2. Academic Validation
  3. Spatial distribution analysis of secondary metabolites in bolted and unbolted Saposhnikovia divaricata by atmospheric pressure laser ablation carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Spatial distribution analysis of secondary metabolites in bolted and unbolted Saposhnikovia divaricata by atmospheric pressure laser ablation carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry imaging

  • Anal Chim Acta. 2025 Jul 8:1358:344096. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2025.344096.
Na Li 1,  Xialian Cui 2,  Yingjie Lu 1,  Fang Zhang 2,  Su Guo 3,  Yue Su 4,  Yinlong Guo 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
  • 2 The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
  • 4 Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5 State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 40374248 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2025.344096
Abstract

Background: Bolting severely affects the medicinal value and yield of Saposhnikovia divaricata. Currently, spatial distribution of secondary metabolites in bolted and unbolted Saposhnikovia divaricata remains unknown. The commercial Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) platforms has high sensitivity to high-polar compounds, but suppresses signals of less polar compounds, generating a gap of understanding how spatial distributed of such metabolites that is less prone to ionize.

Results: This study developed a highly sensitive Laser Ablation Carbon Fiber Ionization (LACFI) MSI method under atmospheric pressure to achieve the spatial distribution analysis of secondary metabolites in Saposhnikovia divaricata, including low-polar compounds which is difficult to be analyzed in Other MSI methods. The laser efficiently desorbs compounds from Saposhnikovia divaricata tissue, and the desorbed compounds are rapidly ionized by a carbon fiber ion source under high pressure. The desorption and ionization are performed in two separate steps, reducing the matrix effect and enhancing the ionization efficiency of compounds, which increase sensitivity. The carbon fiber has good compatibility with polar and low-polar compounds, which increases the number of detectable metabolites. The spatial distribution of secondary metabolites undergoes a shift from the unbolted to the bolted Saposhnikovia divaricata. The result of imaging is consistent with the conclusion of pharmacopoeia that the bolted Saposhnikovia divaricata is not used medicinally.

Significance: Compared to commercial imaging methods, the LACFI-MSI method developed is ultra-sensitive, has a greater sensitivity in the analysis of less polar compounds. Spatial distribution analysis of secondary metabolites that previously difficult/unable to detect in bolted and unbolted Saposhnikovia divaricata is realized.

Keywords

Bolting; High sensitivity; LACFI-MSI; Saposhnikovia divaricata; Secondary metabolites; Spatial distribution.

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