Comparative metabolomics in gauging the quality of Embelia ribes Burm. f. fruits in the market trade

Adulteration and substitution in the market trade is a huge problem. Embelia ribes (ER) fruits are used as condiments and in drug formulations that claim substantial market demands. We assessed the trade of ER fruits across Maharashtra, India, for authentication and quality assessment. MaturaseK amplification identified ER’s close relatives E. tsjeriam-cottam (ET) and E. vestita (EV) (Primulaceae), and distant genera Basella alba (BA) (Basellaceae) and Cinnamomum aromaticum (CA) (Lauraceae) fruits in the market trade. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based comparative metabolomics revealed that ER fruits are metabolically diverse than others. Multivariate analysis showed that ET shares maximum compound similarity with ER and possesses all ER’s major compound classes. However, the percentage of benzoquinones, flavonoids, and furans is less in ET than in ER. Moreover, ER and ET metabolites are associated with different pathways. We conclude that although ET is deemed a good ER substitute, ER replacement by ET altered chemical synergy.