Exploratory Assessment of Geographical Variation in Metabolomic Profiles and In Vitro Bioactivities of Wild Schisandra chinensis Berries from the Changbai Mountains, China

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is widely recognized as a functional berry, yet systematic evaluations of its metabolomic variations and bioactivities across different growing regions remain limited. Berries collected from eight regions in the Changbai Mountains were analyzed using Q-Orbitrap LC-MS-based metabolomics. We identified 18 differential metabolites, with SC1 (Kuandian) exhibiting the highest total lignan content (13.713 mg/g DW). Soils were acidic with variable nutrients; MaxEnt modeling predicted Liaoning as the most suitable habitat. In vitro bioactivities showed considerable variation by origin: SC1 showed the most favorable antioxidant trend; SC7 (Yanbian) demonstrated relatively strong anti-inflammatory and acetylcholinesterase inhibition; SC6 (Baishan) exhibited the most favorable α-amylase inhibition; SC8 (Ning’an) displayed relatively strong α-glucosidase inhibition; and SC3/SC4 (Xiuyan/Xinbin) had the most favorable hepatoprotective effects. Geographic origin is associated with variations in metabolite accumulation and bioactivity, with soil properties and climatic factors showing correlations with these parameters, offering a preliminary basis for quality evaluation and origin prioritization.