Analyses were performed using the instrumentation described in the Mass spectrometric analysis (link) section. Then, 1 μl of synthetic samples or metabolome extract were separated using a water-acetonitrile gradient on an Agilent Zorbax Hilic Plus column (150 × 2.1 mm, particle size 1.8 μm) maintained at 40 °C with a flow rate of 0.3 ml min−1. Solvent A was 0.1% formic acid in water and solvent B was 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Analytes were separated using a gradient profile as follows: 2 min (95% B) → 20 min (50% B) → 20 min (50% B) lvent A, 0.1% formic acid in water; solvent B, 0.1% samples was analyzed in ESI+ mode, m/z range 100 to 700.