Comprehensive Metabolomics Study of Traditionally Important Rumex Species Found in Western Himalayan Region

Rumex species are traditionally known to cure constipation, pain, inflammation, ulcer and tumor. The biological potential of Rumex nepalensis lies in chemical diversity of its constituents. In the present study, UPLC-DAD-MS method was developed for the concurrent estimation of polyphenols in Rumex species (R. nepalensis, R. hastatus and R. dentatus) and validated for linearity (r(2)> 0.999), limit of quantification and detection, inter and intraday precession, stabilities and recovery. The developed method has also been employed for metabolomic analysis of Rumex species. Qualitative and quantitative variation of polyphenols was observed among the aerial and root parts of Rumex species with highest content of polyphenol detected in aerial part of R. nepalensis. The quantitative data based matrix and HCA plot represents the variation of metabolites among the samples. R. nepalensis being widely used in traditional practices, was incorporated in detail. A total of seven molecules were isolated and characterized among which three compounds viz. 3-O-methyl epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucuronide and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside were isolated for first time from this plant. Eighteen metabolites were profiled in R. nepalensis using UPLC-MS/MS technique. Current comprehensive metabolomics approach will surely help in understanding the chemical diversity, discriminations and quality control analysis of raw materials and furnished products of Rumex.