Direct detection of surface localized specialized metabolites from Glycyrrhiza lepidota (American licorice) by leaf spray mass spectrometry

High-throughput analysis of anthocyanins in horticultural crops using probe electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (PESI/MS/MS)

Plant secondary metabolites exhibit various horticultural traits. Simple and rapid analysis methods for evaluating these metabolites are in demand in breeding and consumer markets dealing with horticultural crops. We applied probe electrospray ionization (PESI) to evaluate secondary metabolite levels in horticultural crops. PESI does not require pre-treatment and separation of samples, which makes it suitable for high-throughput analysis. In this study, we targeted anthocyanins, one of the primary pigments in horticultural crops. Eighty-one anthocyanins were detected in approximately 3 minutes in the selected reaction-monitoring mode. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) could adequately distinguish between the fragments of anthocyanins and flavonols. Probe sampling, an intuitive method of sticking a probe directly to the sample, could detect anthocyanins qualitatively on a micro-area scale, such as achenes and receptacles in strawberry fruit. Our results suggest that PESI/MS/MS can be a powerful tool to characterize the profile of anthocyanins and compare their content among cultivars.

Study on the Comprehensive Phytochemicals and the Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Effect of Saussurea pulchella

BACKGROUND

Saussurea pulchella (SP) is a traditional medicinal plant that is widely used in folk medicine because of its diverse biological activities, particularly its anti-inflammatory effects. However, the alleviation effect of SP on ulcerative colitis (UC) has not yet been realized.

PURPOSE

To investigate the chemical composition and therapeutic effect of SP extract against UC.

METHODS

First, qualitative and quantitative analysis of SP 75% ethanol extract was performed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Second, a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model of UC mice was developed to study the effects of SP on the symptoms, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indexes and colon histopathology. Third, an integration of network pharmacology with metabolomics was performed to investigate the key metabolites, biological targets and metabolisms closely related to the effect of SP.

RESULTS

From the SP ethanol extract, 149 compounds were identified qualitatively and 20 were determined quantitatively. The SP could dose-dependently decrease the DAI score, spleen coefficient and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, MPO and MDA; increase the colon length, GSH level and SOD activity; and protect the intestinal barrier in the UC mice. Moreover, 10 metabolite biomarkers,18 targets and 5 metabolisms were found to play crucial roles in the treatment of UC with SP.

CONCLUSIONS

SP 75% ethanol extract could effectively alleviate the progression of UC and, therefore, could be classified as a novel natural treatment for UC.

Chemical analysis of the Chinese herbal medicine licorice (Gan-Cao): An update review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Licorice, called Gan-Cao in China, is one of the most popular traditional herbal medicines. It is derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata. Licorice is recorded in the pharmacopoeias of China, Japan, US, and Europe.

AIM

This review updates research progress of licorice from the perspectives of chemical analysis, quality evaluation, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetic studies from 2009 to April 2022.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both English and Chinese literatures were collected from databases including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, and CNKI (Chinese). Licorice, extraction, structural characterization/identification, quality control, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics were used as keywords.

RESULTS

Newly developed analytical methods, including LC/UV, 2DLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for chemical analysis of licorice were summarized.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a comprehensive summary on chemical analysis of licorice.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Apium graveolens L. extracts mitigate against fatal acetaminophen-induced acute liver toxicity

In the present work, antioxidant activity, total phenolics (TP), and total flavonoids (TF) contents of aqueous and methanol extracts of celery were determined, in addition to untargeted metabolites profiling its methanol celery root extract (MCRE) via UPLC-MS. Although MCRE exhibited the lowest TPC and TFC levels, it presented the most potential hydroxyl radical quenching effect using electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping technique. Treatment of Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity (AAH) rats with MCRE lowered serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TNF-α, and IL-1β significantly. Additionally, MCRE significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) levels relative to AAH rats. Strikingly, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of all groups revealed a 100% prevention of acetaminophen-induced mortality of rats by MCRE pretreatment (100 mg/kg/day). MCRE prevented AAH-associated severe weight loss and elicited normal behavior in the rescued rats. Our results suggest that pretreatment with MCRE can mitigate against overdosed acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure and warrant further investigations on the potential of postinjury intervention. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity (AAH) accounts for alerting numbers of overdose-related acute liver failure and liver transplant cases with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Currently proposed mechanisms implicate mitochondria-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of AAH, which underline current interventions employing antioxidants to combat liver damage by over-dosed acetaminophen. The present work uncovers potent protective effects of some celery extracts (and their fractions) against acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Treatment of rats with fatal liver injury with methanol extract of celery root significantly reduced secretion of liver enzymes and markedly decreased inflammatory as well as oxidative stress markers in these animals. This, in turn, rescued challenged rats exposed to fatal doses of acetaminophen completely, which establishes methanol extracts of celery roots as effective therapeutic intervention against AAH. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined using EPR technique, and the secondary metabolites related to antioxidant activity were characterized via UPLC-MS.

Leaf Spray Mass Spectrometry: A Rapid Ambient Ionization Technique to Directly Assess Metabolites from Plant Tissues

Plants produce thousands of small molecules that are diverse in their chemical properties. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful technique for analyzing plant metabolites because it provides molecular weights with high sensitivity and specificity. Leaf spray MS is an ambient ionization technique where plant tissue is used for direct chemical analysis via electrospray, eliminating chromatography from the process. This approach to sampling metabolites allows for a wide range of chemical classes to be detected simultaneously from intact plant tissues, minimizing the amount of sample preparation needed. When used with a high-resolution, accurate mass MS, leaf spray MS facilitates the rapid detection of metabolites of interest. It is also possible to collect tandem mass fragmentation data with this technique to facilitate a compound identification. The combination of accurate mass measurements and fragmentation is beneficial in confirming compound identities. The leaf spray MS technique requires only minor modifications to a nanospray ionization source and is a useful tool to further expand the capabilities of a mass spectrometer. Here, fresh leaf tissue from Sceletium tortuosum (Aizoaceae), a traditional medicinal plant from South Africa, is analyzed; numerous mesembrine alkaloids are detected with leaf spray MS.