Metabolomic analysis of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. plant response to organic and inorganic fertilization

Aloe vera is well known for its medicinal and cosmetic properties and is relatively undemanding in terms of growing conditions. However, the impact of fertilizers on the quality of its bioactive compounds remains underexplored. This study evaluates the effect of three types of fertilizers (one nitrogen-based inorganic fertilizer and two organic fertilizers) on the the metabolomic profiling and pathways of Aloe vera. Using the MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform, 61 metabolites or more and 54 metabolic pathways were identified as being affected by the treatments. The results show that the inorganic treatment significantly increased fatty acids, particularly palmitic and stearic acids, while organic fertilizers (compost and compost-humus) stimulated the production of essential amino acids such as leucine, methionine, and phenylalanine. Additionally, compost-humus enriched 45 metabolic pathways, mainly related to amino acid metabolism, whereas inorganic nitrogen induced 33 pathways, predominantly related to fatty acid biosynthesis. The study reveals that organic fertilizers enhance the enrichment of amino acid metabolism, thus improving Aloe vera’s medicinal and cosmetic properties. In contrast, inorganic nitrogen optimizes fatty acid production, known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings highlight the need for targeted fertilization strategies to maximize specific metabolites for industrial applications.