Quality marker prediction in Trillium tschonoskii based on UHPLC-MS chemical characterisation and network pharmacology

Hydroxyl groups introducing NMR strategy for structural elucidation of a heptasaccharide isolated from Trillium tschonoskii

A heptasaccharide was isolated from an active fraction of Trillium tschonoskii using HILIC and high-temperature PGC chromatography methods. UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis gave this oligosaccharide a degree of polymerization (DP) of 7 and MS/MS showed that it has a six-carbon aldehyde glucan structure with the possible chain 1 → 4 connected. The structure was determined by series 1D and 2D NMR in two solvents D2O and DMSO‑d6. Using 1H resonances of the -OH groups as the starting point and HSQC-TOCSY on the covalent structure definition for structural elucidation allowed this heptasaccharide to be uncovered. This heptasaccharide was elucidated as maltoheptaose via complete assignment of 1H and 13C with jigsaw H-C-OH pieces produced by HSQC-TOCSY at increasing mixing time. The significance of identifying maltoheptaose in Trillium tschonoskii indicates the high potential of -OH introducing strategy for other oligosaccharides' structural determination with relatively higher DP.

Trillium tschonoskii rhizome saponin improves spatial learning and memory by enhancing neurovascular restorative in ischemic rats

BACKGROUND

Trillium tschonoskii rhizome saponins (TSTT) has been significantly effective in treating traumatic injury, neurasthenia, cancer and inflammatory diseases as a folk medicine. However, the mechanism regarding to TSTT induced the neurovascular restorative after ischemia is without fully elucidated.

PURPOSE

This research was constructed to study the value of TSTT in promoting endogenous repair of neurovascular and augmenting the ability of spatial study and memory retention in ischaemic rats.

STUDY DESIGN

The improvement of TSTT on cerebral infraction and perfusion was observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments and the molecular mechanisms were further explored.

METHODS

First, rats were ligated the middle cerebral artery to construct a permanent ischaemia model, subsequently intragastric injection administrated with TSTT (120, 60, 30 mg kg-1) at 6 h after operation, then once a day during next 30 days. Morris water maze was applied to observe the neurobehavioral changes. Multimodal MRI sequences were performed to monitoring brain injuries as well as cerebral blood flow. Histopathological staining was employed to evaluate the morphological changes of neurons. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to detect the neurons, vascular structure, and synapse. Immunofluorescent staining was utilized to evaluate the endogenous repair progress. The axonal growth-inhibitors and axonal guidance cues were analyzed using western blotting.

RESULTS

Contrast to the model group, TSTT declined the infarction and elevated the parenchymal volume. Notably, treated with TSTT significantly decreased the ADC (ipsilateral/contralateral). In histopathologic examination, TSTT prominently boosted amounts of cortical and striatal nerve cells and protected ultrastructure of neurovascular unit. According with results of nuclear magnetic imaging, TSTT enhanced endogenous repair progress. Especially, TSTT treatments obviously inhibited protein levels of NogoA/NgR/RhoA/ROCK2, accompanied by increased expression of Netrin/DCC and Slit2/Robo1.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, our data illustrated that TSTT promoted cerebral reestablishment. The above result was in line with improving cerebral blood flow, elevated integrity of neurovascular structure, accelerating endogenous restoration and impairing the axonal growth inhibitors NogoA/NgR/RhoA/ROCK2 signaling, thereby improving poststroke learning and memory.

NADES extraction, UHPLC-ELSD-based quantification, and network pharmacology-guided target identification of fourteen specialised metabolites from Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don

INTRODUCTION

Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don is a folk medicinal herb rich in structurally diverse steroidal saponins. The annual demand for this herb in India is about 200-500 metric tons, highlighting the need for a thorough quality assessment.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to develop an easy and reliable ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (UHPLC-ELSD)-based quality assessment method with 14 specialised metabolites of T. govanianum and identify the potential targets of this herb using network pharmacology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A UHPLC-ELSD method was developed and validated with 14 markers of T. govanianum. The developed method and natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-assisted extraction were utilised for the recovery enhancement study of targeted specialised metabolites from rhizome samples (collected from five geographically distinct areas). In addition, the network pharmacology approach was performed for these 14 markers to predict the plausible biological targets of T. govanianum.

RESULT

The developed method showed good linearity (r2: 0.940-0.998), limit of detection (LOD) (2.4-9.0 μg), limit of quantification (LOQ) (7.92-29.7 μg), precision (intra-day relative standard deviations [RSDs] 0.77%-1.96% and inter-day RSDs 2.19-4.97%), and accuracy (83.24%-118.90%). NADES sample TG-1* showed the highest recovery (yield: 167.66 ± 4.39 mg/g of dry weight) of total saponin content (TSC) as compared to its hydroethanolic extract (yield: 103.95 ± 5.36 mg/g of dry weight). Sample TG-1* was the most favourable (yield: 167.66 ± 4.39 mg/g) in terms of TSC as compared to other analysed samples (32.68 ± 1.04-88.22 ± 6.79 mg/g). Govanoside D (yield: 3.43-28.06 mg/g), 22β-hydroxyprotodioscin (yield: 3.22-114.79 mg/g), and dioscin (yield: 1.07-20.82 mg/g) were quantified as the major metabolites. Furthermore, network pharmacology analysis of targeted 14 markers indicated that these molecules could be possible therapeutic agents for managing neuralgia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperalgesia.

CONCLUSION

The current study represents the first report for the simultaneous quantification and a network pharmacology-based analysis of 14 chemical marker compounds isolated from T. govanianum.

Research on quality marker based on the processing from Aconiti lateralis radix praeparata to Heishunpian

INTRODUCTION

Aconiti lateralis radix praeparata (ALRP), the sub root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., is a traditional Chinese medicine with good pharmacological effects. Heishunpian (HSP), prepared through the process of brine immersing, boiling, rinsing, dyeing, and steaming ALRP is one of the most widely used forms of decoction pieces in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of component changes and transformations during the processing from ALRP to HSP, and to screen for their quality markers through UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis.

METHODS

Samples from ALRP to HSP during processing were prepared and analyzed by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. By comparing the differences between before and after each processing step, the purpose of processing and the transformation of components during processing were studied. In addition, multiple batches of ALRP and HSP were determined, and potential quality markers were screened.

RESULTS

Through the analysis of ALRP and five key processing samples, 55 components were identified. Immersing in brine, rinsing, and dyeing were the main factors of component loss, and boiling caused a slight loss of components. Some components were enhanced during the steaming process. Combining the screened differences components between multiple ALRP and HSP, 10 components were considered as potential quality biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the adjacent hydroxyl groups of the ester group may have a positive impact on the hydrolysis of the ester group, and 10 quality markers were preliminarily screened. It provides a reference for quality control and clinical application of ALRP and HSP.

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry combined with network pharmacology for analysis of potential quality markers of three processed products of Qingpi

Qingpi, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for qi-regulating and commonly processed into three types of pieces, has been widely used in the clinical application of liver disease for thousands of years. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry approach along with multivariate statistical analysis was developed to assess and characterize the differentiations of three processed products and confirm the potential quality markers of Qingpi. In addition, a systematic analysis combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking was performed to clarify the potential mechanism of Qingpi for the treatment of liver disease. As a result, 18 components were identified and an integrated network of Qingpi-Components-Target-Pathway-Liver Disease was constructed. Eight compounds were finally screened out as the potential quality markers acting on ten main targets and pathways of liver disease. Molecular docking analysis results indicated that the quality markers had a good binding activity with the targets. Overall, this work preliminarily identified the potential quality markers of three processed products of Qingpi, and predicted its targets in the prevention and treatment of liver disease, which can provide supporting information for further study of the pharmacodynamic substances and mechanisms of Qingpi.