Metabolomic Profiles and Differential Constituents of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) in Different Growth Stages and Parts

<i>Andrographis paniculata</i> (Burm. f.) and its products have a long history of medicinal use in Asia. <i>A. paniculata</i> products are mainly made from the root extraction of stems, leaves and parts, but there may be differences in the proportion of different parts and different harvest times, which ultimately leads to certain differences in product quality. In this study, the chemical components and non-targeted metabolomics were characterized, and the characteristic compounds in different parts of <i>A. paniculata</i> at various growth stages were analyzed. By utilizing polygonal mass defect filtering, precursor ion lists, and a self-built compound library, a total of 225 components were identified in <i>A. paniculata</i>. Notably, spermidine derivatives and phosphatidylcholines were reported for the first time in this plant species. In total, 41 differential components were identified in different parts of <i>A. paniculata</i>. These findings provide scientific evidence for the selection of quality markers in <i>A. paniculata</i> and its products.