# Identification of Metabolites and Antioxidant Constituents from Pyrus ussuriensis

## TL;DR

This study identifies antioxidant compounds in Pyrus ussuriensis using advanced analytical methods to support its use in health products.

## Contribution

A novel UHPLC-MS-DPPH method is developed for rapid identification of antioxidant constituents in plant extracts.

## Key findings

- Metabolites in P. ussuriensis water and EtOH extracts were identified and quantified.
- The UHPLC-MS-DPPH method effectively detected antioxidant ingredients and their interference.
- Pharmacokinetic properties of active constituents were evaluated for drug-likeness.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. has been cultivated in many regions worldwide. This plant is also regarded as a profitable fruit crop for the development of many food and functional products. There is limited research on the application of the LC-MS associated reaction method for screening active compounds. In this study, we developed an analytical technique employing an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) system. Methods: The metabolite annotation procedure was used to interpret and validate data analysis via spectral matching against public databases. Results: As a result, metabolites from P. ussuriensis water and EtOH extracts were identified, and their quantities were further evaluated. The established method was employed to determine antioxidant capacity using a pre-incubation UHPLC-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, thereby identifying antioxidant ingredients. The antioxidative interference of active constituents was predicted by calculating the decrease in the peak areas of the chemical composition detected in chromatograms between treated and non-treated samples. Furthermore, drug-likeness was also assessed via pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion: ADME) evaluation. Conclusions: The online UHPLC-MS-DPPH method would be a powerful tool for the rapid characterization of antioxidant ingredients in plant extracts. The current study highlights the value of P. ussuriensis for improved health benefits.