Integrated chemical-spectroscopic analysis of flavonoids and mineral elements in Five Rosa rugosa cultivars

Rosa rugosa Thunb. is a medicinal-edible plant with quality variations among cultivars. This study aimed to systematically characterize and compare five R . rugosa cultivars ( R . 'Jinbian', R . 'Crimson Glory', R . 'Kushui', R . rugosa 'Plena', and R . gallica L.) using an integrated analytical framework combining spectroscopic, chromatographic, and chemometric approaches, to provide insights for quality control and rational resource utilization. FTIR identified key shared functional groups (3394, 2924, 2854, 1734, 1616 cm⁻¹, etc.) and cultivar-specific spectral differences in the 1500–1000 cm⁻¹ region, enabling discrimination. ICP-MS revealed undetectable toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb), and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted R . rugosa 'Plena' and R . 'Kushui' as richest in 12 beneficial metallic elements.UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS identified 73 constituents (38 flavonoids), with R . gallica L. exhibiting the highest flavonoid content (hyperoside: 6.69 mg·g⁻¹, isoquercitrin: 3.64 mg·g⁻¹, Kaempferol:3.18 mg·g⁻¹), followed by R . 'Crimson Glory' (rutin:3.37 mg·g⁻¹, Quercitrin:5.86 mg·g⁻¹). PCA discriminated cultivars based on dual chemical fingerprints. Health risk assessment confirmed safety (THQ<1, HI<1, CR<1 ×10⁻⁶). These findings highlight R . gallica L. (high flavonoids) and R . rugosa 'Plena' (abundant beneficial minerals) as elite cultivars for medicinal and functional food applications. • Integrated spectroscopic, chromatographic, chemometric analyses distinguish Rosa rugosa cultivars via FTIR. • R . gallica L. shows optimal flavonoids; R . rugosa 'Plena' and 'Kushui' rich in essential elements (PCA). • No toxic heavy metals detected; health risk assessment shows no carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risks. • Provides scientific basis for quality control of R. rugosa in medicine/functional foods.