Discrimination of Citrus reticulata Blanco and Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry based metabolomics approach

•GC–MS based metabolomics was firstly applied for comparing the volatile oils in CRP.•15 metabolites were selected as chemical markers for discriminating CRP samples.•Antimicrobial activity of volatile oil in CP and GCP was preliminarily investigated.

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, mainly including the pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco and the pericarp of Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’, has been consumed daily as food and dietary supplement for centuries. In this study, GC–MS based metabolomics was employed to compare comprehensively the volatile constituents in Citrus reticulata Blanco and Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis indicated that samples could be distinguished effectively from one another. Fifteen metabolites were finally identified for use as chemical markers in discrimination of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium samples. The antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria of the volatile oil from Citrus reticulata Blanco and Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ was investigated preliminarily.