Metabolomic profiling reveals the functional potential of the wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium L.) as a high-value source of antioxidants

Abstract

Wild tomatoes ( Solanum pimpinellifolium L.) are a potential source of bioactive compounds and antioxidants that contribute to health. This study aimed to characterize the biochemical and metabolomic changes during fruit ripening of S. pimpinellifolium L. Fruits were harvested at three stages of fruit ripening: mature green (MG), pink (P), and red (R), and then analyzed for targeted and untargeted metabolites. The results showed that the changes in total lycopene, β-carotene polyphenol, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity during MG, P, and R ripening stages were observed, with the highest accumulation and activity was observed in P and R stages. Moreover, the LC HRMS analysis identified 189 metabolites in the red stage, including 83 common to all ripening stages. The alanine–aspartate–glutamate and glutathione pathways were prominent, with glutathione metabolism most influential for redox balance and antioxidant defense during fruit ripening. These findings suggest that S. pimpinellifolium L. undergoes orderly metabolic transitions linking amino acid flux, lipid metabolism, and redox homeostasis, supporting its potential as a functional cultivar with high health value.

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