Analysis of chemical constituents in different parts of Ribes diacanthum pall using molecular network assistance and their bioactive properties

Ribes diacanthum Pall (RDP) is a medicinal and edible plant recognized for its diverse bioactive constituents and has been widely utilized in Mongolian folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Decoctions and hydroethanolic extracts prepared from the aerial parts of RDP, including the fruits, stems, and leaves, have been employed in disease management. However, a comprehensive comparative analysis of the chemical profiles and bioactive properties of the fruits, stems, and leaves remains to be conducted. To bridge this gap, we conducted a detailed investigation into the chemical diversity and bioactive properties of the fruits, stems, and leaves of RDP. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was analyzed using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and the in vitro bioactivities, including antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities, were evaluated. A total of 55 compounds were identified across the various parts of RDP, with 28 detected in the fruits, 16 in the stems, and 33 in the leaves; notably, 5 compounds were common to all plant parts. Specifically, RDP fruits were characterized by unique amino acids (L-tyrosine and Abrine) as well as distinct flavonoids (Eriodictyol and Cyanidin-3-o-arabinose chloride) and phenylpropanoids (Ferulic acid and Caffeic acid methyl ester), whereas the stems contained unique fatty acid derivatives (9,10-Dihydroxy-8-oxooctadec-12-enoic acid), cyclic polyketides (Mycophenolic acid), and several tryptophan alkaloids (Paratunamide D). In contrast, the leaves were particularly rich in flavonoids (Kaempferol 3-O-rhamninoside and Kaempferol-7-O-neohesperidoside), phenolic acids (Gallic acid), and macrolides (Pyrenophorol). The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities followed this order of IC50 values: for DPPH, RDP leaves (0.1047 mg/ml) > RDP stems (0.2173 mg/ml) > ; for ABTS, RDP leaves (0.2362 mg/ml) > RDP stems (0.5218 mg/ml) > RDP fruits (1.182 mg/ml). AML-12 cell models induced with LPS or TCA/CDCA were employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts and their potential hepatoprotective effects. The results indicated that the various parts of RDP exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects against LPS-induced inflammation in AML-12 cells and alleviated TCA or CDCA-induced hepatotoxicity. Notably, RDP leaves demonstrated the most effective protective effect against TCA or CDCA-induced cytotoxicity, followed by the stems and fruits. In summary, these findings provide a scientific basis for the extensive application of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds derived from the fruits, stems, and leaves of RDP.