45］
2023	Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.	Root， stem， leaf， fruit	15-20 300	MALDI DESI	Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids	［65］
2024	Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi	Root， stem	10	MALDI	Flavonoids， organic acids	［66］
2024	Panax quinquefolius L.	Root	120	DESI	Saponins	［47］
2024	Cyclocarya paliurus （Batalin） Iljinsk.	Leaf	200	DESI	Phenylpropanoids， flavonoids， triterpenes	［67］
2024	Fagopyrum tataricum （L.） Gaertn.	Achene	20	MALDI	Flavonoids， phenolic acids	［68］
2024	Angelicae Dahuricae Radix	Root	40	MALDI	Coumarins	［69］
2025	Atractylodes lancea rhizome	Root， stems	200	DESI	Volatile oil	［49］
2025	Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. Fritillaria usuriensis Maxim.	Bulb	75	DESI	Alkaloid	［70］
2025	Camellia sinensis （L.） Kuntze	Root， leaf， bud	100	DESI	Triterpenoid saponins	［71］