Multi-tissue resource characteristics and comprehensive utilization of medicinal and edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica): a review
4 affiliations
- 1College of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Putian University
- 2Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ecological Impacts and Treatment Technologies for Emerging Contaminants, Putian University
- 3Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Information Atlas, Putian University
- 4State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University
Abstract
Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.), a member of the Rosaceae family, exhibits pronounced tissue-specific metabolic specialization that underpins its nutritional value, pharmacological activities, and industrial potential. Contemporary research on loquat has largely focused on single tissues or individual bioactive compounds, whereas comprehensive cross-tissue comparative profiling and mechanistic analyses remain substantially underexplored. This fragmented research paradigm obscures both the tissue-specific distribution of secondary metabolites and the upstream regulatory networks governing their biosynthesis, resulting in the inefficient exploitation of by-products such as peels and seeds. In this review, we synthesize several decades of empirical and mechanistic studies on the phytochemical profiles, pharmacological functions, and resource-transformation mechanisms of the core bioactive constituents across five major loquat tissues—pulp, peel, seed, leaf, and flower. We clarify the core metabolites conserved across all tissues and the signature compounds specific to individual organs, and summarize their pleiotropic biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, and multi-organ cytoprotective effects. Beyond phenotypic description, we further examine the evolutionary genomic origins and hierarchical regulatory networks underlying tissue-specific metabolism: lineage-specific whole-genome duplication is proposed to contribute to the heterogeneous accumulation of triterpenoids across tissues, whereas cold-adaptive signaling and developmental hormonal modulation cooperatively reshape organ-specific secondary metabolic reprogramming. Finally, we identify three pivotal industrial constraints on the sustainable valorization of loquat resources—fragmented processing layouts, low-efficiency recycling of agricultural residual biomass, and frost-induced instability of raw material supply—and propose targeted transformation strategies, including marker-assisted germplasm improvement, multi-omics dissection of tissue-specific metabolic regulatory networks, synthetic-biology-based green biosynthesis of high-value phytochemicals, and the development of a comprehensive circular industrial system. These strategies provide a theoretical basis for the integrated utilization of the medicinal and edible resources of loquat.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026multitissue,
title = {{Multi-tissue resource characteristics and comprehensive utilization of medicinal and edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica): a review}},
author = {Xinyue Wang and Shuzhi Tang and Hailan Lin and Bisha Wu and Shunquan Lin and Jincheng Wu and Shoukai Lin},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1953326},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1953326/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multi-tissue resource characteristics and comprehensive utilization of medicinal and edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica): a review
AU - Xinyue Wang
AU - Shuzhi Tang
AU - Hailan Lin
AU - Bisha Wu
AU - Shunquan Lin
AU - Jincheng Wu
AU - Shoukai Lin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1953326
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1953326/full
AB - Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.), a member of the Rosaceae family, exhibits pronounced tissue-specific metabolic specialization that underpins its nutritional value, pharmacological activities, and industrial potential. Contemporary research on loquat has largely focused on single tissues or individual bioactive compounds, whereas comprehensive cross-tissue comparative profiling and mechanistic analyses remain substantially underexplored. This fragmented research paradigm obscures both the tissue-specific distribution of secondary metabolites and the upstream regulatory networks governing their biosynthesis, resulting in the inefficient exploitation of by-products such as peels and seeds. In this review, we synthesize several decades of empirical and mechanistic studies on the phytochemical profiles, pharmacological functions, and resource-transformation mechanisms of the core bioactive constituents across five major loquat tissues—pulp, peel, seed, leaf, and flower. We clarify the core metabolites conserved across all tissues and the signature compounds specific to individual organs, and summarize their pleiotropic biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, and multi-organ cytoprotective effects. Beyond phenotypic description, we further examine the evolutionary genomic origins and hierarchical regulatory networks underlying tissue-specific metabolism: lineage-specific whole-genome duplication is proposed to contribute to the heterogeneous accumulation of triterpenoids across tissues, whereas cold-adaptive signaling and developmental hormonal modulation cooperatively reshape organ-specific secondary metabolic reprogramming. Finally, we identify three pivotal industrial constraints on the sustainable valorization of loquat resources—fragmented processing layouts, low-efficiency recycling of agricultural residual biomass, and frost-induced instability of raw material supply—and propose targeted transformation strategies, including marker-assisted germplasm improvement, multi-omics dissection of tissue-specific metabolic regulatory networks, synthetic-biology-based green biosynthesis of high-value phytochemicals, and the development of a comprehensive circular industrial system. These strategies provide a theoretical basis for the integrated utilization of the medicinal and edible resources of loquat.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -