NMR-Based Metabolomics for Geographical Discrimination of Adhatoda vasica Leaves

Adhatoda vasica (L.), Nees is a widespread plant in Asia. It is used in Ayurvedic and Unani medications for the management of various infections and health disorders, especially as a decoction to treat cough, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. Although it has a diverse metabolomic profile, this plant is particularly known for its alkaloids. The present study is the first to report a broad range of present compounds, e.g., α-linolenic acid, acetate, alanine, threonine, valine, glutamate, malate, fumaric acid, sucrose, β-glucose, kaempferol analogues, quercetin analogues, luteolin, flavone glucoside, vasicine and vasicinone, which were identified by NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics. Multivariate data analysis was used to analyze ¹H-NMR bucketed data from a number of Adhatoda vasica leave samples collected from eight different regions in Pakistan. The results showed large variability in metabolomic fingerprints. The major difference was on the basis of longitude/latitude and altitude of the areas, with both primary and secondary metabolites discriminating the samples from various regions.