Identification of antioxidants in essential oil of radix Angelicae sinensis using HPLC coupled with DAD-MS and ABTS-based assay

Comprehensive quality evaluation of two different geography originated Angelica sinensis Radix based on potential production area development and resource protection

Angelica sinensis Radix (ASR) is mainly produced in the southern region of Gansu, China, and is a famous edible and medicinal herb. Noticeably, Aba region in Sichuan, China has similar geographical and climatic conditions to the southern region of Gansu, China, and has the potential to further develop the ASR planting industry chain. This study was the first to use an innovative method that combines GC-MS, HPLC-DAD fingerprints, and stoichiometric analysis to compare and explore the feasibility of using the Aba region as a source of high-quality ASR supplements. GC-MS analysis showed that the composition of ASR essential oil(AEO) in these two regions was highly similar (>99%). The HPLC data showed that the main sources of differences in ASR components between the two regions were coniferyl ferulate, E-ligustilide, Z-ligustilide, and Butylidenephthalide, which have great potential in anti-depression, regulating gut microbiota, and other aspects. The ASR in Aba region was rich in these components, and its biological activity might be higher to some extent than that in southern Gansu. This study confirmed the potential of the Aba region in Sichuan to become a high-quality production area for ASR, which was conducive to the expansion of ASR resources and the development of related industrial chains.

Volatile flavour identification and odour complexity of radix Angelicae sinensis by electronic nose, integrated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Radix Angelicae sinensis (Danggui, DG) is known as one of the typical traditional Chinese medicines. DG material consists of a variety of volatile substances, polysaccharides, organic acids, ceramides, amino acids, vitamins, microelements, among others, and thus has been used for medicinal and edible purposes in a long history. The fragrance is of importance to assessing the DG material quality.

OBJECTIVES

This study was to determine volatile flavour compositions of DG materials and to reveal the odour complexity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Electronic nose (E-nose), integrated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOF-MS), combined with solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), were mainly used to address the flavour complexity of DG materials.

RESULTS

Using the E-nose sensor responses, a total of 105 batches of DG samples cultivated in six provinces of China were categorised according to their odour differentiations, and a principal component analysis (PCA) model was established for evaluating the sample quality through a combination of Hotelling's T² and Q-residual values in a statistical quantitative sense. By the GC-MS/O and GC × GC-TOF-MS analyses, 196 volatile flavour compounds were identified, 51 odour-active areas discerned and 39 odourants determined. It was terpenes and aromatics of the flavour compounds that mainly contributed to the odour attributes of DG herb.

CONCLUSION

The SPME-GC × GC-TOF-MS method was the first time employed to analyse the volatile flavours of DG materials, and thus made a breakthrough in determining 196 flavour compounds, much more than those in any previous report. The work also made a significant step forward to link the flavour compositions and odour complexity of radix Angelicae sinensis by E-nose and GC-MS/O techniques. It not only provided a statistical PCA model that did not depend on any predetermined compositions or sensory properties for, but also a comprehensive insight into the quality evaluation of DG materials.

The improvement of Coreopsis tinctoria essential oil on learning and memory impairment of d-galactose-induced mice through Nrf2/NF-κB pathway

Essential oil of Coreopsis tinctoria (EOC) is a essential substance extracted from Coreopsis tinctoria with the excellent anti-oxidant effect. However, it is still unclear whether EOC can improve learning and memory impairment and its mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EOC on learning and memory impairment induced by D-galactose (D-gal) in mice and reveal its mechanism. The composition of EOC was analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that the highest content was D-limonene. The follow-up experiments were conducted by comparing EOC with D-limonene. The aging model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-gal, and donepezil, D-limonene and EOC were given by intragastric administration. It was found that EOC and D-limonene significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by D-gal through the Morris water maze and step-through tests. Pathological and biochemical analysis showed that the hippocampal morphologic of mice was damage and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) induced by D-gal were decreased, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased, while EOC and D-limonene could reverse the morphological changes and reduce oxidative damage. In addition, EOC and D-limonene significantly increased body weight and organ coefficients, including liver, spleen and kidney. Moreover, EOC and D-limonene improved the expression of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and inhibited nuclear transcription factors-κB (NF-κB) pathway. In summary, the results showed that EOC and D-limonene could improve learning and memory impairment induced by D-gal through Nrf2/ NF-κB pathway. It was clear that as a mixture, EOC was better than D-limonene on improving learning and memory impairment.

Key Phytochemicals and Biological Functions of Chuanxiong Rhizoma Against Ischemic Stroke: A Network Pharmacology and Experimental Assessment

Presently, the treatment options for ischemic stroke (IS) are limited due to the complicated pathological process of the disease. Chuanxiong Rhizome (CR), also known as Conioselinum anthriscoides "Chuanxiong" (rhizome), is the most widely used traditional Chinese medicine for treating stroke. This study aimed to uncover the key phytochemicals and biological functions of CR against IS through a network pharmacology approach combining with IS pathophysiology analysis. We employed permanent unilateral common carotid artery ligation to construct a mouse model of global cerebral ischemia and found that cerebral ischemia injuries were improved after 7 days of gavage treatment of CR (1,300 mg/kg/day). CR exerts protective effects on neurons mainly by acting on targets related to synaptic structure, synaptic function, neuronal survival and neuronal growth. A total of 18 phytochemicals from CR based on UHPLC-MS/MS that corresponded to 85 anti-IS targets. Coniferyl ferulate, neocnidilide and ferulic acid were identified as the key phytochemicals of CR against IS. Its brain protective effects involve anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-cell death activities and improves blood circulation. Additionally, the two most important synergistic effects of CR phytochemicals in treating IS are prevention of infection and regulation of blood pressure. In brain samples of Sham mice, L-tryptophan and vanillin were detected, while L-tryptophan, gallic acid, vanillin and cryptochlorogenic acid were detected in IS mice by UHPLC-MS/MS. Our findings provide a pathophysiology relevant pharmacological basis for further researches on IS therapeutic drugs.

Study on the Mechanism of the Danggui-Chuanxiong Herb Pair on Treating Thrombus through Network Pharmacology and Zebrafish Models

Danggui-Chuanxiong (DC) is a commonly used nourishing and activating blood medicine pair in many gynecological prescriptions and modern Chinese medicine. However, its activating blood mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. Our research aimed at investigating the activating blood mechanisms of DC using network pharmacology and zebrafish experiments. Network pharmacology was used to excavate the potential targets and mechanisms of DC in treating thrombus. The antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasculogenesis activities of DC and the main components of DC, ferulic acid (DC2), ligustilide (DC7), and levistilide A (DC17), were evaluated by zebrafish models in vivo. A total of 24 compounds were selected as the active ingredients with favorable pharmacological parameters for this herb pair. A total of 89 targets and 18 pathways related to the thrombus process were gathered for active compounds. The genes, TNF, CXCR4, IL2, ESR1, FGF2, HIF1A, CXCL8, AR, FOS, MMP2, MMP9, STAT3, and RHOA, might be the main targets for this herb pair to exert cardiovascular activity from the analysis of protein-protein interaction and KEGG pathway results, which were mainly related to inflammation, vasculogenesis, immunity, hormones, and so forth. The zebrafish experiment results showed that DC had antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasculogenesis activities. The main compounds had different effects of zebrafish activities. Especially, the antithrombotic activity of the DC17H group, anti-inflammatory activities of DCH and DC2H groups, antioxidant activities of DCM, DCH, DC2, DC7, and DC17 groups, and vasculogenesis activities of DCM, DCH, and DC2 groups were stronger than those of the positive group. The integrated method coupled zebrafish models with network pharmacology provided the insights into the mechanisms of DC in treating thrombus.

Spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprints and antioxidant activity of Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines and has antioxidant activities that greatly contribute to its pharmacological action. However, the compounds responsible for its antioxidant activity remain unknown. In this study, the fingerprints of 10 batches of A. sinensis collected from different locations in China were established with HPLC to identify the common peaks. The antioxidant activities of these 10 batches were evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprints and antioxidant effect of A. sinensis was examined by the partial-least-square regression analysis and the variable importance in projection method. Results showed that the antioxidant effect of A. sinensis results from the synergistic effect of various compounds, and peaks X3 and X7-X18 were the main substances responsible for antioxidant efficacy. This study successfully identified the spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC fingerprints and the antioxidant effect of A. sinensis. This relationship can provide methods for establishing the quality standards for A. sinensis and developing new and effective products of A. sinensis based on its antioxidant ingredients.

Angelica Stem: A Potential Low-Cost Source of Bioactive Phthalides and Phytosterols

Chinese Angelica is a significant medical plant due to the various therapeutic constituents in its root; whereas the aerial part is considered worthless and often discarded as agricultural waste. In this work, phytochemicals from the stem were first systematically analyzed by means of GC–MS after derivatization and HPLC–MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Phthalides, ferulic acid, and coniferyl ferulate were detected in the stem; although their content is relatively low in comparison with the root. Some specific compounds, such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, 4-hydroxyphenyl-1, 2-ethanediol, thymol-β-d-glucopyranoside, etc. and a significant amount of phytosterols (1.36 mg/g stem, mainly β-sitosterol) were detected in the stem. The extracted oil from the stem contained a considerable amount of phthalides (48.5 mg/g), β-sitosterol (56.21 mg/g), and stigmasterol (14.03 mg/g); no other bioactive compounds were found that could be potentially used as pharmaceuticals or additives to healthcare food.

On-line screening and identification of free radical scavenging compounds in Angelica dahurica fermented with Eurotium cristatum using an HPLC-PDA-Triple-TOF-MS/MS-ABTS system

Eurotium cristatum, a beneficial fungus isolated from Fuzhuan tea, was used to ferment Angelica dahurica for the first time. The antioxidant capacities of the extracts before and after fermentation were compared using ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assays. The results showed that the antioxidant capacities of the extracts acquired using organic solvents were greater after fermentation. Moreover, based on a comparison of the HPLC chromatograms, the chemical composition of Angelica dahurica changed substantially during fermentation. To further understand the changes in its antioxidant constituents, an on-line HPLC-PDA-Triple-TOF-MS/MS-ABTS system was employed. Twelve antioxidants belonging to three different classes were detected and identified, and their antioxidant capacities were preliminarily evaluated. The results indicated that the substances produced during the fermentation of Eurotium cristatum played important roles in enhancing the antioxidant capacity.

Development of a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for quantification of coniferyl ferulate and its metabolite coniferyl alcohol in rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and simple LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of coniferyl ferulate (CF) and its metabolite coniferyl alcohol (CA) using bavachromene as an internal standard (IS). A TSQ Quantum Access mass spectrometer was operated under selected-reaction monitoring mode using negative electrospray ionization. Extraction with ether was used in sample preparation. The plasma samples were prepared and then chromatographed on a Phenomenex Luna C₁₈ column (2.1mm×50mm, 1.7μm; Torrance, USA) at 35°C, using acetonitrile: water (65:35, v/v) in an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.3mL/min. Method validation was performed as per the FDA guidelines and calibration curves showed good linearity over the concentration range of 2.5-1000ng/mL for both CF and CA. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within the acceptable limits. The developed assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of CA in rats.

A Review of the Composition of the Essential Oils and Biological Activities of Angelica Species

A number of Angelica species have been used in traditional systems of medicine to treat many ailments. Especially, essential oils (EOs) from the Angelica species have been used for the treatment of various health problems, including malaria, gynecological diseases, fever, anemia, and arthritis. EOs are complex mixtures of low molecular weight compounds, especially terpenoids and their oxygenated compounds. These components deliver specific fragrance and biological properties to essential oils. In this review, we summarized the chemical composition and biological activities of EOs from different species of Angelica. For this purpose, a literature search was carried out to obtain information about the EOs of Angelica species and their bioactivities from electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, ACS, Google, and other journal publications. There has been a lot of variation in the EO composition among different Angelica species. EOs from Angelica species were reported for different kinds of biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunotoxic, and insecticidal activities. The present review is an attempt to consolidate the available data for different Angelica species on the basis of major constituents in the EOs and their biological activities.

Characteristics of Chinese herbal medicine usage in ischemic heart disease patients among type 2 diabetes and their protection against hydrogen peroxide-mediated apoptosis in H9C2 cardiomyoblasts

Evidence for long-term use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as an adjuvant treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains limited. This study aimed to assess the frequency of use, utilization patterns, and therapeutic effects of adjuvant CHM for ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients with T2D in Taiwan. We identified 4620 IHD patients with T2D. After matching for age, gender, and insulin use, 988 subjects each were allocated to a CHM group and a non-CHM group. There were no differences in baseline characteristics except for comorbidities. The CHM group contained more cases with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis, ulcer disease, and hyperlipidemia. The cumulative survival probability was higher in CHM users than in matched non-CHM users aged 60 years or older (P < .0001, log rank test) regardless of gender (P = .0046 for men, P = .0010 for women, log rank test). Among the top 12 CHM combinations, Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang and Shao-Yao-Gan-Cao-Tang (13.6%) were the most common. This dual combination improved antiapoptotic activity in H₂O₂-exposed H9C2 cells by enhancing phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and could increase the survival of myocardial cells. Our study suggests that adjuvant CHM therapy may increase the survival probability and provides a comprehensive list for future investigations of the safety and efficacy of CHM for IHD patients with T2D.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicines on the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients and protection of ARPE-19 retina cells by inhibiting oxidative stress

Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of acquired blindness. In Taiwan, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a popular adjunctive therapy. In this study, we investigated the CHM prescription patterns and their effects. We identified 23,701 subjects with type 2 diabetes in a database, and after matching for age and gender, 6,948 patients each were assigned to CHM and non-CHM groups. In the female subgroups, the cumulative retinopathy probability was lower for the CHM users than that for the CHM non-users (P < 0.001, log-rank test). Among the top 10 CHMs, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San (JWXYS; 52.9%), Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang (SJHXT; 45.1%), and Ge-Gen-Tang (GGT; 43.7%) were the most common herbal formulas. Yan-Hu-Suo (48.1%), Ge-Gen (42.1%), and Huang-Qin (HQin; 40.1%) were the most common single herbs. CHM network analysis showed that JWXYS was the core CHM of cluster 1. JWXYS, DS, XF, and SZRT exhibited both of the reductions of H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and p44/42 MAPK (Erk1/2) in human ARPE-19 retina cells. In cluster 2, SJHXT was the core CHM. SJHXT and NX showed both of the phosphorylation reductions. In cluster 3, GGT was the core CHM, and it reduced the phosphorylation of both MAPKs. In cluster 4, HQin was the core CHM, and it also reduced the phosphorylation of both MAPKs. Our study suggests that adjunctive CHM therapy may reduce diabetic retinopathy via antioxidant activity of the herbs and provides information on core CHM treatments for further scientific investigations or therapeutic interventions.

Antioxidant Activity/Capacity Measurement. 3. Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (ROS/RNS) Scavenging Assays, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, and Chromatographic/Chemometric Assays

There are many studies in which the antioxidant potential of different foods have been analyzed. However, there are still conflicting results and lack of information as a result of unstandardized assay techniques and differences between the principles of the methods applied. The measurement of antioxidant activity, especially in the case of mixtures, multifunctional or complex multiphase systems, cannot be evaluated satisfactorily using a simple antioxidant test due to the many variables influencing the results. In the literature, there are many antioxidant assays that are used to measure the total antioxidant activity/capacity of food materials. In this review, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) scavenging assays are evaluated with respect to their mechanism, advantages, disadvantages, and potential use in food systems. On the other hand, in vivo antioxidant activity (AOA) assays including oxidative stress biomarkers and cellular-based assays are covered within the scope of this review. Finally, chromatographic and chemometric assays are reviewed, focusing on their benefits especially with respect to their time saving, cost-effective, and sensitive nature.

Comparison of antioxidant activities of different parts from snow chrysanthemum (Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.) and identification of their natural antioxidants using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt-based assay

Snow chrysanthemum (Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.), a world-widely well-known flower tea material, has attracted more and more attention because of its beneficial health effects such as antioxidant activity and special flavor. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt (ABTS) based assay was employed for comparison and identification of antioxidants in different samples of snow chrysanthemum. The results showed that snow chrysanthemum flowers possessed the highest while stems presented the lowest antioxidant capacities. Fourteen detected peaks with antioxidant activity were temporarily identified as 3,4',5,6,7-pentahydroxyflavanone-O-hexoside, chlorogenic acid, 2R-3',4',8-trihydroxyflavanone-7-O-glucoside, flavanomarein, flavanocorepsin, flavanokanin, quercetagitin-7-O-glucoside, 3',5,5',7-tetrahydroxyflavanone-O-hexoside, marein, maritimein, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid, coreopsin, okanin and acetyl-marein by comparing their UV spectra, retention times and MS data with standards or literature data. Antioxidants existed in snow chrysanthemum are quite different from those reported in Chrysanthemum morifolium, a well-known traditional beverage in China, which indicated that snow chrysanthemum may be a promising herbal tea material with obvious antioxidant activity.

Advanced development in phytochemicals analysis of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (2011-2014)

In 2011, we wrote a review for summarizing the phytochemical analysis (2006-2010) of medicine and food dual purposes plants used in China (Zhao et al., J. Chromatogr. A 1218 (2011) 7453-7475). Since then, more than 750 articles related to their phytochemical analysis have been published. Therefore, an updated review for the advanced development (2011-2014) in this topic is necessary for well understanding the quality control and health beneficial phytochemicals in these materials, as well as their research trends.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography method for anthocyanins in strawberry (Fragaria spp.) and complementary studies on stability, kinetics and antioxidant power

A RPLC-DAD method for the analysis of eight anthocyanins was developed, validated and applied to strawberry extracts. The chromatographic method was conducted under gradient elution in acidulated water-methanol mobile phase and octadecyl-silica columns. An ultrasound extraction procedure was optimized by a 3(2) factorial design (%HCl in methanol, temperature, and time) and response surface methodology. Method validation was performed according to the following parameters: linearity (R(2)>0.99, p-value<10(-4), F>725), LOD (3-7 μmol L(-1)) and LOQ (9-22 μmol L(-1)), selectivity/specificity (baseline separation of all analytes and peak purity), instrumental precision (<6.4%CV), repeatability (<6.3%CV) and intermediate precision (<9.9%CV), recovery (83-99%), robustness (mobile phase pH, column temperature and flow rate) and stability (high temperatures and storage; 1st order kinetics). The antioxidant power of anthocyanins was measured on-line (ABTS(+) reaction; Trolox as reference). Ten strawberry extracts were quantified (average values: 24.2 μg/g for cyanidin-3-glucoside and 49.1 μg/g for pelargonidin-3-glucoside).

Comparison of chemical profiling and antioxidant activities of fruits, leaves, branches, and flowers of Citrus grandis 'Tomentosa'

Citrus grandis 'Tomentosa' (CGT) is particularly cultivated in China and widely used in health foods. In this study, the chemical profiles of different parts of CGT were comprehensively compared by rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method. A total of 22 compounds were identified and two C-glucosyl flavones were found for the first time in CGT. Four main constituents (rhiofolin, naringin, meranzin hydrate, and isoimperatorin) in different parts of CGT were simultaneously determined. Overall, the contents of the four main compounds decreased with the ripening process. In parallel, the antioxidant activities of their extracts were also evaluated by three assays (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid) diammonium salt, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power), and the results indicated a similar tendency: small fruit > flower ∼ medium fruit > large fruit > leaf ∼ branch. The results obtained in the present work may provide useful information for future utilization of CGT.

Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Radix Angelica sinensis

The roots of Angelica sinensis (RAS), are a Chinese herbal medicine traditionally used in prescriptions for replenishing blood, treating abnormal menstruation, and other women's diseases. It has also been widely marketed as health food for women's care in Asia, and as a dietary supplement in Europe and America. RAS is well-known for its hematopoietic, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory activities. RAS also possesses anti-cancer, memory, radioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Phytochemical investigations on this plant led to organic acids, phthalides, polysaccharides, and other metabolites. Based on recent animal studies and clinical trials, RAS has been used in the treatment of gynecologic diseases, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, nervous system diseases, and nephrotic syndrome. In this review, the recent phytochemical and pharmacological studies, drug-drug interactions, clinical applications, and toxicity of RAS are summarized.

The traditional Chinese medicine prescription patterns for migraine patients in Taiwan: a population-based study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), when given for symptom relief, has gained widespread popularity among migraine patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization of TCM among migraine patients in Taiwan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The usage, frequency of service, and the Chinese herbal products prescribed for migraine were evaluated using a representative sample of one million subjects selected at random from the 22 million beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance scheme of Taiwan.

RESULTS

Overall, 89.3% (N=12,827) migraine patients utilized TCM and 24.2% of them sought TCM with the intention of treating their migraine-related symptoms. Migraine patients who are living in urban area and those with an episodic migraine pattern (<15 days/month) (aOR=3.18, 95% CI: 2.75-3.67) were more likely to be TCM users than those living in a rural area and those who suffered from chronic migraine (≥15 days/month) (aOR=1.00). Overall, 81.2% of TCM visits involved the prescription of a Chinese herbal remedy or remedies and Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, Ge-Gen-Tang, Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang, Ban-Xia-Bai-Zhu-Tian-Ma-Tang, Qing-Shang-Juan-Tong-Tang, Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang, Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, and Tian-Wang-Bu-Xin-Dan were the ten most frequently prescribed formula for treating migraine based on syndrome differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Chuan-Xiong-Cha-Tiao-San, which contains sedative and anti-inflammatory agents, is the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of migraine-related phenomena.

Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil from leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam. cultivated in Mozambique

The antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) grown in Mozambique was investigated. The chemical composition was studied by means of GC and GC-MS analysis. Hexacosane (13.9%), pentacosane (13.3%) and heptacosane (11.4%) were the main components. Ultra High Performance Chromatography-DAD analysis detected the flavonoids quercetin (126 μg/g) and luteolin (6.2 μg/g). The essential oil exhibited a relatively low free radical scavenging capacity. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was assayed against two Gram-positive strains (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus), two Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and five fungal strains of agro-food interest (Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium digitatum, and Aspergillus niger spp.). B. cereus and P. aeruginosa, as well as the fungal strains were sensitive to the essential oil.

Development of on-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-biochemical detection methods as tools in the identification of bioactives

Biochemical detection (BCD) methods are commonly used to screen plant extracts for specific biological activities in batch assays. Traditionally, bioactives in the most active extracts were identified through time-consuming bio-assay guided fractionation until single active compounds could be isolated. Not only are isolation procedures often tedious, but they could also lead to artifact formation. On-line coupling of BCD assays to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is gaining ground as a high resolution screening technique to overcome problems associated with pre-isolation by measuring the effects of compounds post-column directly after separation. To date, several on-line HPLC-BCD assays, applied to whole plant extracts and mixtures, have been published. In this review the focus will fall on enzyme-based, receptor-based and antioxidant assays.

Role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins-7 (BMP-7) in the Renal Improvement Effect of DangGui (Angelica sinensis) in Type-1 Diabetic Rats

Hyperglycemia induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is believed as major factors leading to diabetic nephropathy (DN). DangGui (Angelica sinensis) is mentioned to show renal protective effect in combination with other herbs. Bone morphogenetic proteins-7 (BMP-7) is produced merit in protection of DN. The role of BMP-7 in DangGui-induced renal improvement is not clear. The present study investigated the effects of DangGui on renal functions, BMP-7 expression and the levels of ROS in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and high glucose-exposed rat mesangial cells (RMCs). After 1- or 4-week treatment, DangGui improved renal functions and increased renal BMP-7 expression in diabetic rats. The BMP-7 expression in RMCs was reduced by high glucose treatment and this could be reversed by DangGui. Moreover, RMCs exposed to high glucose were expired by BMP-7 RNAi transfection but those cells remained alive by scramble transfection. Thus, we employed regular RMCs to knock down BMP-7 with RNAi and we found that DangGui increased BMP-7 expression in these RMCs. Direct activation of BMP-7 expression by DangGui could be considered. The results of DPPH assay, DHE stain and lucigenin assay indicated that DangGui could inhibit high glucose-induced ROS in RMCs. These results suggest that DangGui has an ability to improve renal functions in STZ-diabetic rats through increasing endogenous BMP-7 expression and decreasing oxidative stress in kidney. The present study suggest that DangGui could be applied to improve renal functions in diabetic disorders.

Role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins-7 (BMP-7) in the Renal Improvement Effect of DangGui (Angelica sinensis) in Type-1 Diabetic Rats

Hyperglycemia induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is believed as major factors leading to diabetic nephropathy (DN). DangGui (Angelica sinensis) is mentioned to show renal protective effect in combination with other herbs. Bone morphogenetic proteins-7 (BMP-7) is produced merit in protection of DN. The role of BMP-7 in DangGui-induced renal improvement is not clear. The present study investigated the effects of DangGui on renal functions, BMP-7 expression and the levels of ROS in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and high glucose-exposed rat mesangial cells (RMCs). After 1- or 4-week treatment, DangGui improved renal functions and increased renal BMP-7 expression in diabetic rats. The BMP-7 expression in RMCs was reduced by high glucose treatment and this could be reversed by DangGui. Moreover, RMCs exposed to high glucose were expired by BMP-7 RNAi transfection but those cells remained alive by scramble transfection. Thus, we employed regular RMCs to knock down BMP-7 with RNAi and we found that DangGui increased BMP-7 expression in these RMCs. Direct activation of BMP-7 expression by DangGui could be considered. The results of DPPH assay, DHE stain and lucigenin assay indicated that DangGui could inhibit high glucose-induced ROS in RMCs. These results suggest that DangGui has an ability to improve renal functions in STZ-diabetic rats through increasing endogenous BMP-7 expression and decreasing oxidative stress in kidney. The present study suggest that DangGui could be applied to improve renal functions in diabetic disorders.

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and superoxide anion scavenging activity of Rhizophora mangle (L.) bark

Background:

Rhizophora mangle (L.) produce a variety of substances that possesses pharmacological actions. Although it shown antioxidant properties in some assays, there is no available information about its effect on some free radical species. So the objective of the present research is to evaluate the DPPH radical and superoxide anion scavenging properties of R. mangle extract and its polyphenol fraction.

Methods:

Rhizophora mangle (L.) bark aqueous extract and its major constituent, polyphenols fraction, were investigated for their antioxidant activities employing 2 in vitro assay systems: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide anion radicals scavenging.

Results:

IC₅₀ for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 6.7 µg tannins/mL for extract and 7.6 µg tannins/mL for polyphenolic fraction. The extract showed better activity than its fraction (P < 0.05) in the DPPH radicals reducing power. Polyphenolic fraction exhibited better superoxide anion scavenging ability (IC₅₀ = 21.6 µg tannins/mL) than the extract (IC₅₀ = 31.9 µg tannins/mL). Antioxidant activities of both samples increased with the rise of tannins concentration. The comparison of regression lines showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between extract and its polyphenolic fraction in both assays, indicating that extract was more effective in DPPH radical scavenging than its fraction at tannin concentrations below the crossing point of both lines, while that fraction was more effective than extract inhibiting the superoxide anions generation.

Conclusions:

R. mangle aqueous extract showed a potent antioxidant activity, achieved by the scavenging ability observed against DPPH radicals and superoxide anions. Regarding its polyphenolic composition, the antioxidant effects observed in this study are due, most probably, to the presence of polyphenolic compounds.

An antioxidant phytotherapy to rescue neuronal oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic neuronal injury. A Chinese herbal formula composed of Poria cocos (Chinese name: Fu Ling), Atractylodes macrocephala (Chinese name: Bai Zhu) and Angelica sinensis (Chinese names: Danggui, Dong quai, Donggui; Korean name: Danggwi) (FBD), has been proved to be beneficial in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of FBD against neuronal oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. Rat I/R were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 h, followed by 24 h reperfusion. MCAO led to significant depletion in superoxide dismutase and glutathione and rise in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide in brain. The neurological deficit and brain infarction were also significantly elevated by MCAO as compared with sham-operated group. All the brain oxidative stress and damage were significantly attenuated by 7 days pretreatment with the aqueous extract of FBD (250 mg kg(-1), p.o.). Moreover, cerebrospinal fluid sampled from FBD-pretreated rats protected PC12 cells against oxidative insult induced by 0.2 mM hydrogen peroxide, in a concentration and time-dependent manner (IC(50) 10.6%, ET(50) 1.2 h). However, aqueous extract of FBD just slightly scavenged superoxide anion radical generated in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system (IC(50) 2.4 mg ml(-1)) and hydroxyl radical generated in Fenton reaction system (IC(50) 3.6 mg ml(-1)). In conclusion, FBD was a distinct antioxidant phytotherapy to rescue neuronal oxidative stress, through blocking LPO, restoring endogenous antioxidant system, but not scavenging free radicals.

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry-chemiluminescence assay of radical scavengers in Epimedium

An on-line analysis method for the simultaneous detection and identification of radical scavenging compounds in plant extracts was developed by combining HPLC with hydrogen dioxide radical scavenging and HPLC-DAD-MS-CL system. The structural identification and activity characteristics of various constituents could be rapidly achieved by the on-line assay of UV, MS and CL in one run. In 4 species of Epimedium studied 32 compounds, including phenolic acids, 8-isopentenyl-flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid glycosides containing a ortho-hydroxyl group, were identified by comparison with authentic standards and published mass data. Among these compounds, phenolic acids and flavonoid glycosides containing an ortho-hydroxyl group could obviously inhibit CL, which suggested their strong radical scavenging activity. These four species each exhibited different active properties, which might correlate to their respective quality. The results indicated that the on-line HPLC-DAD-MS-CL system would be a potential method to rapidly and sensitively screen radical scavengers in herbal medicines, and could display an integrated fingerprint based on different detectors.

Strategies for quality control of Chinese medicines

Chinese medicines (CM) have been attracting interest and acceptance in many countries. Quality control is vital for ensuring the safety and efficacy of CM. Usually, CM are used as whole plant and/or combination of several herbs, and multiple constituents are responsible for the therapeutic effects. Therefore, quality control of CM is very difficult. To date, the valid method for quantitatively evaluating the quality of CM is poor. In this article, the strategies for quantification, related to the markers, reference compounds and approaches, in quality control of CM were reviewed and discussed.

Extraction, separation and quantitative structure-retention relationship modeling of essential oils in three herbs

The essential oils extracted from three kinds of herbs were separated by a 5% phenylmethyl silicone (DB-5MS) bonded phase fused-silica capillary column and identified by MS. Seventy-four of the compounds identified were selected as origin data, and their chemical structure and gas chromatographic retention times (RT) were performed to build a quantitative structure-retention relationship model by genetic algorithm and multiple linear regressions analysis. The predictive ability of the model was verified by internal validation (leave-one-out, fivefold, cross-validation and Y-scrambling). As for external validation, the model was also applied to predict the gas chromatographic RT of the 14 volatile compounds not used for model development from essential oil of Radix angelicae sinensis. The applicability domain was checked by the leverage approach to verify prediction reliability. The results obtained using several validations indicated that the best quantitative structure-retention relationship model was robust and satisfactory, could provide a feasible and effective tool for predicting the gas chromatographic RT of volatile compounds and could be also applied to help in identifying the compound with the same gas chromatographic RT.

Inhibitory Effects of Two Ferulates from Angelica Sinensis on Platelet Aggregation and Oxytocin-induced Uterine Contraction

Ferulic acid (FA) is widely considered as a biologically active component in Angelica sinensis, and used as one of the marker compounds for the quality control of Angelica sinensis. However, in A. sinensis, FA mainly exists as its ester, coniferyl ferulate (CF). CF is unstable and readily hydrolyzed into FA during conventional extraction. Herein, their antiplatelet aggregation activities and relaxant effects on oxytocin-induced mouse uterine muscle contraction were investigated and compared. The results showed that FA inhibited arachidonic acid (AA), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thrombin (THR)-induced platelet aggregation with IC50 values of 974.8 ± 97.5, 737.9 ± 40.2 and 244.6 ± 25.6 μg/ml, respectively. The potency of CF is much higher than that of FA, and the IC50 values for AA, ADP and THR were 7.1 ± 0.3, 276.4 ± 53.4 and 77.5 ± 23.1 μg/ml, respectively. IC50 of FA was 23.8 ± 6.2 μg/ml for oxytocin-induced uterine contraction in vitro. CF could only be tested at low concentration and its IC50 could not be calculated thereafter because of its strong hydrophobic property. So CF has more potent antiplatelet aggregation activity, while FA has stronger inhibitory effect on oxytocin-induced uterine contraction in vitro

Correlation between antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of radix Angelicae sinensis (Danggui)

Radix Angelicae Sinensisis (RAS) is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbal medicines. In the present study, six RAS extracts (i.e., phenolic extract PE, petroleum ether extract PEE, ethyl acetate extract EAE, absolute ethanol extract AEE, 95% ethanol extract 95 EE, and water extract WE) were prepared and their antioxidant activities measured by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), ABTS [2,2′-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt)], Reducing power, •O^2– and lipid peroxidation assays. In general, PE, PEE and EAE had relatively high antioxidant activity, followed by AEE with moderate activity, as compared with 95 EE and WE that had low activity. Their phenolic contents (including total phenolic, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, same as below) were then determined by HPLC or spectrophotometry. The sequence of phenolic contents was roughly identical with that of antioxidant activity. When the values of 1/IC₅₀ of various antioxidant assays were used to evaluate the level of antioxidant of the RAS extracts, (plot between 1/IC₅₀ values and phenolic contents), the correlation coefficient (R) ranged from 0.642 to 0.941, with an average value of 0.839. Significant positive correlations demonstrated that the antioxidant effects of RAS might generally be considered a result of the presence of the phenolic compounds, especially ferulic acid and caffeic acid.

Optimization and comparison of five methods for extraction of coniferyl ferulate from Angelica sinensis

Coniferyl ferulate, which is noted for its multiple pharmacological activities and chemical instability, is abundant in Angelica sinensis. In this paper, five methods, namely sonication extraction (SE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), hydrodistillation (HD) and decoction (DC) for extraction of coniferyl ferulate, as well as ferulic acid, Z/E-ligustilide and Z/E-butylidenephthalide, from A. sinensis were optimized and compared. The results showed that the order of extraction efficiency was: PLE>>SE>SFE>>HD, DC. The compositions of the SE, PLE and SFE extracts, which had a high ratio of coniferyl ferulate, were very similar, while no coniferyl ferulate was obtained by HD and DC, though they had high selectivity for the extraction of ligustilide and ferulic acid, respectively. It was noteworthy that the content of ligustilide and coniferyl ferulate was not detectable in the decoction, the commonly used oral administration form of Traditional Chinese Medicines in clinical practice.

Identification and quantification of free radical scavengers in Pu-erh tea by HPLC-DAD-MS coupled online with 2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid) diammonium salt assay

Pu-erh tea, a well-known traditional beverage in China, has attracted more attention because of its beneficial health effects and special flavor and taste. Generally, it is believed that Pu-erh tea with a longer preservation period has better quality and taste. Antioxidant activity is one of the major beneficial activities of tea. In this study, a HPLC-DAD-MS coupled with 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assay was employed for identification and quantification of free radical scavengers in different samples of Pu-erh tea. Among 12 main peaks detected in Pu-erh raw tea, 11 compounds were identified as gallic acid, (-)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (+)-catechin, caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechingallate, rutin, (-)-epicatechingallate, quercetin-3-glucoside, and kaempferol-3-glucoside by comparison of their UV and MS data with standard compounds or literature data, respectively. The contents of 12 investigated compounds were also determined or estimated using caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, or rutin as standard. ABTS assay showed that 10 out of 12 compounds were free radical scavengers. Their total amount was used as the marker for evaluation of free radical scavenging activities of different Pu-erh teas, which indicated that the activity of different Pu-erh teas varied; Pu-erh raw tea was stronger than the ripe one, and the activity decreased with the increase of preservation period.

New qualitative approach in the characterization of antioxidants in white wines by antioxidant free radical scavenging and NMR techniques

The aim of this study was to obtain new information on antioxidant compounds in white wines. For this purpose, white wine degradation was promoted by a forced aged protocol, and six normally aged white wines from different vintages were analyzed. Both normal and forced aged wines were sequentially extracted using hexane and ethyl acetate. Apolar antioxidants were removed using hexane, and polar antioxidants were extracted with ethyl acetate. This last residue was subject to partial re-extraction with hexane and acetone. The antioxidant capacity of the wines and of each fraction was evaluated by two free radical methods, ABTS and DPPH. Normal aging provides a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity of wines. The antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate/acetone extracts was approximately 95% higher than that found for the hexane extracts. Concerning the forced aged wines, results showed that the wine submitted to a temperature of 60 degrees C for 21 days had higher antioxidant activity than that submitted to a temperature of 20 degrees C. With regard to the ethyl acetate/acetone extracts, oxygen and temperature treatment leads to a decrease in their antioxidant activity. NMR analysis was performed in the highest antioxidant capacity organic fractions (ethyl acetate/acetone extracts) and in the aqueous fraction of the control wine (T = 20 degrees C), in order to attempt the characterization of species involved in oxygen protection. Possible structures of antioxidant compounds in white wines were proposed. Two of these are tyrosol-like structures. This molecule is a well-known phenolic compound in wine, and it is reported to have antioxidative effects.