Abiotic Stress Alters the Nutritional, Metabolomic, and Glycomic Profiles of Piper auritum Kunth

TL;DR

This study shows how abiotic stress affects the nutritional and chemical makeup of Piper auritum, a traditional Mexican plant, with implications for its health benefits and use in sustainable diets.

Contribution

The first report on LMWC abundance during digestion and the integrated effect of drought and salicylic acid on a quelite species' chemical profile.

Findings

Drought stress and salicylic acid altered sugar distribution and LMWC release during simulated digestion.

Stress conditions increased secondary metabolites like oxygenated and hydrocarbon terpenes.

Essential oil composition shifted, with changes in safrole and β-caryophyllene under stress.

Abstract

Traditional diets based on diverse edible plants are increasingly threatened by climate change, which exposes crops to abiotic and biotic stressors such as drought, soil salinity, UV radiation, microorganisms, and insect herbivory. Understanding how these conditions influence both the nutritional and nutraceutical profiles, as well as the availability of key compounds, is essential to preserve their functional value. Piper auritum Kunth, used in Mexican gastronomy, was selected to assess two abiotic stress scenarios: drought stress (DS) and salicylic acid (SA) to simulate plant defense against pathogens and/or predators. We evaluated proximate composition, dietary fiber, total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, low molecular weight carbohydrates (LMWCs), monomeric composition, and essential oil volatiles. Additionally, the simulated gastrointestinal digestion (INFOGEST) with an additional rat small-intestine extract (RSIE) revealed that both SA and DS shifted sugar distribution, especially for soluble and structural pools. SA treatment correlated with synthesis of secondary metabolites, particularly oxygenated and hydrocarbon terpenes. Both abiotic stressors modulated LMWC release during digestion, altering the distribution of sugars such as raffinose and galacturonic acid, with potential prebiotic implications. Essential oil analysis revealed stress-specific shifts in volatile composition, particularly in safrole, β-caryophyllene, and related terpenes. Beyond individual compound changes, the combined evaluation of composition, antioxidant properties, and volatile profile provides a comprehensive view of how abiotic stress can reshape the functional potential of P. auritum. To our knowledge, this is the first report on LMWC relative abundance across INFOGEST stages for a quelite species and on the integrated effect of DS and SA on its chemical profile. These findings highlight the importance of including compound release and functional traits, alongside chemical characterization, in future assessments of traditional plants under climate-related stress to safeguard their contribution to sustainable diets.

Figures