Wide-Targeted Metabolomics Combined with Network Pharmacology Analysis Reveals Metabolite Dynamics and Optimal Harvest Time Across Developmental Stages in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.
- 1College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
- 2State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
Abstract
Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant whose fruits are rich in bioactive constituents, including lignans, organic acids, and flavonoids. Nevertheless, the biochemical dynamics underlying fruit development remain insufficiently characterized, limiting the effective cultivation, harvest, and utilization of S. chinensis. Here, we applied widely targeted metabolomics, together with a dynamic assessment of fruit growth, to profile temporal changes in major metabolites and to identify the optimal harvest window. The results show that the morphological changes in fruit mainly occurred from 70 to 110 days after fruit set; fresh fruit mass peaked at 110 days after fruit set. During the harvest period, the fruits are deep red and firm, showing no signs of softening. Meanwhile, fruit cluster weight, single fruit weight, and fruit longitudinal diameter all reached their peak values. Over the course of maturation, lignan levels declined markedly, whereas terpenoids, organic acids and flavonoids increased significantly. The most pronounced shifts were observed for schizandrin, gomisin N, shikimic acid, citric acid, gamma-terpinene and cyanidin 3-sophoroside, key marker compounds of S. chinensis fruit. Network pharmacology predicts that ESR1, RXRA, GATM, NCOA2, and SONEA are core targets. These findings provide a basis for determining timely harvest and for establishing quality evaluation criteria for S. chinensis.
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BibTeX
@article{qu2026widetargeted,
title = {{Wide-Targeted Metabolomics Combined with Network Pharmacology Analysis Reveals Metabolite Dynamics and Optimal Harvest Time Across Developmental Stages in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.}},
author = {Gaoyang Qu and Mingwan Sun and Shixiang Wei and Jiaming Yang and Hongbo Li and Jiushi Liu},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219401},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9401},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Wide-Targeted Metabolomics Combined with Network Pharmacology Analysis Reveals Metabolite Dynamics and Optimal Harvest Time Across Developmental Stages in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.
AU - Gaoyang Qu
AU - Mingwan Sun
AU - Shixiang Wei
AU - Jiaming Yang
AU - Hongbo Li
AU - Jiushi Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219401
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9401
AB - Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant whose fruits are rich in bioactive constituents, including lignans, organic acids, and flavonoids. Nevertheless, the biochemical dynamics underlying fruit development remain insufficiently characterized, limiting the effective cultivation, harvest, and utilization of S. chinensis. Here, we applied widely targeted metabolomics, together with a dynamic assessment of fruit growth, to profile temporal changes in major metabolites and to identify the optimal harvest window. The results show that the morphological changes in fruit mainly occurred from 70 to 110 days after fruit set; fresh fruit mass peaked at 110 days after fruit set. During the harvest period, the fruits are deep red and firm, showing no signs of softening. Meanwhile, fruit cluster weight, single fruit weight, and fruit longitudinal diameter all reached their peak values. Over the course of maturation, lignan levels declined markedly, whereas terpenoids, organic acids and flavonoids increased significantly. The most pronounced shifts were observed for schizandrin, gomisin N, shikimic acid, citric acid, gamma-terpinene and cyanidin 3-sophoroside, key marker compounds of S. chinensis fruit. Network pharmacology predicts that ESR1, RXRA, GATM, NCOA2, and SONEA are core targets. These findings provide a basis for determining timely harvest and for establishing quality evaluation criteria for S. chinensis.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -