Metabolomic Fingerprinting and UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS Profiling of Five Medicinal Plants Associated with Wound Care

Chronic wounds remain a challenging medical problem due to the involvement of multiple biological processes that can delay normal tissue repair. Medicinal plants may contain diverse bioactive compounds with potential relevance for wound management. However, detailed characterization of their chemical composition is essential for understanding their biological potential. The phytochemical composition of five medicinal plants, Verbena officinalis, Plantago major, Achillea millefolium, Hypericum perforatum, and Calendula officinalis, was investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS). A total of 162 metabolites were identified across the investigated extracts, representing diverse classes including flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenylethanoid glycosides, xanthones, naphthodianthrones, acylphloroglucinols and iridoid glycosides. A comparison with the available literature data and databases confirmed previously reported constituents and revealed 115 unique compounds that had not previously been reported for at least one of the five investigated plant species. The obtained results demonstrate the remarkable chemical diversity of the selected medicinal plants and provide a comprehensive basis for further investigation of their biological activities and potential use in multicomponent herbal mixtures for wound management.