Mira Choi (UST, 한국기초과학지원연구원)

Kyoung-Soon Jang (UST, 한국기초과학지원연구원)

Mira Choi (UST, 한국기초과학지원연구원)

Hyemi Jang (UST, 한국기초과학지원연구원)

Neil Patrick Uy (중앙대학교)

Sanghyun Lee (중앙대학교)

Moonkyo Kim (극지연구소)

Yoo Kyung Lee (극지연구소)

Kyoung-Soon Jang (UST, 한국기초과학지원연구원)

Oxyria digyna (mountain sorrel) is a perennial Arctic-alpine herb recognized for its adaptive metabolism and potential as a source of medicinal compounds. To assess its phytochemical plasticity, we performed a comparative metabolomic analysis of ethanol extracts from natural (field-collected), soil-cultivated (indoor), and callus-derived tissues. Targeted analysis quantified nine key phenolic compounds, including rutin, hirsutrin, and schaftoside. Several compounds showed markedly higher concentrations in senescent leaves of soil-grown plants compared to their fresh counterparts, suggesting that tissue aging may induce enzymatic transformations or stimulate the accumulation of specific bioactive compounds. Complementary untargeted metabolomic profiling, using high-resolution trapped ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TIMS-QTOF MS), revealed distinct metabolic signatures among biomass types. Multivariate statistical analyses confirmed metabolic divergence between groups. Senescent soil-cultivated leaves exhibited higher levels of glycosylated flavonoids and phenolic derivatives, implying that aging-related changes—such as oxidative stress or altered metabolic flux—may enhance biosynthesis or convert precursors into more bioactive forms. These findings highlight the metabolic flexibility of O. digyna and demonstrate the potential of senescent biomass, often overlooked in cultivation frameworks, as a valuable source for phytochemical production. Furthermore, the application of TIMS-QTOF MS highlights the advantages of ion mobility–based platforms in detecting subtle metabolic shifts and supports the sustainable use of Arctic plants for functional ingredient development.