Metabolomics‐based analysis of the regulatory effects of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. on key bioactive metabolites during rice wine fermentation

BACKGROUND: Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (DNL), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with abundant bioactive compound content, possesses significant pharmacological potential. However, its regulatory effects on the metabolic profile of fermented rice wine under different fermentation strategies remain largely unexplored. RESULTS: Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that DNL supplementation increased the diversity and abundance of key bioactive metabolites significantly, particularly terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds, with the most notable enhancement observed in sequential fermentation. Multivariate statistical analyses confirmed distinct clustering of metabolic profiles, underscoring DNL's role in reshaping the fermentative metabolome. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that DNL primarily modulated alkaloid and terpenoid biosynthesis by regulation of phenylalanine, tryptophan, and histidine metabolism, as well as the limonene and pinene degradation pathways, with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) mapping identifying biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (sce01110) and phenylalanine metabolism (sce00360) as central regulatory nodes. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates the mechanism by which DNL enhances the functional properties of rice wine through targeted regulation of critical metabolic pathways. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the development of value-added functional beverages and offer new insights into the application of medicinal herbs in fermented food products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.