Discrimination of Semen cassiae from two related species based on the multivariate analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints

Integrated metabolic and transcriptomic profiles reveal the germination-associated dynamic changes for the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L

INTRODUCTION

The seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. (Cassiae [C.] semen) have been widely used as both food and traditional Chinese medicine in China.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to analyze the metabolic mechanisms underlying C. semen germination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Different samples of C. semen at various germination stages were collected. These samples were subjected to ¹ H-NMR and UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis together with transcriptomics analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 50 differential metabolites (mainly amino acids and sugars) and 20 key genes involved in multiple pathways were identified in two comparisons of different groups (36 h vs 12 h and 84 h vs 36 h). The metabolite-gene network for seed germination was depicted. In the germination of C. semen, fructose and mannose metabolism was activated in the testa rupture period, indicating more energy was needed (36 h). In the embryonic axis elongation period (84 h), the pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway were activated, which suggested some nutrient sources (nitrogen and sugar) were in demand. Furthermore, oxygen, energy, and nutrition should be supplied throughout the whole germination process. These global views open up an integrated perspective for understanding the complex biological regulatory mechanisms during the germination process of C. semen.

Research on Processing-Induced Chemical Variations in Polygonatum Cyrtonema Rhizome by Integrating Metabolomics and Glycomics

Polygonatum cyrtonema rhizome (PCR), the dried sweet rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, is commonly used as a tonic remedy and a functional food in Asia, Europe, and North America. Multiple components, including secondary metabolites, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, collectively contribute to the therapeutic effects of PCR. Processing time exerts a significant influence on the quality of PCR, but the various processing stages have not been comprehensively chemically profiled. It is urgent to study processing-induced chemical variations in PCR to control the processing degree. In this study, multiple chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques were used in combination with multivariate statistical analysis to perform qualitative and quantitative research on secondary metabolites and carbohydrates in PCR during processing. The results demonstrated that PCR processing can be divided into three stages, namely the raw stage (0 h), the middle stage (1–6 h), and the late stage (8–18 h). Twenty differential compounds were screened from secondary metabolites and oligosaccharides to distinguish PCR in different processing stages. Furthermore, the chemical variations of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCP) also entered a new stage after processing for 6 h. Multiple chemical mechanisms, including hydrolysis, oxidative decomposition, dehydration, Maillard reaction, and polymerization were involved in the processing. This work provides a scientific basis to reveal the relationship between processing stage and chemical variations.

Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacological Uses, Biological Activities, and Therapeutic Applications of Cassia obtusifolia L.: A Comprehensive Review

Cassia obtusifolia L., of the Leguminosae family, is used as a diuretic, laxative, tonic, purgative, and natural remedy for treating headache, dizziness, constipation, tophobia, and lacrimation and for improving eyesight. It is commonly used in tea in Korea. Various anthraquinone derivatives make up its main chemical constituents: emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, obtusifolin, obtusin, au rantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, alaternin, questin, aloe-emodin, gluco-aurantio-obtusin, gluco-obtusifolin, naphthopyrone glycosides, toralactone-9-β-gentiobioside, toralactone gentiobioside, and cassiaside. C. obtusifolia L. possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties (e.g., antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties) and may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. In addition, C. obtusifolia L. contributes to histamine release and antiplatelet aggregation. This review summarizes the botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological features of C. obtusifolia and its therapeutic uses.

Gender discrimination of Populus tomentosa barks by HPLC fingerprint combined with multivariate statistics

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint method with multivariate statistical analyses was applied to discriminate the male and female barks of Populus tomentosa for the first time. The samples of 11 male and 13 female barks of mature P. tomentosa were collected in Beijing. The chemical fingerprint of methanol extract was established by HPLC method with diode array detector (DAD). The principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were applied to discriminate male and female barks based on the area of common peaks identified in HPLC fingerprints. A clear grouping trend (R 2 X, 0.83; Q 2, 0.595) among the male and female samples was exhibited by PCA score plot. Two groups were clearly divided into male and female samples by HCA. Both male and female samples were well discriminated with OPLS-DA (R 2 X, 0.775; Q 2, 0.795). Seven potential chemical markers were screened by variable importance in projection (VIP values >1.0) of OPLS-DA model and four of them were identified as micranthoside, siebolside B, sakuranin, and isosakuranin. The HPLC fingerprint combined with multivariate statistical analyses could be used to discriminate the gender of barks of P. tomentosa and revealed the differences in chemical components, which enriched the basic studies on dioecious plant.

HPLC-TOF-MS and HPLC-MS/MS combined with multivariate analysis for the characterization and discrimination of phenolic profiles in nonfumigated and sulfur-fumigated rhubarb

Sulfur fumigation has recently been used during the postharvest handling of rhubarb to reduce the drying duration and control pests. However, a few reports question the effect of sulfur fumigation on the bioactive components of rhubarb, which is crucial for the quality evaluation of the herbal medicine. The bottleneck limiting the study comes from the complex compounds that exist in herb samples with diverse structural features, wide concentration range and the difficulty to obtain all the reference standards. In this study, an integrated strategy based on the highly effective separation and analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and time-of-flight/triple-quadruple tandem mass spectrometry combined with multivariate analysis was established. 68 phenolic compounds that exist in nonfumigated and sulfur-fumigated herb samples of rhubarb were tentatively assigned based on their retention behavior, UV spectra, accurate molecular weight, and mass spectral fragments. Qualitative and semiquantitative comparison revealed a serious reduction of the majority of phenolic compounds in sulfur-fumigated rhubarb. Furthermore, multivariate analysis was applied to holistically discriminate nonfumigated from sulfur-fumigated rhubarb and explore the characteristic chemical markers. The established approach was specific and rapid for characterizing and screening sulfur-fumigated rhubarb among commercial samples and could be applied for the quality assessment of other sulfur-fumigated herbs.