To explore the differential marker metabolites of Lycium barbarum L. from different origins by non-targeted metabolomics technology.

Taking the geographical indication protected products of Lycium barbarum L. from different origins in Gansu Province as the research objects, non-targeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on Lycium barbarum L. samples collected from Jingyuan County and Minqin County in Gansu Province using high performance liquid chromatography-orbittrap quadrupole electrostatic field high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis were adopted to analyze the differential metabolites of 2 kinds of Lycium barbarum L.from different origins.

A total of 102 differential metabolites were identified between Jingyuan and Minqin Lycium barbarum L.. Taking Minqin Lycium barbarum L. as the control, 39 kinds of metabolites were significantly up-regulated and 63 kinds of metabolites were significantly down-regulated in Jingyuan Lycium barbarum L.. The differential metabolites were mainly flavonoids, followed by phenolic acids and their derivatives, amino acids and their derivatives, etc. Ergometrine, histaminol and dehydro-β-ionone, etc. were differential characteristic compounds. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways such as flavonoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, one-carbon pool by folate, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism.

The research results successfully screens out the differential metabolites of Lycium barbarum L. from 2 kinds of different producing areas and clarified the core differences in metabolic composition among Lycium barbarum L. from each producing area.Meanwhile, the characteristic marker metabolites that can be used to distinguish Lycium barbarum L. from the 2 kinds of different producing areas are identified, which provide characteristic indicators and scientific and reliable technical support for the origin identification and quality differentiation of Lycium barbarum L. from different producing areas.