Integrating the rapid constituent profiling strategy and multivariate statistical analysis for herb ingredients research, with Chinese official rhubarb and Tibetan rhubarb as an example

The Chinese official rhubarb (COR), from the genus Rheum, is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, while many rhubarb plant sources include in the Tibetan rhubarb (TR) are not attributable to Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Tibetan rhubarb is widely used as a natural medicine in Tibet; however, the difference in plant endogenous phytochemicals between the COR and TR remains largely unclear. To establish a method for evaluating the chemical composition and metabolic difference between COR and TR. Using UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, we established a strategy to quickly and comprehensively identify the chemical components of COR and TR. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis was applied to identify the significant metabolic differences between the two. In total, 209 chemical compounds, including 51 anthraquinones, 44 stilbenes, 26 tannins, 52 acyl glycosides, and 36 other compounds, were identified using the data mining strategy. Importantly, 47 compounds may be the potential new compounds, while 35 significant metabolic differences were revealed between COR and TR. This study offers significant insight into the chemical composition and differences between COR and TR that could be used to develop their varieties and clinical applications.