Determination of organic acids for quality evaluation in Coptis herbs by ion chromatography

[Applications of ion chromatography for the analysis of Chinese herbal medicine components]

Ion chromatography (IC) is a novel high performance liquid chromatographic technique that is suitable for the separation and analysis of ionic substances in different matrix samples. Since 1975, it has been widely used in many fields, such as the environment, energy, food, and medicine. IC compensates for the separation limitations of traditional gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography and can realize the qualitative analysis and quantitative detection of strongly polar components. This chromatographic technique features not only simple operations but also rapid analysis. The sensors used in IC are characterized by high sensitivity and selectivity, and the technique can simultaneously separate and determine multiple components. Several advances in IC instrumentation and chromatographic theories have been developed in recent years. IC can analyze various types of samples, including ions, sugars, amino acids, and organic acids (bases). Chinese herbal medicines are typically characterized by highly complex chemical compositions and may contain carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, and other active components. They also contain toxic residues such as sulfur dioxide, which may be produced during the processing of medicinal materials. Therefore, the analysis and elucidation of the precise chemical constituents of Chinese herbal medicines present key problems that must be resolved in modern Chinese herbal medicine research. In this context, IC has become an important method for analyzing and identifying the complex components of Chinese herbal medicines because this method is suitable for detecting a single active ingredients among complex components. This paper introduces the different types and principles of IC as well as research progress in this technique. As the applications of IC-based methods in pharmaceutical science, cell biology, and microbiology increase, further development is necessary to expand the applications of this technique. The development of innovative techniques has enabled IC technologies to achieve higher analytical sensitivity, better selectivity, and wider application. The components of Chinese herbal medicines can be divided into endogenous and exogenous components according to their source: endogenous components include glycosides, amino acids, and organic acids, while exogenous components include toxic residues such as sulfur dioxide. Next, the applications of IC to the complex components of Chinese herbal medicines in recent decades are summarized. The most commonly used IC technologies and methods include ion exchange chromatography and conductivity detection. The advantages of IC for the analysis of alkaloids have been demonstrated. This method exhibits better characteristics than traditional analytical methods. However, the applications of IC for the speciation analysis of inorganic anions are limited. Moreover, few reports on the direct application of the technique for the determination of the main active substances in Chinese herbal medicines, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and steroids, have been reported. Finally, this paper reviews new IC technologies and their application progress in Chinese herbal medicine, focusing on their prospects for the effective separation and analysis of complex components. In particular, we discuss the available sample (on-line) pretreatment technologies and explore possible technologies for the selective and efficient enrichment and separation of different components. Next, we assess innovative research on solid-phase materials that can improve the separation effect and analytical sensitivity of IC. We also describe the features of multidimensional chromatography, which combines the advantages of various chromatographic techniques. This review provides a theoretical reference for the further development of IC technology for the analysis of the complex chemical components of Chinese herbal medicines.

Illumination on Chemical Compounds from Qufeng Zhitong Capsule and Its Potential Pharmacological Mechanism against Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS Combined with Network Pharmacology Analysis

Qufeng Zhitong capsule (QZC), a Chinese patent medicine officially approved in China for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other diseases, possesses the primary effects of dispelling wind, relieving pain, and promoting blood circulation, whose clinical applications have been confined owing to the incomplete elucidation of its chemical compositions and the underlying molecular mechanism for the treatment of RA. In this study, 61 compounds including 16 phenylpropanoids, 15 organic acids, 13 alkaloids, seven flavonoids, six iridoids, one saccharide, two aldehydes, and one saponin in QZC were simultaneously identified and traced to their herbal origins by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS), where 31 of them were unambiguously identified by reference compounds, and the other 30 were tentatively characterized. Besides, all these compounds were proven to have potential pharmacological activity in the treatment of RA based on network pharmacology analysis. In conclusion, this study first investigated the chemical composition and potential pharmacological effects of the main chemical compounds in QZC, which will contribute to the revelation of bioactive compounds in QZC and provide evidence for clinical application.

The integration of MS-based metabolomics and multivariate data analysis allows for improved quality assessment of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is consumed for health-promoting effects and as a food condiment. Comprehensive phytochemical analysis, other than gingerols and shogaols, has not yet been deeply investigated. Hence, the current research aimed to establish a non-targeted metabolomics approach for the discrimination between fresh ginger rhizome samples collected from four different producing countries, i.e., China, India, Pakistan, and Peru. In addition, lab-dried samples were analyzed to trace drying-induced metabolites. A comprehensive extraction procedure was carried out resulting in production of polar and non-polar fractions. The polar fraction was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-C18-FT-MS/MS) and gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) post derivatization. UPLC-C8-FT-MS/MS was used for analysis of non-polar fraction. Results revealed for identification of a total of 253 metabolites. In addition, multivariate data analysis (MVDA), including principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated clustering of Asian specimens. Several metabolites with a characteristic pattern for the origin revealing the highest contents of bioactive metabolites in the Peruvian product. Moreover, chemical markers identified, including [6]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol discriminating between fresh and dried samples. Furthermore, abundances of some primary metabolites, including amino acids and cinnamic acid, have confirmed the biosynthetic pathway of gingerols and their transformation upon drying to shogaols. The proposed approach can be applied as a potential candidate for quality assessment of ginger and other medicinal plants.

Iron-Enriched Nutritional Supplements for the 2030 Pharmacy Shelves

Iron deficiency (ID) affects people of all ages in many countries. Due to intestinal blood loss and reduced iron absorption, ID is a threat to IBD patients, women, and children the most. Current therapies can efficiently recover normal serum transferrin saturation and hemoglobin concentration but may cause several side effects, including intestinal inflammation. ID patients may benefit from innovative nutritional supplements that may satisfy iron needs without side effects. There is a growing interest in new iron-rich superfoods, like algae and mushrooms, which combine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with iron richness.