Targeted metabolomics analysis of three medicinal plants of the genus Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla chinensis, a member of the Ranunculaceae family, is one of the 12 Pulsatilla species distributed in China. During the fruit-ripening period, the achenes of these plants tend to cluster densely in a head-like structure, and the style persists, resembling a silver filament. Resembling an old man with white hair, it is thus named Baitouweng. In this study, P. chinensis, Pulsatilla cernua (Thunb.) Bercht. & J. Presl, and Pulsatilla chinensis var. kissii (Mandl) S. H. Li et Y. H. Huan were selected as objects for a detailed targeted metabolomics analysis to determine whether P. chinensis var. kissii can serve as a substitute for P. chinensis-based medicinal materials. A total of 1,558 compounds were identified. Among these, 392 were primary metabolites, 1,166 were secondary metabolites, and 47 were triterpenoid saponins. Clustering analysis of the total metabolites revealed that the three Pulsatilla species clustered based on their population origin, rather than their variety. The differential metabolite analysis of triterpenoid saponins showed that metabolic differences between P. chinensis var. kissii and P. chinensis were more pronounced than those between P. chinensis var. kissii and P. cernua. In conclusion, P. chinensis var. kissii is more suitable as a substitute for P. cernua medicinal materials. This result lays a foundation for in-depth investigations into the potential internal relationships among these three Pulsatilla species.