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<p>The incorporation of indigenous fruit crops to complement conventional crops is a strategy that may facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty and hunger. <i>Ximenia caffra</i> Sond (commonly known as wild sour plum) is an indigenous African fruit valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, yet studies on its biochemical diversity and environmental adaptability remain scanty. This study applied an integrated 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) metabolomics approach to investigate regional variation in the metabolite composition of wild sour plum fruits collected from three distinct climatic zones of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa (Bushbuckridge, Giyani and Tzaneen). Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis [PCA], orthogonal projections to latent structure discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) of NMR and LC–MS/MS datasets revealed distinct metabolic clustering by geographical origin, confirming region-driven biochemical differentiation. NMR profiling showed a chemically rich metabolome dominated by sugars, amino acids, organic acids and phenolic compounds, while LC–MS/MS provided enhanced resolution of low-abundance primary metabolites. Six discriminant biomarkers (phenylalanine, threonine, proline, isocitric acid, guanosine and pyruvic acid) were associated with amino acid biosynthesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and purine metabolism. Pathway enrichment and correlation analyses highlighted coordinated shifts in central carbon–nitrogen metabolism, suggesting adaptive metabolic reprogramming in response to environmental gradients. Integration of NMR and LC–MS/MS datasets provided a comprehensive overview of wild sour plum fruit metabolism and validated region-specific signatures. These findings demonstrate the species’ metabolic plasticity and reveal region-dependent nutritional profiles, establishing a biochemical foundation for targeted commercialisation and value-chain development of wild sour plum <i>as</i> a nutritionally rich indigenous fruit crop adapted to diverse environments.</p>

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Integrated metabolite analysis of wild sour plum (Ximenia caffra Sond.) fruits collected from diverse geographical regions and its potential contribution to human nutrition

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Boitumelo Lekoba,
  • Cynthia K. Marokane-Radebe,
  • Mdungazi K. Maluleke

摘要

The incorporation of indigenous fruit crops to complement conventional crops is a strategy that may facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty and hunger. Ximenia caffra Sond (commonly known as wild sour plum) is an indigenous African fruit valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, yet studies on its biochemical diversity and environmental adaptability remain scanty. This study applied an integrated 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) metabolomics approach to investigate regional variation in the metabolite composition of wild sour plum fruits collected from three distinct climatic zones of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa (Bushbuckridge, Giyani and Tzaneen). Multivariate analyses (principal component analysis [PCA], orthogonal projections to latent structure discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) of NMR and LC–MS/MS datasets revealed distinct metabolic clustering by geographical origin, confirming region-driven biochemical differentiation. NMR profiling showed a chemically rich metabolome dominated by sugars, amino acids, organic acids and phenolic compounds, while LC–MS/MS provided enhanced resolution of low-abundance primary metabolites. Six discriminant biomarkers (phenylalanine, threonine, proline, isocitric acid, guanosine and pyruvic acid) were associated with amino acid biosynthesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and purine metabolism. Pathway enrichment and correlation analyses highlighted coordinated shifts in central carbon–nitrogen metabolism, suggesting adaptive metabolic reprogramming in response to environmental gradients. Integration of NMR and LC–MS/MS datasets provided a comprehensive overview of wild sour plum fruit metabolism and validated region-specific signatures. These findings demonstrate the species’ metabolic plasticity and reveal region-dependent nutritional profiles, establishing a biochemical foundation for targeted commercialisation and value-chain development of wild sour plum as a nutritionally rich indigenous fruit crop adapted to diverse environments.