Metabolome-based genome-wide association study provides genetic insights into the andrographolide accumulation in <i>Andrographis paniculata</i>

Yuxia Wang; Xu Li; Bin Jin; Jiawen Chen; Duan Wu; Qi Shen

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2026.03.013

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Metabolome-based genome-wide association study provides genetic insights into the andrographolide accumulation in Andrographis paniculata

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2026.03.013

Yuxia Wang^a,b,c,
Xu Li^a,
Bin Jin^a,
Jiawen Chen^a,
Duan Wu^a,
Qi Shen^a,b

a. Institute of Medical Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China;
b. Sanya Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hainan Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Sanya, Hainan 572000, China;
c. Bijie Medical College, Bijie, Guizhou 551700, China

Funds:

We sincerely thank the support of the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (2023A1515220205), and further by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20446).

Received Date: 2025-06-14
Accepted Date: 2026-03-15
Rev Recd Date: 2026-03-08

Available Online: 2026-03-24

Abstract

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata is a distinctive medicinal plant that produces andrographolide-related metabolites, a class of diterpenoid compounds with potent anti-inflammatory activities. To elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of these compounds, we perform comprehensive metabolic profiling and whole-genome resequencing on a natural population of A. paniculata. Population structure analysis reveals four distinct subgroups characterized by low intra-group genetic diversity but significant inter-group differentiation. Through metabolome-based genome-wide association study, we identify a significant locus associated with 14-deoxyandrographolide content. This locus harbors the candidate gene ApNB-ARC25 (CXN00004106), which encodes an NB-ARC domain-containing resistance protein. Functional characterization using virus-induced gene silencing shows that silencing of ApNB-ARC25 significantly reduces andrographolide accumulation and downregulates expressions of key genes in the andrographolide biosynthetic pathway. Heterologous overexpression of ApNB-ARC25 in rice not only improves resistance to blast disease but also enhances diterpenoid phytoalexin production. Our findings reveal that ApNB-ARC25 promotes diterpenoid accumulation and andrographolide biosynthesis by upregulating key genes involved in terpenoid backbone formation and diterpenoid synthesis. This work not only expands the functional understanding of the ApNB-ARC gene family but also provides a genetic resource for enhancing valuable compound accumulation in medicinal plants, offering important insights into the molecular regulation of medicinal metabolite biosynthesis.
- Andrographis paniculata,
- Andrographolide,
- mGWAS,
- ARC gene family,
- Gene function

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