Characterization of the Interaction between Viscum coloratum (Mistletoe) and Its Host by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Quadrupole–Time-of-Flight–Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS)-Based Metabolomics

Bidirectional effects between parasite and its hosts are important because the chemical differences of parasite produced by host may affect its medicinal properties. In this study, the chemical variations between Viscum coloratum, a traditional Chinese medicine (Hujisheng in Chinese, HJS), and its host were explored using metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). The characterization of Hujisheng was performed for the subsequent chemical interaction study. Fifty-five compounds were identified including twenty-nine flavonoid glycosides (FGs), eight linear diphenyheptanes (LDHs), eight phenolic acids, and ten other compounds. Eleven novel flavonoid glycosides were screened and putatively characterized using six-point mass defect filtering (MDF). Significant chemical differences in Hujisheng caused by the host were discovered by metabolomics and multiple chemometric methods. In addition, the haustorium of Hujisheng was isolated from its host and analyzed by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS. Upon the comparative analysis of Hujisheng, the haustorium, and the hosts, differential chemical compounds were ascribed to host diversity and are believed to be transmitted between the parasite and host through the haustorium.