Title : Functional transcriptomic analysis and phytochemical profiling of artemisia ludoviciana nutt: A valuable medicinal plant
Abstract:
Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., also known as Estafiate, is an aromatic herb native to North America with significant ethnomedicinal value. Used in Mexican folk medicine since pre-Hispanic times, it is popularly consumed for the traditional treatment of parasites, gastrointestinal problems, pain, inflammation, and diabetes. Although previous research has been conducted on the phytochemical composition of the plant, the findings may be limited by several factors, including the plant’s genotypic diversity, ecotypic variation, and developmental stage. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the synthesis of its bioactive compounds remain unexplored. This study aimed to analyze the transcriptome and phytochemical profile of an A. ludoviciana population. The sequenced transcriptome was de novo assembled, functionally annotated, and mapped using specialized bioinformatic tools. The plant’s volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the chemical composition of the organic extracts (OEs) were analyzed using SPME/GC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content were quantified, and antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. A total of 22,838 annotated transcripts were mapped to 157 different pathways. According to VOCs and GC-MS analysis, the plant’s main compounds were camphor, borneol, caryophyllene, estafiatin, and achillin. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest TPC (4.64 ± 0.03 g GAE/100 g DW), TFC (4.49 ± 0.08 mg RE/100 g DW), and antioxidant activity (99.01 ± 2.21 - 101.79 ± 3.33 µmol TE/g DW). These results provide further insights into the medicinal value of A. ludoviciana and the molecular mechanisms associated with the synthesis of the plant’s bioactive compounds.
