Integrative metabolomics and molecular networking reveal metabolic rewiring in Tartary buckwheat sprouts under moderate hydrostatic pressure

The effects of moderate hydrostatic pressure (MHP) pretreatment on bioactive metabolites in <i>Tartary buckwheat</i> sprouts remain insufficiently studied. In this work, a non-targeted metabolomics approach, combined with feature-based molecular networking (FBMN), identified 22 metabolites in sprouts treated with 0-30 MPa pressure, four of which were previously unreported, thus expanding the species' phytochemical diversity. MHP treatment activated phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), resulting in a 2.3-fold increase in total flavonoids, particularly glycosylated derivatives such as quercetin 3-rutinoside 7-glucoside (13.2-fold increase at 25 MPa). In contrast, condensed tannins, responsible for astringency, were reduced by 40-60 %. These findings suggest that MHP pretreatment may serve as a sustainable alternative to chemical elicitors, promoting biofortification and improving sensory attributes in sprout-based functional foods.