Different metabolites of leaves between Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

To analysis the differences between Tripterygium wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum, specimens of their leaves were collected from five production regions and analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The data were analyzed by multivariate statistical method, such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal signal correction partial least square discrimination (OPLS-DA). Potential markers with VIP values above 5.0 and corresponding r values above 0.85, were selected and further tested by combining mann-Whitney nonparametric. Those with P < 0.001 and AUC = 1 were confirmed as metabolite markers to discriminate them from each other. Results revealed that the two species were obviously different in their leaf metabolites. Based on their mass spectra, 23 potential metabolite markers were identified to distinguish T. wilfordii from T. hypoglaucum.