Ultrasound-assisted metabolite detection in different extraction processes of Bletilla striata and bitter metabolite detection.

Bletilla striata, a medicinal orchidaceous plant, is recognized for its significant pharmacological value. However, the lack of comparative metabolomic data across different extraction methods for analyzing its bioactive components has significantly undervalued the application potential of B. striata in the traditional Chinese medicine market. Using six ultrasound-assisted extraction methods and UPLC-MS/MS, this study identified 1,945 metabolites in B. striata extracts. The dominant categories were lipids (51.35%), flavonoids (18.00%), and phenolic acids (12.51%). KEGG analysis revealed alterations in flavonoids and isoflavonoids biosynthesis pathways. Thirteen bitter metabolites, including cinnamic acid, were identified in B. striata tubers, underscoring their potential pharmacological applications, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Optimizing different extraction methods can better preserve the bioactive components of B. striata extracts, thereby enhancing its potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.