Metabolomics reveals the influences of smoke-water and karrikinolide on the biosynthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Metabolomics was used to study the influences of smoke-water (SW) and karrikinolide (KAR1) on the biosynthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The results showed that a total of 178 and 199 differential metabolites were obtained in SW and KAR1, respectively, compared to the control. The differential metabolites were assigned to the corresponding metabolic pathways. The results indicated that some metabolic pathways in treatments of SW and KAR1 overlapped, suggesting that treatments of SW and KAR1 showed similar effects on the metabolic mechanism of S. miltiorrhiza. To obtain a clear overview of changes in metabolic regulation, TCA cycle, glycolytic pathway, biosynthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids and amino acids metabolism pathway were mapped into a network. We found that treatments with SW and KAR1 could significantly promote the biosynthesis of flavonoids and terpenoids in S. miltiorrhiza. This study could help us better understand the influences of SW and KAR1 on secondary metabolites and their underlying mechanism.