Philippine Journal of Science
152 (5): 1785-1798, October 2023
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 23 Mar 2023

Molecular Characterization and Metabolite
Profiling of Philippine Allium sativum Linn.: Ilocos Pink

Patrick R. Relacion1,2, Zaidy T. Martin1, Richelle Ann M. Manalo3,4,
and Francisco M. Heralde III1*

1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine,
University of the Philippines Manila, Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines
2Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy,
University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila 1008 Philippines
3National Institute of Health, University of the Philippines Manila,
Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines
4Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy,
University of the Philippines Manila, Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines

*Corresponding author: fmheralde1@up.edu.ph

 [Download]
Relacion P et al. 2023. Molecular Characterization and Metabolite Profiling of
Philippine Allium sativum Linn.: Ilocos Pink. Philipp J Sci 152(5): 1785–1798.
https://doi.org/10.56899/152.05.20

 

ABSTRACT

Ilocos Pink garlic (IPG) is a local garlic variety found in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Recently known for its moderate beta-adrenergic receptor inhibitory activity in vivo, there is still a limited number of studies describing its genetic and metabolite profile to distinguish it from other garlic varieties. In this study, genetic markers of IPG were identified using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) analysis. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry followed by principal component analysis (PCA) was used to discriminate IPG’s metabolites from Ilocos Native garlic. Based on the degree of brown-stripe pigmentation on their outer skin, IPG samples can be classified into three – light, moderate, and heavy pigmentation. These subgroups were found to share seven SRAP marker pairs – namely, ME1-EM1 (at 300bp), ME1-EM4 (at 400bp), ME2-EM3 (500bp), ME3-EM1 (300bp), ME3-EM2 (at 400bp), ME3-EM4 (at 200bp), and ME5-EM2 (at 300bp). Unique SRAP marker pairs were also observed between subgroups. PCA revealed Ilocos Native garlic to be discriminated from the IPG groups, but the marker matrix tool showed mere differences in concentrations except m/z 247.129 at RT 1.40. Concentration-wise, nine markers may be proposed to discriminate IPG light from IPG moderate and heavy, seven of which are putatively identified as saponins. These findings suggest that SRAP markers can effectively discriminate IPG into subgroups, whereas metabolite profiling may provide little insight into the differences between IPG and Ilocos Native garlic.