An integrative metabolomics and metagenomics analysis of functional microbiota examines the extraction of bioactive products using longan pericarp

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is a nutrient-rich fruit, widely cultivated in China. However, its seeds and pericarp, often discarded as waste, are rich in bioactive components, particularly polyphenolics. In this research, we develop microbiota-assisted extraction technique, which is efficient and environmentally friendly for extracting these valuable components. These results showcased superior efficiency in the diversity and richness of extracted bioactive components, although yielding slightly lower TP content than ethanol extraction. The active components extracted by microbiota-assisted extraction technique increased to 2.45 mg/g, which was higher 2.13 times and 3.10 times compared to optimized ethanol and water extraction, respectively. The numbers of active components extracted by these three methods were 39, 24 and 30, separately, and Quercetin 3-D-xyloside and Kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl were identified in longan pericarp extracts by microbiota-assisted extraction. Metagenomics analysis revealed stable and diverse microbiota with functional capabilities for enhancing extraction efficiency. Functional annotations indicated significant roles in biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, and fatty acid metabolism. Microbiota-assisted extracts exhibited a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These results provide a theoretical foundation for developing sustainable extraction technologies.