Impact of four drying methods, including freeze-drying, on the microstructure and main bioactive components of Gastrodia elata Bl.

Gastrodia elata Bl. ( G. elata ) , known for its medicinal and culinary benefits, is abundant in bioactive compounds, enhancing its utility in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. However, the effects of different drying methods on its active ingredients are not well-studied, limiting industrial utilization. This study systematically examines various drying techniques to identify optimal approaches for preserving its medicinal properties. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis revealed distinct microstructural changes in G. elata , confirming the superiority of freeze-drying in preserving bioactive components. Metabolomic analysis identified 21 key metabolites involved in amino acid metabolism and zeatin biosynthesis, while bioinformatics revealed 16 core targets like EP300, GSK3B, and MMP9 linked to lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Beyond compositional analysis, this study evaluated the structural and metabolic impact of drying, offering guidance for optimizing industrial drying processes to preserve bioactive compounds in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. The findings enable scalable production and commercial application of G. elata in health foods and medicine. This study aims to investigate the effects of different drying methods on the active components of G. elata and to determine the optimal drying technique for preserving its medicinal properties. Through SEM and FTIR analyses, significant differences in the microstructure of G. elata were observed under various drying methods. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that freeze-drying is more effective than other drying methods in retaining the bioactive components of G. elata Additionally, this study identified 21 key metabolites predominantly enriched in the amino acid and zeatin synthesis pathways. Bioinformatics analysis further pinpointed 16 core targets associated with these 21 key metabolites, including EP300, GSK3B, and MMP9. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these targets play significant roles in lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and cancer-related pathways. This research elucidates the impact of different drying methods on the active components of G. elata and provides valuable technical references for its industrial development and application in the health food sector. • Freeze-drying causes marked variations in the microstructure of G. elata. • Freeze-drying better preserves the bioactive components of G. elata. • 21 key DEMs are primarily enriched in the amino acid and zeatin biosynthesis pathways. • 16 core targets of DEMs show primary enrichment in lipids, atherosclerosis pathways.