Exploring the Medicinal Potential of <i>Taraxacum kok-saghyz</i> (TKS) Using Widely Targeted Metabolomics

Background/Objectives: Metabolomics provides a comprehensive approach to understanding plant metabolism, offering insights into biochemical pathways, stress responses, and secondary metabolite production. Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) is primarily known for its high rubber content, but its medicinal properties remain underexplored. Given the documented pharmacological benefits of Taraxacum officinale, this study aims to characterize the metabolic composition of TKS roots and leaves to identify bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications. Methods: Widely targeted metabolomics analysis was conducted using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) on field-grown 10-month-old Kultevar&trade; TKS Dandelion plants. Samples were hand-harvested, washed, and preserved on dry ice for overnight shipment to ensure biochemical integrity. Metabolites were classified and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) to distinguish metabolic variations between roots and leaves. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment were performed using the KEGG database. Results: A total of 1,813 metabolites were identified and categorized into flavonoids, alkaloids, lipids, amino acids, and phenolic compounds. Differential analysis revealed 964 significant metabolites, with 609 downregulated and 355 upregulated in roots compared to leaves. PCA and OPLS-DA confirmed distinct metabolic profiles between root and leaf tissues. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted pathways associated with flavonoid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism, suggesting key bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive metabolic profile of TKS, demonstrating its potential medicinal applications beyond industrial rubber production. The identification of flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids suggests that TKS could serve as a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical resource. Further validation of these bioactive compounds is necessary to confirm their therapeutic relevance.