• 348 metabolites in O. taihangensis were systematically identified. • Lipids, phenylketones and polyketides changed most during the three stages. • O. taihangensis showed the strongest antioxidant activity at the bud stage. • O. taihangensis inhibited pancreatic lipase Comparably in all three stages. • O. taihangensis showed stronger anti- S. hemolyticus-β activity in all three stages. Despite extensive research on the health benefits of chrysanthemum, much remains unknown about chemical composition and health benefits of Taihang chrysanthemum ( Opisthopappus taihangensis ), especially how they vary during growth. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and biological activities of methanolic extracts from O. taihangensis across three growth stages: bud, half-open flower, and full bloom. Utilizing UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, 348 compounds, predominantly lipids and phenylacetone derivatives, were identified. Antioxidant activity (assessed via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) peaked in the bud stage, while antibacterial properties were observed throughout growth, with notable efficacy against Streptococcus haemolyticus-β ( Sh ) in later stages. Furthermore, the plant demonstrated significant inhibition of α -glucosidase and α -amylase enzymes, particularly in the half-open flower stage. The identification of a wide range of bioactive compounds in O. taihangensis suggests significant potential for the development of high-value food and health products utilizing its diverse beneficial properties.
Xiong et al. (Sun,) studied this question.