Chemical Profiling of Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen Tablets Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and Its Quality Evaluation Based on UPLC-DAD Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablets (SWYST) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to characterize the constituents in SWYST and evaluate the quality based on the quantification of multiple bioactive components. SWYST samples were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and a data-processing strategy. As a result, 215 compounds in SWYST were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized, including 14 potential new compounds. Meanwhile, strategies based on characteristic fragments for rapid identification were summarized, indicating that the qualitative method is accurate and feasible. Notably, the glucose esters of laccaic acid D-type anthraquinone were first found and their fragmentation patterns were described by comparing that of O-glycoside isomers. Besides, based on comparisons of the cleavage ways of mono-acyl glucose with different acyl groups or acylation sites, differences in fragmentation pathways between 1,2-di-O-acyl glucose and 1,6-di-O-acyl glucose were proposed for the first time and verified by reference substances. In addition, a validated UPLC-DAD was established for the determination of 11 major bioactive components related to treatment of CKD (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG), 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucose, emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside, chrysophanol-O-β-d-glucoside, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion). Moreover, TSG and 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucose were found as the quality markers related to the origins of SWYST based on multivariate statistical analysis. Conclusively, the findings in this work provide a feasible reference for further studies on quality research and mechanisms of action in treating CKD.

Screening and characterization of xenobiotics in rat bio-samples after oral administration of Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablet using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with a targeted and non-targeted strategy

Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablet (SWYST), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription (TCMP), has been effectively used for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in clinically. However, an in-depth study of in vivo metabolism of SWYST is lacking. In this study, a targeted and non-targeted strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was developed to screen and characterize SWYST-related xenobiotics in rats. Based on the in-house library, a chemical database of SWYST including 215 constituents was constructed through "find by formula" and further verified by characteristic fragmentations or the literatures. Then the constructed chemical database was applied for the targeted screening of prototypes. As for metabolites, the non-targeted screening was achieved combined the peak picking using the function "find by auto-MS/MS" and peak filtration of the prototypes and endogenous components, while the targeted screening was performed using Metabolite ID according to the possible metabolic reactions. Furthermore, the potential metabolites were preliminarily identified by comparison of the parent compounds or references to the literatures. As a result, 201 exogenous components (87 prototypes and 121 metabolites) were characterized in rats after administration of SWYST, including 55 (17 prototypes and 38 metabolites) in plasma, 151 (52 prototypes and 99 metabolites) in urine, and 121 (74 prototypes and 47 metabolites) in feces. Finally, their possible metabolic pathways were summarized, and the metabolic reactions mainly involved phase I reactions (hydroxylation, deoxygenation, hydrogenation, methylation, oxidation, hydrolysis and esterification) and phase II reactions (glucuronidation and sulfation). The findings of this research reveal the potential active ingredients of SWYST, providing an important material basis for the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of SWYST.

The Potential of Lamiaceae Herbs for Mitigation of Overweight, Obesity, and Fatty Liver: Studies and Perspectives

Numerous plants, plant extracts, and plant-derived compounds are being explored for their beneficial effects against overweight and liver diseases. Obesity is associated with the increased prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), becoming the most common liver disease in Western countries. Obesity and NAFLD are closely associated with many other metabolic alternations such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. Many herbs of the Lamiaceae family are widely employed as food and spices in the Mediterranean area, but also in folk medicine, and their use for the management of metabolic disorders is well documented. Hereby, we summarized the scientific results of the medicinal and nutraceutical potential of plants from the Lamiaceae family for prevention and mitigation of overweight and fatty liver. The evidence indicates that Lamiaceae plants may be a cost-effective source of nutraceuticals and/or phytochemicals to be used in the management of metabolic-related conditions such as obesity and NAFLD. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SciFinder were accessed to collect data on traditional medicinal plants, compounds derived from plants, their reported anti-obesity mechanisms, and therapeutic targets.

Lycopus lucidus Turcz ameliorates DNCB‑induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory allergic skin disease, characterized by pruritic and eczematous skin lesions. Lycopus lucidus Turcz (LLT) is a perennial herb that has been reported to have various biological properties, including effects on blood circulation, as well as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-vascular inflammation and wound-healing effects. However, whether LLT improves dermatitis and the underlying mechanisms has yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to determine whether LLT can improve 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced dermatitis and to verify the inhibitory effect of LLT on the expression of chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the HaCaT immortalized keratinocyte cell line. In addition, the anti-inflammatory function of LLT in RAW264.7 mouse macrophages was investigated. In the DNCB-induced AD mouse model, LLT inhibited infiltration by mast cells, eosinophils and CD8⁺ cells in the dorsal skin tissue of AD mice, and suppressed the expression of IgE and IL-6 in serum. In addition, LLT inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, as well as NF-κB in skin tissue. In the HaCaT cell model induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ, LLT inhibited the expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, TNF-α and IL-1β, whilst inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB. In addition, in the lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cell inflammation model, LLT inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ, the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. These results suggested that LLT may be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory dermatitis.

A Comparative Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Tissue-Specific Phenolic Profiling in Two Acanthopanax Species

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. Maxim.) Harms (ASH) and Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (Rupr. Maxim.) Seem (ASS), are members of the Araliaceae family, and both are used in Asian countries. These herbals have drawn much attention in recent years due to their strong biological activity, with innocuity and little side effects. However, the common and distinct mode of compound profiles between ASH and ASS is still unclear. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method was developed to simultaneously quantify the seven major active compounds, including protocatechuate, eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E, isofraxidin, hyperoside, kaempferol and oleanolic acid. Then the targeted metabolomics were conducted to identify 19 phenolic compounds, with tight relation to the above mentioned active compounds, including nine C6C3C6-type, six C6C3-type and four C6C1-type in the two Acanthopanax species studied here. The results showed that the seven active compounds presented a similar trend of changes in different tissues, with more abundant accumulation in roots and stems for both plants. From the view of plant species, the ASH plants possess higher abundance of compounds, especially in the tissues of roots and stems. For phenolics, the 19 phenols detected here could be clearly grouped into five main clusters based on their tissue-specific accumulation patterns. Roots are the tissue for the most abundance of their accumulations. C6C3C6-type compounds are the most widely existing type in both plants. In conclusion, the tissue- and species-specificity in accumulation of seven active compounds and phenolics were revealed in two Acanthopanax species.

Recent advances and effective strategies in the discovery and applications of natural products

Natural products are the most representative form of conventional therapy as compared to any other traditional or alternative medicine systems.