Exploring cellular biological effect of short-term stimulation of different high-intensity static magnetic fields on fresh-cut young ginger based on metabolome analysis

As a cutting-edge physical preservation technique, the cellular biological effect of short-term high-intensity static magnetic field (HSMF) on fresh-cut young gingers (FGs) were explored based on metabolome analysis. Results indicated that compared with the 0 mT group, the 15 mT HSMF treatment significantly increased the water content, hardness, brittleness, and contents of total phenols and total flavonoids within FGs, while significantly reduced the weight loss and relative electrolytic leakage (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 0 mT HSMF treatment caused large losses of volatile terpenes, increases in primary metabolite abundance, and alterations of secondary bioactive component composition within FGs. Compared with the 0 mT group, the HSMF treatments went against the accumulation of primary metabolites, especially amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids. However, the HSMF treatments facilitated the preservation of secondary bioactive metabolites to varying extents. The application of 25 mT and 35 mT HSMF treatments maximally retarded the losses of volatile terpenes while 15 mT HSMF treatment significantly preserved specific terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. These results could be attributed to the suppression of respiration and energy-related pathways, i.e. glycolysis, TCA cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, and purine metabolism, in FGs. These findings may serve as a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the control of FG quality, while also addressing the paucity of research on the cellular biological effects of magnetic fields.