The use of widely targeted metabolomics profiling to quantify differences in medicinally important compounds from five Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) species

The genus Curcuma is widely recognized for its diversity of medicinal and culinary uses yet metabolomic differences among Curcuma species are largely unknown, due to the lack of broadly targeted analytical studies. Here, Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis was employed to interrogate the metabolomes of five Curcuma species which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine (C. aromatica, C. elata, C. longa, C. caesia and C. phaeocaulis). By processing these results through a pathway enrichment analysis, 432 metabolites (some associated with the curcumin pathway) were identified that varied by species. The quantity of curcuminoids in C. longa were found to be higher than that in the other four Curcuma species analyzed in this study. In addition, C. longa was found to have a greater diversity of phenolic acids, amino acid derivatives, and flavonoids associated with the curcumin biosynthesis pathway. However, medicinal compounds such as 6-gingerol were found in lower quantities in C. longa compared to all other species in this study. This study provides new insights into Curcuma phytochemical pathways and allows for the development of functional foods tailored to specific needs from these species.