The global profiling of alkaloids in Aconitum stapfianum and analysis of detoxification material basis against Fuzi

Discovery of effective combination from Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair against heart failure by spectrum-effect relationship analysis and zebrafish models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional herbal pair Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (roots and rhizomes of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, Renshen in Chinese) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, Fuzi in Chinese), composition of two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine formula, in which Shenfu decoction has been used clinically in China for the treatment of heart failure at present.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although the ginsenosides and aconite alkaloids have been proven as the essential bioactive components in Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair, the exact composition of effective components to combat heart failure are still unclear. Therefore, spectrum-effect relationship analysis was performed to reveal its effective combination for anti-heart failure effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the chemical constituents of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair were identified using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). The 39 major compounds in Renshen-Fuzi with five different compatibility ratios were simultaneously quantified using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QQQ MS/MS). Subsequently, zebrafish models induced by verapamil hydrochloride were constructed and four heart failure-related indexes were selected for pharmacodynamic evaluation of Renshen-Fuzi. To analyze the spectrum-effect relationships, partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were established among the contents of 39 compounds in Renshen-Fuzi with each pharmacodynamic index. According to the contribution of each compound to the whole efficacy, 12 compounds were finally screened out as the effective combination.

RESULTS

A total of 157 chemical compounds of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair were identified, in which 39 components were simultaneously determined. The pharmacological effects indicated that Renshen-Fuzi with 1:2 ratio exhibited the best effect based on zebrafish model, which could improve cardiac output and blood flow velocity and inhibit pericardial enlargement and venous blood stasis significantly. A combination of 9 ginsenosides and 3 aconite alkaloids based on a component-efficacy modeling by PLSR was screened, and exerted approximately equivalent pharmacological effects compared with Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings elucidated the effective combination of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair that has been used in clinic for the treatment of heart failure, which could also promote the pharmacological research and quality control of their formula such as Shenfu decoction.

Identification and quantification of eight alkaloids in Aconitum heterophyllum using UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-IMS: A valuable tool for quality control

INTRODUCTION

Aconitum spp. are prime medicinal plants rich in alkaloids and have been used as the main constituents of traditional medicine in India and China. The whole plant can be toxic and creates pathophysiological conditions inside the human body. Therefore, simultaneous quantification of alkaloids within plant parts and herbal medicines associated with this genus is essential for quality control.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop and validate methods using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight ion mobility mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-IMS) and to develop an analytical strategy for the identification and quantification of alkaloid compounds (aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, aconine, benzoylmesaconitine, benzoylaconine, bulleyaconitine A, and deoxyaconitine) from Aconitum heterophyllum.

METHODOLOGY

We developed a simultaneous identification and quantification method for eight alkaloids using UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-IMS. The method was validated as per International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines and also in IMS mode.

RESULTS

The developed method has good linearity (r²  = 0.997-0.999), LOD (0.63-8.31 μg/mL), LOQ (0.63-2.80 μg/mL), recovery (86.01-104.33%), reproducibility, intra- and inter-day variability (<3.25%), and stability. Significant qualitative and quantitative variations were found among different plant parts (flower, leaf, stem, root, and tuber) and five market products of A. heterophyllum. Furthermore, a total of 21 metabolites were also profiled based on the fragmentation pattern of MS² using the validated method.

CONCLUSION

An appropriate mobile phase using acetonitrile and water in a gradient elution gave a satisfactory chromatographic separation of eight Aconitum alkaloids with their adjacent peaks. Therefore, this method could provide a scientific and technical platform for quality control assurance.

Discovery of the directionally detoxification effect and chemical mechanism of Ginseng-Fuzi co-decoction based on real-time online filtration electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

The synergic action of compound prescriptions is an important feature and core advantage of traditional medicine. Ginseng-Fuzi decoction is a classic compatible phytomedicine in China, of which Ginseng can effectively reduce the toxicity of Fuzi in clinical, but the detoxification chemical mechanism is still unclear.

PURPOSE

Develop a novel method for real-time tracking and monitoring of complex substances in the decoction system of traditional Chinese medicine to uncover the detoxification effect Ginseng on Fuzi and explore the possible chemical reaction mechanism of Ginseng-Fuzi co-decoction.

METHODS

A novel real-time monitoring system, online filtration electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, was developed for extremely complex substances analysis in the decoction of traditional medicine compounds to uncover the directionally detoxification effect and the mechanism of compatibility interaction.

RESULTS

Nine key alkaloids and 7 ginsenosides in Ginseng-Fuzi decoction were simultaneously in-situ monitoring in positive ion mode or negative ion mode respectively. Both types of targeted analytes had satisfactory MS signal response for real-time qualitative and quantitative analysis with high precision (RSD < 14.04%) and low LLODs (0.002 ng/ml-10 ng/ml). Through long-term tracking analysis, the exact detoxification and synergistic effect of Ginseng-Fuzi decoction were confirmed as the concentration of main toxic alkaloids decreased (e.g. the content of mesaconitine has been reduced by about 38%) and the main active monoester alkaloids increased obviously. More importantly, the possible molecular mechanism of the detoxification effect of Ginseng compatibility was revealed for the first time, which was the nucleophilic substitution reaction of diester alkaloids catalyzed by fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the exact effect of co-decoction of Ginseng and Fuzi at the molecular level and the chemical reaction mechanism of fatty acid-catalyzed degradation of toxic diester-type alkaloids. The comprehensive multi-component real-time monitoring strategy for complex traditional medicine compounds developed and implemented here has important demonstration significance for revealing the scientific connotation of the compatibility of compound traditional medicine.

Norditerpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum and Delphinium: structural relevance in medicine, toxicology, and metabolism

Covering: 77 A.D. up to 2020Norditerpenoid alkaloids (NDA), typically N-ethylpiperidine containing C19 or C18 natural product diterpenes, are hexacycles with several contiguous often oxygenated stereocentres. As a function of their structural complexity, they display important pharmacological activities. The processed plants are used as important folk drugs and four NDAs have now been clinically approved. Many metabolism studies on Aconitum alkaloids have been reported as the understanding of their biotransformation in living systems and in cell-free systems is important for the development of these alkaloids as drugs. This Highlight sets out the missing links in NDA biosynthesis, their biological applications, SAR, toxicity, metabolism, and analytical studies.