Comprehensive evaluation of Loblolly fruit by high performance liquid chromatography four wavelength fusion fingerprint combined with gas chromatography fingerprinting and antioxidant activity analysis

A new method to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Tianma Toutong tablets by multiple fingerprints combined with quantitative analysis and prescription analysis

Tianma Toutong Tablets (TMTTTs) are composed of six traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), and there is currently no comprehensive method to evaluate the quality of TMTTT. To ensure its quality, it is necessary to propose methods for evaluation and control. To address the issue, we established an HPLC and electrochemical fingerprint of TMTTT and quantify eight components-Gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, chlorogenic acid, parishin A, ferulic acid, hesperidin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin. We used the Sub-quantified profiling method (SQPM) to calculate the actual contribution value of each individual herb and evaluated and predicted the quality of the compound medication. In addition, electrochemical fingerprinting (ECFP) was established using a Belousov-Zhabotinsky (B-Z) oscillation system in which six characteristic electrochemical parameters were recorded to compare the differences between batches. Finally, a compound synthesizing fingerprint (CSF) of TMTTT was developed by fitting the compounds of the six herbs, the contribution of individual herbs to the prescription was evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to downscale the data of different fingerprint profiles to assist the analysis process. The rational combination of multidimensional fingerprinting and PCA provided a comprehensive and reliable method for the evaluation of TMTTT and other TCM compound preparations, SQPM could effectively link single herbs to compound preparations, avoiding the use of non-compliant TCMs at source and improving the quality of compound preparations.

Quality evaluation of Keteling capsules based on fingerprinting, multicomponent quantification, and quantitative prediction

The Keteling capsule (KC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) made from the dried extract of Ficus microphylla and an appropriate amount of chlorpheniramine maleate. It is widely used to treat cough and relieve asthma. Despite its extensive usage, a rapid and comprehensive quality evaluation strategy for KC remains a challenge. This study introduces an electrochemical fingerprint analysis technique, in addition to the commonly employed HPLC fingerprints, for efficient and convenient quality evaluation. Moreover, a cost-effective, rapid, and accurate multi-component quantification technique known as the "Multi-markers assay by the monolinear method (MAML)" and the "FT-IR quantitative model" were explored. The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated using a systematically quantified fingerprint method, while the electrochemical fingerprints, based on the Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillation reaction principle, were effectively analyzed and characterized using oxidation induction times and oscillation lifetimes. Multi-component quantitative analysis was carried out through the MAML and FT-IR quantitative models. The HPLC fingerprint successfully classified the 22 samples into eight grades with excellent discrimination. Active ingredient content analysis was achieved using reliable parameters obtained from electrochemical fingerprinting. The no significant difference in the quantitative results proves the accuracy of the MAML method. Additionally, successful FT-IR quantitative prediction models were developed for chlorogenic acid, isovitexin, and chlorpheniramine maleate. This study offers a dependable and effective approach for enhancing the quality control of KC, and it can provide new insights for improving the quality analysis methods in the field of TCM.

Regulation and standardization of herbal drugs: Current status, limitation, challenge's and future prospective

Herbal drugs (HD) or traditional drugs have been used worldwide for centuries, especially in the developing countries. Global market of HD reaches billion of USD annually and increases every year. For ensuring the safety and efficacy of HD, the Drug Agency/Authority issues regulations for the registration & application of new HD, their manufacturing processes, controlling and monitoring in the market. The efficacy and safety of HD depend on their whole chemical contents. Quality assessment of HD should be performed using standardization methods according to the current Pharmacopoeias or Materia Medica. Unfortunately, the official methods of the compendia cannot be applied for evaluation of mixed herbs and their preparations.; HD's producers should develop, validate, and standardize the method for the quality assessment of their own specific products. Therefore, assuring the safety and efficacy of HD remains a challenging task due to the complex nature of HD, that typically consist of many constituents of herbs/extracts whose quality may vary among different sources of materials. This present review will describe, compare, and discuss the regulations and standardization methods of HD from US, EU countries, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia. The official standardization methods of HD, their current criteria, limitations, challenge and future prospective will be described and discussed. Official methods for quality assessment of HD should be state of the art, fast, low-cost, accurate and precise, and could be used for evaluation of all kinds of HD.

Holistically assessing the quality consistency of compound liquorice tablets from similarities of both all chemical fingerprints and the integrated dissolution curves by systematically quantified fingerprint method

In recent years, traditional analytical methods have failed to meet the widespread use of multi-component Chinese pharmaceutical formulations. To solve this problem, this study proposed a comprehensive analytical strategy using compound liquorice tablets (CLTs) as an example, both in terms of chemical quality and dissolution curve consistency. Firstly, the peak purity of the two wavelengths was checked using dual-wavelength absorbance coefficient ratio spectra (DARS) to avoid the fingerprint bias caused by peak purity. Secondly, liquid-phase dual-wavelength tandem fingerprint (DWTF) of 38 batches of CLTs was established for the first time. The two analytical methods were also evaluated using the systematically quantified fingerprint method (SQFM), and the 38 batches of samples were classified into two grades with good quality consistency. Quantitative analysis of the five markers of CLTs was performed simultaneously using the standard curve method (SCM) and the quantitative analysis of multiple components by single marker (QAMS). The results showed no significant differences between the two analytical methods (p > 0.5). In addition, the in vitro dissolution of CLTs in two media (pure water and pH = 4.5 medium) was determined by the total UV fingerprint dissolution assay. The similarity of the dissolution curves was also analyzed by combining the f₂ factor and the dissolution-systematically quantified fingerprint method (DSQFM). The result showed that most of the samples had f₂ > 50 and P_m satisfied the range of 70-130%. Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) model was developed to combine the evaluation parameters of chemical fingerprint and dissolution curves for comprehensive analysis of the samples. In this study, a chromatographic and dissolution-based quality analysis method was proposed, which effectively overcomes the shortcomings of previous analytical methods and provides a scientific analytical method for the quality control of natural drugs.

Study on quality control of Zuojin pill by HPLC fingerprint with quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker method and antioxidant activity analysis

Current quality control methods for Zuojin Pill (ZJP) lack comprehensiveness and practicability. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive strategy for the quality evaluation of ZJP and the prediction of potential bioactive components in ZJP. First, an HPLC method with excellent separation of main components was developed and was used to establish the chromatographic fingerprint of ZJP. Similarities were calculated by comparing 28 batches of ZJPs with the reference fingerprint and the resulting similarity values were all greater than 0.976. The 28 samples were classified into different groups according to their origins by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, Principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Based on the classification, eight quality markers (Q-Markers) affecting the quality of ZJP were discovered. Then, using berberine as an internal standard substance, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker method (QAMS) for the determination of eight Q-markers was developed. The results showed that there was no significant difference between QAMS and external standard method (P＞0.05). Finally, using an off-line antioxidant system and partial least-squares model (PLS), the fingerprint-efficacy relationship of ZJP was constructed to explore and predict the bioactive components in ZJP. The present study strategy could be also applied to comprehensive quality study of other TCMs.

Quantification of Chemical Groups and Quantitative HPLC Fingerprint of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf

(1)Objective: In this study, a quantitative analysis of chemical groups (the triterpenoids, water-soluble polysaccharides, and acidic polysaccharides) and quantitative high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (PC) for quality control was developed. (2) Methodology: First, three main chemical groups, including triterpenoids, water-soluble polysaccharides, and acidic polysaccharides, in 16 batches of PC were evaluated by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Afterward, the quantitative fingerprint of PC was established, and the alcohol extract of PC was further evaluated. The method involves establishing 16 batches of PC fingerprints by HPLC, evaluating the similarity of different batches of PC, and identifying eight bioactive components, including poricoic acid B (PAB), dehydrotumulosic acid (DTA), poricoic acid A (PAA), polyporenic acid C (PAC), 3-epidehydrotumulosic acid (EA), dehydropachymic acid (DPA), dehydrotrametenolic acid (DTA-1), and dehydroeburicoic acid (DEA), in PC by comparison with the reference substance. Combined with the quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single marker (QAMS), six bioactive ingredients, including PAB, DTA, PAC, EA, DPA, and DEA, in PC from different places were established. In addition, the multivariate statistical analyses, such as principal component analysis and heatmap hierarchical clustering analysis are more intuitive, and the visual analysis strategy was used to evaluate the content of bioactive components in 16 batches of PC. Finally, the analysis strategy of three main chemical groups in PC was combined with the quantitative fingerprint strategy, which reduced the error caused by the single method. (3) Results: The establishment of a method for the quantification of chemical groups and quantitative HPLC fingerprint of PC was achieved as demonstrated through the quantification of six triterpenes in PC by a single marker. (4) Conclusions: Through qualitative and quantitative chemical characterization, a multi-directional, simple and efficient routine evaluation method of PC quality was established. The results reveal that this strategy can provide an analytical method for the quality evaluation of PC and other Chinese medicinal materials.

Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription in Naolingsu Capsule Based on Combinative Method of Fingerprint, Quantitative Determination, and Chemometrics

BACKGROUND

Naolingsu capsule (NLSC) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription in China. It is widely used to treat neurasthenia, insomnia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and other diseases. However, its inalienable chemical groups have not been carried out.

METHODS

We first established the nontargeted investigation based on fingerprinting coupled with UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS. Second, the quantitative methods based on HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS were connected to the synchronous quantitative assurance of eleven and fourteen marker compounds. Finally, the quantitative information was processed with SIMCA-P for differentiating the distinctive bunches of samples to screen the foremost appropriate chemical markers.

RESULTS

The similarity of HPLC fingerprints of 24 batches of NLSC samples was 0.645-0.992. In total, 37 flavonoids, 21 organic acids, 22 lignans, 13 saponins, and 20 other compounds were recognized in NLSC by the UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS method. The quantitative determination was approved for linearity, discovery limits, accuracy, repeatability, soundness, and precision. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models accomplished the great classification of the samples from the five enterprises, respectively. Rehmannioside D (RD), methylophiopogonanone A (MPA), 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose (DS), schisandrin B (SSB), epimedin C (EC), icariin (ICA), and jujuboside B (JB) were considered as the potential chemical markers for NLSC quality control.

CONCLUSION

The experimental results illustrated that the combinative strategy was valuable for quick pharmaceutical quality assessment, which can potentially differentiate the origin, decide the realness, and assess the overall quality of the formulation.

Reliability evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine fingerprints combined with qualitative and quantitative analysis and antioxidant activity to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium

Comprehensive evaluation of Citri Reticulatae Pericapium quality by HPLC, UV and antioxidant activity.