Qualitative analysis of multiple compounds in raw and prepared Semen Cassiae coupled with multiple statistical strategies

Comment on the "Does saponin in quinoa really embody the source of its bitterness?"

Saponins are considered the main source of the bitter taste of quinoa, however, it has not been confirmed by Song et al. (2024). These authors suggested that saponin extracts contribute to the umami taste, however, the stronger source of the bitter taste may be the flavonoids contained in the extracts. It is an interesting finding in view of the flavonoids role in the field of food sciences. The UPLC-MS results showed that besides saponins, also polyphenols were present in the analyzed samples. However, the presented results of UPLC-MS analysis should be substantially improved, mainly with respect to the reported accurate masses and retention times, as described in details in this comment.

Aurantio-obtusin Alleviates Dry Eye Disease by Targeting NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling in Rodent Models

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common inflammatory ocular surface disorder, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is a bioactive anthraquinone compound isolated from Semen Cassiae which has multiple pharmacological activities. Nonetheless, the specific function of AO in DED is unclarified. In this study, a rodent DED model was established by benzalkonium chloride (BAC) induction, followed by topical administration of AO. The results showed that topical application of AO increased tear production, mitigated ocular surface disruption and maintained the number of goblet cells in BAC-induced DED rats (p˂0.05). ELISA revealed that AO treatment significantly (p˂0.001) reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the conjunctiva and cornea of BAC-induced DED rats. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting showed that AO treatment suppressed the expression levels of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related proteins, and inhibited activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in rat conjunctiva and cornea (p˂0.001). In conclusion, AO treatment alleviates BAC-induced DED in rats by inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Metabolic profiling integrated with pharmacokinetics to reveal the material basis of Xiaokeyinshui extract combination in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in rats

Xiaokeyinshui extract combination (XEC), originating from a traditional Chinese formula Xiaokeyinshui (XKYS) recorded in ancient Bencao, has been reported to exert significant hypoglycemic effects. However, the chemical profiles, metabolic transformation and pharmacokinetic behavior of XEC in vivo were unclear. The research was to investigate the chemical constituents, metabolic profiles and pharmacokinetic behavior of XEC. A UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-HRMS qualification method was developed to identify the chemical constituents in XEC and xenobiotics of XEC in plasma, urine, feces and bile of rats after oral administration. A LC-MS quantification method was established and applied for the pharmacokinetic studies of major active compounds of XEC in normal and T₂DM rats and Coptidis Rhizoma extracts (CRE) in T₂DM rats. Fifty eight compounds in XEC and a total of 152 xenobiotics were identified in T₂DM rats, including 28 prototypes and 124 metabolites. The metabolic pathways were demethylation, demethyleneization, reduction, hydroxylation, hydrolysis and subsequent binding reactions, including glucuronidation, sulfation and methylation. According to the results of chemical constituents and metabolites, 7 ingredients, including berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, berberrubine, magnoflorine and aurantio-obtusin were suggested for markers to comparative pharmacokinetics study in normal rats and T₂DM rats. Compared with normal rats, the T_max of berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, berberrubine and magnoflorine was significantly longer. The value of C_max for palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine and berberrubine was significantly decreased in XEC T₂DM group. The value of AUC for alkaloids was higher in diabetic rats. After oral CRE, alkaloids including berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, berberrubine and magnoflorine could be detected in vivo. Compared with T₂DM rats after oral administration of CRE, the value of T_max and C_max for berberine, palmatine, coptisine, epiberberine, berberrubine and magnoflorine exhibited significant differences in XEC T₂DM group. This research provided an overview of the chemical profiles and metabolic profiling of XEC and elucidated the effect of diabetic state and compatibility on pharmacokinetic behaviors of active components in XEC. This research also can provide the material basis of XEC for subsequent quality control research.

Luffa cylindrica Intercropping with Semen cassiae-A Production Practice of Improving Land Use in Soil Contaminated with Arsenic

In recent years, research on the safe utilization and green remediation of contaminated soil by intercropping has become common. In this study, the growth of an intercropping system of Luffa cylindrica-Semen cassiae in soil contaminated with medium amounts of arsenic (As) was studied using field (91.60 mg kg^-1) and pot (83.34 mg kg^-1) experiments. The field experiments showed that intercropping significantly increased the yield per plant of L. cylindrica by 27.36%, while the yield per plant of S. cassiae decreased by 21.66%; however, this difference was not significant. Intercropping reduced the concentration of As in all organs of L. cylindrica but increased the concentration of As in all parts of S. cassiae. The accumulation of As per plant of L. cylindrica was reduced by 20.72%, while that in a single plant of S. cassiae was increased by 201.93%. In addition, the concentration of As in the fruit of these two crops in these two planting modes was low enough to meet the National Food Safety Standard of China (GB2762-2017). In addition, the land equivalent ratio and As metal removal equivalent ratio of the intercropping mode was 1.03 and 2.34, indicating that the intercropping mode had advantages in land use and As removal. In the pot experiment, the biomass and As concentration of L. cylindrica and S. cassiae were roughly consistent with those in the field experiment. During the sampling period, intercropping reduced the concentration of As in the rhizosphere soil solution of L. cylindrica by 3.1-23.77%, while it increased the concentration of As in the rhizosphere soil solution of S. cassiae by 13.30-59.40%. The changes in pH and redox potential were also closely related to the content of water-soluble As in the rhizosphere environment, which affects the absorption of As by plants. In general, the L. cylindrica-S. cassiae intercropping system is a planting mode that can effectively treat soil that is moderately contaminated with As and remove it from the soil to an extent.

Discovery of potential hypoglycemic metabolites in Cassiae Semen by coupling UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS combined plant metabolomics and spectrum-effect relationship analyses

Cassiae Semen (CS) is consumed as fried tea or medicinal food in Asian areas. Its two commercial forms, namely raw and fried CS, exert different clinical applications, in which fried CS is commonly applied as a functional tea for losing weight. To prevent confusion in the use of the two forms of CS, a comprehensive strategy by combining plant metabolomics and spectrum-effect relationship analyses was developed for the fast and efficient discrimination of raw and fried CS, and further for the discovery of the potential hypoglycemic metabolites of CS to control its quality. First, the plant metabolic profiling of raw and processed samples was performed by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. A total of 1111 differential metabolites were found to well distinguish the raw and fried CS after analyzing by MPP software. Subsequently, α-glucosidase inhibition of raw and fried CS was investigated. As a result, fried CS demonstrated much stronger α-glucosidase inhibition activity than the raw sample. By analyzing the spectrum-effect relationship with GRA, BCA, and PLSR, 14 potential hypoglycemic-related compounds were discovered. As anticipated, they were also found as the differential metabolites of the raw and fried samples with a potential hypoglycemic effect, which might be beneficial for the quality control of CS tea. Additionally, molecular docking analysis was conducted to reveal the underlying inhibition mechanisms of the four most critical constituents, including physcion, chrysoobtusin, aurantio-obtusin, and obtusifolin. This study provides a powerful tool for the discrimination of processed samples and fast screening of the active constituents in complex natural products on a high-throughput basis.

Quality Evaluation of Crude and Salt-Processed Cuscutae Semen through Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Components Using HPLC Combined with Chemometrics

Cuscutae Semen (CS; Chinese common name “Tusizi”) is one of the most common traditional herbal medicines used to treat liver and kidney diseases in China. Although it is most commonly used as a processed product, little progress has been made on the quality control of CS and salt-processed Cuscutae Semen (PCS). The purpose of this study was to establish a comprehensive strategy integrating chromatographic analysis and chemometric methods for quality evaluation and discrimination of CS and PCS. An accurate and reliable HPLC method was established for the simultaneous quantification of 12 analyte compounds in CS and PCS. The results showed that this method exhibited desirable sensitivity, precision, stability, and repeatability. Multivariate chemometric methods were applied to analyze the obtained HPLC fingerprints, including hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principle component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that CS and PCS samples showed a clear classification of the two groups, and three chemical markers with great contributions to the differentiation were screened out. Collectively, the chemometrics combined with the quantitative analysis based on HPLC fingerprint results indicated that salt processing may change the contents and types of components in Cuscutae Semen.

Establishing a UHPLC-MS/MS method for evaluation of the influence of stir-frying on the pharmacokinetics of seven compounds in Arctii Fructus

The pharmacokinetics of multiple, orally administrated compounds of raw and stir-fried Arctii Fructus extracts using a UHPLC-MSMS method.

Online extraction and enrichment coupling with high-speed counter-current chromatography for effective and target isolation of antitumor anthraquinones from seeds of Cassia obtusifolia

Traditional bioassay-guided investigation of bioactive compounds from natural products comprises critical steps, such as extraction, repeated column separation, and activity assay. Thus, the development of facile, rapid, and efficient technology is critically important. Here, a HepG2 cell-based extraction method was first developed to rapidly screen potential antitumor compounds from the seeds ofCassia obtusifolia. Then, an online extraction and enrichment-high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) strategy was fabricated to facilely and efficiently isolate target antitumor compounds, which included direct extraction from solid C. obtusifolia, removal of polar interferences, enrichment of target compounds, and preparative isolation by HSCCC using flow rate stepwise increasing mode. After further purification by Sephadex LH-20 column, five antitumor anthraquinones, aurantio-obtusin, 1-desmethylaurantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, obtusin, and questin, were obtained for structural characterization and bioassay verification. The results may not only provide new perspectives for facile and rapid investigation of bioactive compounds from complex natural products, but also offer a scientific basis for the potential applications of C. obtusifolia.

Investigation on the stability in plant metabolomics with a special focus on freeze-thaw cycles: LC-MS and NMR analysis to Cassiae Semen (Cassia obtusifolia L.) seeds as a case study

Metabolomics is a rapid and sensitive tool for the detection of dynamic metabolic compositions in the study of systemic metabolic consequences. However, it is also susceptible to a tiny variation of pre-analytical handling procedures. To provide reproducible results, specific knowledge on metabolites perturbance along with different freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) is needed for further metabolomics studies. In this paper, five FTCs of germinated Cassiae Semen (CS) were chosen as a case study to investigate the influence of FTC effect based on UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and NMR technologies. A total of 108 metabolites were relatively quantified by LC-MS and NMR analyses. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first and second FTC samples are welly separated from the other groups; however, the extent of FTC-induced effects are smaller after the third cycle. Upon five consecutive FTCs, alterations which consisted of decreased stachyose, sucrose, norrubrofusarin-6-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and quercetin 3-(3″-acetylgalactoside), as well as increased phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, mannose, gluconic acid, and valine, could be observed. FTC does not exert the same effect on all metabolites. Although a large number of secondary metabolites were stable when subjected to five FTCs, FTC effects may lead to false-positive in the discovery of biomarker. In the case of reusing plant seed samples, no more than three consecutive freeze-thaw cycles were found advisable. This work provides unique perspectives on the FTC effects, which may fill in some existing gaps in the knowledge of the stability of plant metabolites during sample pre-handling.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of obtusifolin in rats by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

This paper reports the validation of an assay for obtusifolin based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and its application to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study in rats. After sample preparation of plasma and tissue homogenates by protein precipitation, the analyte and internal standard (IS) were separated by a reversed-phase chromatographic system in a run time of 5.0 min and detected by negative ion electrospray ionization followed by selected reaction monitoring of the precursor-to-product ion transitions at m/z 283.0-268.1 for obtusifolin and m/z 329.0-314.1 for IS. The assay was linear in the concentration range 1.0-500 ng/ml with the LLOQ of 1.0 ng/ml. In the pharmacokinetic study of an intragastric administration of 1.3 mg/kg obtusifolin, the maximum plasma concentration of obtusifolin was 152.5 ± 62.3 ng/ml, reached at 0.39 ± 0.17 h. The AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞ were 491.8 ± 256.7 and 501.7 ± 256.7 ng × h/ml, respectively, with an elimination half-life of 3.1 ± 0.7 h. Obtusifolin was rapidly distributed into tissues, with the highest distribution in the liver and less in the brain. These results will give some insights for further pharmacological investigation of obtusifolin.

Raw and vinegar processed Curcuma wenyujin regulates hepatic fibrosis via bloking TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways and up-regulation of MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratio

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. (CW), a variety of Curumae Rhizoma, which documented in China Pharmacopeia, has long been used as plant medicine for its traditional effect on promoting Qi, activating blood stagnation and expelling blood stasis. Nowadays, it is often used in clinic for extraordinary effect on liver diseases. It is worthy to be noted that CW processed with vinegar has been applied in clinic for 1500 years which started in the northern and southern dynasties.

AIM OF STUDY

Liver fibrosis is a worldwide clinical issue. It is worth developing a multi-target and multicellular approach which is high efficiency and low side effects for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis. The anti-hepatic fibrosis molecular mechanisms of CW and vinegar Curcuma wenyujin (VCW) need to be explored and elucidated. Furthermore, the study aimed to discuss the efficiency and mechanism differences between CW and VCW in hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Biochemical assays and histopathology were adopted to evaluate the anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of CW and VCW. The TGF-β/Smad signaling involving TGF-β1, TGF-βRⅠ, TGF-βRⅡ and Smad2, Smad3, Smad7 in fibrosis is examined, which is a critical step towards the evaluation of anti-hepatic fibrosis agents. Meanwhile, the MMP/TIMP balance is a potential therapy target by modulating extracellular matrix, which is also examined. Both CW and VCW inhibit the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and induce apoptosis via blocking TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways. Additionally, the level of MMP-2/TIMP-1 regulated significantly, which suggest CW and VCW participate in the degradation process, and maintain the formation and production of extracellular matrix.

CONCLUSION

Raw and vinegar processed Curcuma wenyujin regulates hepatic fibrosis via bloking TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways and up-regulation of MMP-2/TIMP-1 ratio. And VCW has more exhibition than CW.

Separation of Protein-Binding Anthraquinones from Semen Cassiae Using Two-Stage Foam Fractionation

Anthraquinones are compounds of high medicinal value in many plants. Based on their good protein binding affinity, foam fractionation was attempted to separate them using proteins in the aqueous extract of Semen Cassiae as collectors. Firstly, the interaction between anthraquinones and Semen Cassiae proteins has been analyzed by the Stem–Volmer equation with physcion as a standard. The results show that physcion had good interaction with the proteins via hydrophobic forces. More importantly, the proteins effectively assisted the foam fractionation of several anthraquinones including aurantio-obtusifolin, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion. On this basis, a two-stage foam fractionation technology was developed for process intensification using a foam fractionation with vertical sieve trays (VSTs). VSTs, initial feed concentration of total anthraquinones, temperature, volumetric air flow rate and pore diameter of gas distributor had significant effects on enrichment ratio and recovery yield of anthraquinones. Under suitable conditions, the enrichment ratio of total anthraquinones reached 47.0 ± 4.5 with a concentration of 939 ± 94 mg/L in the foamate while their total recovery percentage reached more than 47.7%. In addition, foam fractionation also increased the purity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of total anthraquinones. The results had significant implications for the separation of anthraquinones from Semen Cassiae.

Nine components pharmacokinetic study of rat plasma after oral administration raw and prepared Semen Cassiae in normal and acute liver injury rats

In China, Semen Cassiae has long been used to protect liver, brighten eyes, and relieve constipation. Prepared Semen Cassiae is produced from raw Semen Cassiae by processing, the two forms of Semen Cassiae have different clinical applications. Pathological state is an important factor affecting the efficacy of drugs, the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs could be significantly changed when people or animal were under different pathological state. To clarify the effect of processing mechanism and pathological state for pharmacokinetic behavior, the pharmacokinetics of nine components of raw and prepared Semen Cassiae under normal and acute liver injury rats were examined. The results showed that the bimodal phenomenon appeared on the plasma concentration-time profiles of obtusin, emodin, chrysophanol, aloe emodin and rhein. The T_max of aurantio-obtusin, obtusin, chrysoobtusin, emodin, chrysophanol, aloe emodin, physcion in normal groups administrated prepared Semen Cassiae were shorter than those administrated raw Semen Cassiae. For the AUC_0-t , aurantio-obtusin, obtusin, chrysoobtusin, chrysophanol, aloe emodin and physcione in model groups administrated prepared Semen Cassiae were significantly higher than other groups, unlike above components, rhein had poor absorption in model groups. The study would be useful for further studies on pharmacokinetics and clinical application of raw and prepared Semen Cassiae.