Characterization of phenolics of Sarcandra glabra by non-targeted high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting and following targeted electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry/time-of-flight mass spectrometry analyses

Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by promoting restitution, restoring barrier function, and modulating IL-17/Notch1/FoxP3 pathway in intestinal cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sarcandra glabra is officially named Zhong Jie Feng as a traditional medicine. In the nationality of Yao and Zhuang, it has been used to treat digestive diseases like stomachache and dysentery. Similarly, in Dai nationality, it has been used to treat intestinal diseases like gastric ulcers. However, the effect and mechanism of S. glabra on experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) are known.

AIM OF STUDY

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of S. glabra on experimental UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical components in the water extract of S. glabra (ZJF) were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS method. The HCoEpiC cell line was used to assess the promotive effect on intestinal proliferation and restitution. RAW264.7 cells were used to assess the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of ZJF. The 3% DSS-induced colitis model was used to evaluate the in vivo effect of ZJF (4.5 g/kg and 9.0 g/kg). Mesalazine (0.5 g/kg) was used as the positive drug. ELISA, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and multiplex immunohistochemical experiments were used to test gene levels in the colon tissue. The H&E staining method was used to monitor the pathological changes of colon tissue. TUNEL assay kit was used to detect apoptosis of epithelial colonic cells.

RESULTS

ZJF could alleviate the DSS-caused colitis in colon tissues, showing a comparative effect to that of the positive drug mesalazine. Mechanism study indicated that ZJF could promote normal colonic HCoEpiC cell proliferation and restitution, inhibit overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, restore the M1/M2 ratio, decrease epithelial colonic cell apoptosis, rescue tight junction protein levels, and modulate IL-17/Notch1/FoxP3 pathway to treat experimental UC.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that S. glabra can promote intestinal cell restitution, balance immune response, and modulate IL-17/Notch1/FoxP3 pathway to treat experimental UC.

Integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses unravel a series of early defence responses in Sarcandra glabra against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides critically threatens the growth and commercial cultivation of Sarcandra glabra . However, the defence responses and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the molecular reprogramming in S. glabra leaves infected with C. gloeosporioides . Leaf tissues at 0, 24 and 48h post-inoculation (hpi) were analysed by combining RNA sequencing and Tandem Mass Tag-based liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In total, 18 441 and 25 691 differentially expressed genes were identified at 24 and 48hpi compared to 0hpi (uninoculated control), respectively. In addition, 1240 and 1570 differentially abundant proteins were discovered at 24 and 48hpi compared to 0hpi, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that transcription and translation levels were highly consistent regarding repeatability and expression. Analyses using databases KEGG and iPATH revealed tricitric acid cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were induced, whereas photosynthesis and tryptophan were suppressed. Enzymatic activity assay results were consistent with the upregulation of defence-related enzymes including superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases and chitinases. The transcriptome expression results were additionally validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. This study provides insights into the molecular reprogramming in S. glabra leaves during infection, which lay a foundation for investigating the mechanisms of host-Colletotrichum interactions and breeding disease-resistant plants.

A comprehensive review on the chemical constituents, sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis and biological activities of Sarcandra glabra

Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai is a perennial evergreen herb categorised within the Sarcandra Gardner genus under the Chloranthaceae family. Indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia and India, this species is extensively distributed across China, particularly in the southern regions (Sichuan, Yunnan, and Jiangxi). In addition to its high ornamental value, S. glabra has a rich history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, evident through its empirical prescriptions for various ailments like pneumonia, dysentery, fractures, bruises, numbness, amenorrhea, rheumatism, and other diseases. Besides, modern pharmacological studies have revealed various biological activities, such as antitumour, anti-bacterial, anti-viral anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The diverse chemical constituents of S. glabra have fascinated natural product researchers since the 1900s. To date, over 400 compounds including terpenoids, coumarins, lignans, flavonoids, sterols, anthraquinones, organic acids, and organic esters have been isolated and characterised, some featuring unprecedented structures. This review comprehensively examines the current understanding of S. glabra's phytochemistry and pharmacology, with emphasis on the chemistry and biosynthesis of its unique chemotaxonomic marker, the lindenane-type sesquiterpenoids.

Spectrum-Effect Relationship between HPLC Fingerprint and Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub

The predominant objective of the research is to establish the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of Chloranthus fortunei (A. Gray) Solms-Laub (CF), to reveal the pharmacodynamic basis of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CF. The fingerprints of ten batches of CF from various origins were established by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and evaluated for similarity, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of CF were evaluated with the xylene-induced ear swelling in mice and the acetic acid torsion test, while the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of CF was evaluated by gray relational analysis (GRA) and partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR) to effectively elucidate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic substance basis of CF. The ten batches of CF HPLC fingerprints established in this work successfully identified a total of 13 common peaks that refer to 4 components, with peak 1 being neochlorogenic acid, peak 3 being chlorogenic acid, peak 5 being cryptochlorogenic acid, and peak 10 being rosmarinic acid. The HCA results presented that the ten batches of CF samples were clustered into 3 categories, which was consistent with the PCA results. Simultaneously, the results of the spectrum-effect relationship also indicated that neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid were the possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances of CF. In order to better understand the anti-inflammatory and analgesic substance basis of CF, this experiment established the anti-inflammatory and analgesic spectrum-effect relationship of CF, which can provide a scientific foundation for the quality evaluation and further research as well as the usage of CF herbs.

Identification, quantitative and bioactivity analyses of aroma and alcohol-soluble components in flowers of Gardenia jasminoides and its variety during different drying processes

Gardenia jasminoides is an important ornamental greening plant with medicinal and edible values. This study investigated volatile constituents, alcoholic components and physiological activities on flowers of G. jasminoides Ellis and its variety. It was found that a total of 56 volatile components were identified, and terpenoids and esters were the main compounds to distinguish these species. Furthermore, the alcohol-soluble extracts of G. jasminoides flowers have the high contents of total phenols and total flavonoids, with potential antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. In addition, nine compounds were identified, whose distribution in petals and stamens of G. jasminoides were significantly dissimilar. The contents of flavonoids and phenolics were stable after blanching confirmed by our findings, while iridoids were remarkably higher after freeze-drying (FD) and hot-air drying (HD). This research provides evidences that the fragrance, active components and activity of flowers of these species were affected by species, flower parts and processing methods.

Study on HPLC Fingerprint, Network Pharmacology, and Antifungal Activity of Rumex japonicus Houtt

Background

Rumex japonicus Houtt (R. japonicus) is used mainly to treat various skin diseases in Southeast Asia. However, there are few studies on its quality evaluation methods and antifungal activity.

Objective

To establish the quality control criteria for the effective parts from R. japonicus against psoriasis.

Methods

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established for its fingerprint, and the similarity evaluation, cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to reveal the differences of those fingerprints among the tested R. japonicus. Network pharmacology analyzed the relationship between the components and psoriasis, revealing the potential targets of R. japonicus. Oxford cup anti-C. albicans experiment was used to verify the antifungal activity of R. japonicus.

Results

HPLC was developed for the R. japonicus fingerprint by optimizing for 10 batches of quinquennial R. japonicus from different habitats; the 18 common peaks were identified with 10 characteristic peaks such as rutin, quercetin, aloe-emodin, nepodin, emodin, musizin-8-O-β-D-glucoside, chrysophanol, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and aloin, respectively. The network pharmacology-based analysis showed a high correlation between R. japonicus and psoriasis, revealing the potential targets of R. japonicus. The oxford cup anti-Candida albicans experiment displayed a significant activity response to emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and the ethyl acetate fraction of R. japonicus acidic aqueous extract.

Conclusions

A new and optimized HPLC method was created, and the research provides an experimental basis for the development of effective drugs related to C. albicans.

Highlights

The fingerprint of R. japonicus was organically combined with network pharmacology to further clarify its criteria for quality control.

Assessment of the Potential of Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai. in Treating Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats Based on Metabolomics and Network Analysis

Gastric ulcer (GU) is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases worldwide, threatening human health and seriously affecting quality of life. Reports have shown that the Chinese herbal medicine Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (SGN) can treat GU. However, its pharmacological effects deserve further validation; in addition, its mechanism of action is unclear. An acute gastric ulcer (AGU) rat model induced by alcohol was used to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of SGN by analysis of the histopathological changes in stomach tissue and related cytokine levels; the potential mechanisms of action of SGN were investigated via serum metabolomics and network pharmacology. Differential metabolites of rat serum were identified by metabolomics and the metabolic pathways of the identified metabolites were enriched via MetaboAnalyst. Furthermore, the critical ingredients and candidate targets of SGN anti-AGU were elucidated. A compound-reaction-enzyme-gene network was established using Cytoscape version 3.8.2 based on integrated analysis of metabolomics and network pharmacology. Finally, molecular docking was applied to verify the acquired key targets. The results showed that SGN exerted a certain gastroprotective effect via multiple pathways and targets. The effects of SGN were mainly caused by the key active ingredients isofraxidin, rosmarinic, and caffeic acid, which regulate hub targets, such as PTGS2, MAPK1, and KDR, which maintain the homeostasis of related metabolites. Signal pathways involved energy metabolism as well as immune and amino acid metabolism. Overall, the multi-omics techniques were proven to be promising tools in illuminating the mechanism of action of SGN in protecting against diseases. This integrated strategy provides a basis for further research and clinical application of SGN.

Consequences of LED Lights on Root Morphological Traits and Compounds Accumulation in Sarcandra glabra Seedlings

This study evaluated the effects of different light spectra (white light; WL, blue light; BL and red light; RL) on the root morphological traits and metabolites accumulation and biosynthesis in Sarcandra glabra. We performed transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling by RNA-seq and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS), respectively. When morphological features were compared to WL, BL substantially increased under-ground fresh weight, root length, root surface area, and root volume, while RL inhibited these indices. A total of 433 metabolites were identified, of which 40, 18, and 68 compounds differentially accumulated in roots under WL (WG) vs. roots under BL (BG), WG vs. roots under RL (RG), and RG vs. BG, respectively. In addition, the contents of sinapyl alcohol, sinapic acid, fraxetin, and 6-methylcoumarin decreased significantly in BG and RG. In contrast, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinyl glucoside, quercitrin and quercetin were increased considerably in BG. Furthermore, the contents of eight terpenoids compounds significantly reduced in BG. Following transcriptomic profiling, several key genes related to biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid-derived and terpenoids metabolites were differentially expressed, such as caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase) (COMT), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT), O-methyltransferase (OMT), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthetase (DXS). In summary, our findings showed that BL was suitable for growth and accumulation of bioactive metabolites in root tissue of S. glabra. Exposure to a higher ratio of BL might have the potential to improve the production and quality of S. glabra seedlings, but this needs to be confirmed further.

Effects of Various Processing Methods on the Metabolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Dendrobium catenatum Lindley Leaves

The metabolite profiles and antioxidant activity of Dendrobium catenatum Lindley leaf, a new functional ingredient for food product development, were evaluated in samples that had been prepared using various methods, including freeze-drying, hot-air drying, rolling before drying, steaming before drying, steaming and rolling before drying, and drying at 100, 80, and 60 °C. The concentrations of polysaccharides and flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant capacity of each sample, were determined. Furthermore, two nucleosides, four amino acids, one monoaromatic compound, and eight flavonoids were identified in dried leaves using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray ionization-multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn) and ultraviolet (UV) spectral analyses. The content of polar compounds such as cytidylic acid, arginine, tyrosine, and hydroxybenzoic acid hexose increased dramatically during hot-air-drying and rolling-before-drying treatments, while flavonol C-glycosides remained stable throughout the various treatments and drying temperatures. Rolling before drying at 100 °C was identified as the most suitable process when manufacturing tea products from D. catenatum leaves. This process resulted in a high-antioxidant-activity and visually appealing tea. This report details a potential strategy that should be applied in the manufacturing processes of high-quality products from D. catenatum leaves.

Comprehensive chemical study on different organs of cultivated and wild Sarcandra glabra using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS)

To illuminate the similarities and differences between wild and cultivated Sarcandra glabra (S. glabra), we performed a comprehensively study on 26 batches of cultivated S. glabra and 2 batches of wild S. glabra. Chemical constituents and distribution characteristics of roots, stems and leaves in both wild and cultivated S. glabra were investigated through UHPLC-TOF-MS method. The result revealed that there were significant differences between roots, stems and leaves in S. glabra. And the chemical contents in the root part were less or even absence than those in leaf and stem, which suggested the root organ could be excluded as medicine. Meanwhile, the chemical contents of stems and leaves in cultivated S. glabra was sightly higher than that of wild samples. Therefore, cultivated S. glabra may have a high potential for substitution of wild S. glabra without affecting its pharmaceutical properties. In summary, our study could provide important information to the molecular basis for quality control of S. glabra.

Monoterpene-flavonoid conjugates from Sarcandra glabra and their autophagy modulating activities

Fourteen new monoterpene-flavonoid conjugates including four monoterpene-conjugated chalcones (glabratins A-D, 1-4), seven monoterpene-conjugated dihydrochalcones (glabratins E-K, 5-11), and three monoterpene-conjugated flavanones (glabratins L-N, 12-14), together with four known analogues (15-18) were isolated from the aerial parts of Sarcandra glabra. The structures and the absolute configurations of these compounds were elucidated by the spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1, 4-6, 9-14, and 18 showed obvious cell autophagy-inducing activities at 25 μM in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, the bioassay results also showed that 18 induced cell autophagy in a dose dependent manner. Our findings revealed a rare class of monoterpene-flavonoid conjugates in nature and firstly reported their autophagy-inducing activities.

Rosmarinic Acid Regulates Microglial M1/M2 Polarization via the PDPK1/Akt/HIF Pathway Under Conditions of Neuroinflammation

Microglia are resident macrophage-like cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The induction of microglial activation dampens neuroinflammation-related diseases by promoting microglial (re)polarization to the anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype and can serve as a potential therapeutic approach. Mitochondrial respiration and metabolic reprogramming are required for the anti-inflammatory response of M2 macrophages. However, whether these mitochondrial-dependent pathways are involved in microglial (re)polarization to the anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype under conditions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation remains unclear. Moreover, the mechanisms that coordinate mitochondrial respiration and the functional reprogramming of microglial cells have not been fully elucidated. Rosmarinic acid (RA) possesses antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, and we previously reported that RA markedly suppresses LPS-stimulated M1 microglial activation in mice. In this study, we found that RA suppresses M1 microglial polarization and promotes microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype under conditions of neuroinflammation. We identified an increase in mitochondrial respiration and found that metabolic reprogramming is required for the RA-mediated promotion of microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype under LPS-induced neuroinflammation conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) subunits are the key effector molecules responsible for the effects of RA on the restoration of mitochondrial function, metabolic reprogramming, and phenotypic polarization to M2 microglia. The phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDPK1)/Akt/mTOR pathway is involved in the RA-mediated regulation of HIF expression and increase in M2 marker expression. We propose that the inhibition of PDPK1/Akt/HIFs by RA might be a potential therapeutic approach for inhibiting neuroinflammation through the regulation of microglial M1/M2 polarization. Graphical abstract Schematic of the mechanism through which RA suppresses LPS-induced neuroinflammation by promoting microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype via PDPK1/Akt/HIFs. The bold arrows indicate the direction of the effects of RA (i.e., inhibitory or promoting effects on cytokines or mediators).

First Report of Pestalotiopsis lushanensis Causing Brown Leaf Spot on Sarcandra glabra in China

Sarcandra glabra is a species of Chloranthaceae family and this family grow in the southern part of China, Japan, and Southeastern Asia (Li et al. 2019). It is a kind of precious Chinese herbal medicine, which occupies an important position in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It plays an effective role in the treatment of cancer, rheumatism, pneumonia, digestive tract inflammations, traumatic injuries and fractures, anti-virus, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, etc. (Li et al. 2019; Zheng et al. 2003; Zhou et al. 2013). Since June 2020, we discovered a serious leaf disease in the S. glabra planting base of Shibing County (108.12E 27.03N), in Guizhou Province, with an incidence rate of 60% and yield losses of 40%. Initially, the symptoms developed as small specks where spots were purple with a dark brown halo margin, and round or oval. In later stages, the spots gradually expanded and became dry, whole severe leaf loss. To identify the pathogen, we collected the diseased leaves from S. glabra fields in Shibing County. Small tissue pieces from the edges of lesions were disinfected in 75% ethyl alcohol for 30 s and 1% hypochlorite for 1 min, rinsed five times in sterile water, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28°C in lighted incubator for 3 days. Fungal colonies were consistently isolated and transferred to PDA for morphological characterization (Fang et al. 2007). Pathogenicity tests of the novel isolate HGUP CSH-2 were conducted by spraying spore suspensions with a concentration of 1.6×108 conidia/ml on surface-disinfected (70% ethyl alcohol, 30 s) leaves, while sterile distilled water was used as the control. Plants with inoculated leaves (three per treatment) were placed in lighted growth chambers at 28°C for 5 days and watered as needed (Light to dark ratio 1:1, RH=90%). Symptoms on inoculated leaves were similar to those described previously in the field. The same pathogenic fungus was re-isolated from the infected leaves but not from the non-inoculated leaves. Colonies on PDA attaining 70 mm diam after 7 d at 28°C, with pale honey-colored, sparse aerial mycelia on the surface with black, gregarious conidiomata. Conidiogenous cell discrete or integrated, ampulliform, clavate or subcylindrical, hyaline, smooth-walled, wide at base. Conidia fusoid, ellipsoid, straight to slightly curved, 4-septate, slightly constricted at septa, 22.26-27.17×6.9-8.22 µm (av.±SD: 24.68±1.57×7.68±0.38 µm; n=30). According to the colony and conidia characteristics, the isolate was initially identified as Pestalotiopsis spp. (Liu et al. 2017). The pathogen was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) gene, the translation elongation factor-1 (TEF1) gene and the β-tubulin (TUB2) gene (Liu et al. 2017) using ITS1/ITS4, Bt2a/T1 and EF1-526F/1567R primers, respectively. The sequences of the PCR products were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MT919215 (ITS), MT939300 (TUB2) and MT939299 (TEF1). BLAST results of the obtained sequences of the ITS, TUB2 and TEF1 genes revealed 97.16% (479/493 nucleotides), 99.56% (675/678 nucleotides) and 99.89% (890/891 nucleotides) homology with those of Pestalotiopsis lushanensis in GenBank (MG726538, KY464157 and KX895223). Maximum Likelihood method was used for phylogenetic analysis. The result showed that HGUP CSH-2 was together with P. lushanensis with a support rate of 100%. According to the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis, the pathogen was identified as P. lushanensis. So far as we know, our research is the first report of brown leaf spot of S. glabra caused by P. lushanensis in China. Thus, identification of P. lushanensis for this disease is important for the advancement of effective prevention and control practises as future perspectives.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling reveals the effect of LED light quality on morphological traits, and phenylpropanoid-derived compounds accumulation in Sarcandra glabra seedlings

BACKGROUND

Sarcandra glabra is an evergreen and traditional Chinese herb with anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Light is one of the most influential factor affecting the growth and quality of herbs. In recent times, the introduction of Light Emission Diode (LED) technology has been widely used for plants in greenhouse. However, the impact of such lights on plant growth and the regulatory mechanism of phenylpropanoid-derived compounds in S. glabra remain unclear.

RESULTS

The red LED light (RL) substantially increased the plant height and decreased the stem diameter and leaf area relative to the white LED light (WL), while the blue LED light (BL) significantly reduced the height and leaf area of S. glabra. According to transcriptomic profiling, 861, 378, 47, 10,033, 7917, and 6379 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the groups of leaf tissue under BL (BY) vs. leaf tissue under RL (RY), BY vs. leaf tissue under WL (WY), RY vs. WY, root tissue under WL (WG) vs. WY, stem tissue under WL (WJ) vs. WG, and WJ vs. WY, respectively. We identified 46 genes encoding for almost all known enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, e.g., phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and flavonol synthase (FLS). We found 53 genes encoding R2R3-MYB proteins and bHLH proteins, respectively, where several were related to flavonoids biosynthesis. A total of 454 metabolites were identified based on metabolomic profiling, of which 44, 87, and 296 compounds were differentially produced in WY vs. RY, WY vs. BY, and WY vs. WG. In BY there was a substantial reduction in the production of esculetin, caffeic acid, isofraxidin, and fraxidin, while the yields of quercitrin and kaempferol were significantly up-regulated. In RY, the contents of cryptochlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, and kaempferol decreased significantly. Besides, in WG, the production of metabolites (e.g. chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and scopolin) declined, while their yields increased significantly (e.g. esculetin, fraxetin, isofraxidin, and fraxidin).

CONCLUSION

These results provide further insight into the regulatory mechanism of accumulation patterns of phenylpropanoid-derived compounds in S. glabra under various light conditions, allowing optimum breeding conditions to be developed for this plant.

HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multistage MS/MS and TLC analysis of flavones-C-glycosides and bibenzyl of Dendrobium hercoglossum

Dendrobium hercoglossum Rchb. f. (D. hercoglossum), as one of the origins of medicinal Dendrobium, has been widely used as a health food and nutrient source promoting fluid production. Due to a lack of quality control, it is often counterfeited or mixed with other Dendrobium. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram method is established for the quality evaluation of D. hercoglossum. Based on the high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram, D. hercoglossum is divided into two classes, each with different flavone peaks. These flavone peaks were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry. Among them, the acylated (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl, p-coumaroyl, feruloyl, or sinapoyl) flavones-C-glycosides are first found in D. hercoglossum in this study. In addition, one unique band was found in D. hercoglossum by thin-layer chromatography, which can be used to distinguish it from other Dendrobium species as a characteristic marker of this plant. Combining the high-performance liquid chromatography characteristic chromatogram and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry, the unique band was identified as 4,5-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxybibenzyl. These analysis methods can be applied for the quality control and identification of D. hercoglossum as well as providing reference for the identification of similar constituents in other Dendrobium species.

Isofraxidin ameliorated influenza viral inflammation in rodents via inhibiting platelet aggregation

Platelets have been proved to exacerbate influenza infection and its complications. Inhibition of platelet activation may be a feasible method for preventing severe infection and secondary acute lung injury (ALI). Isofraxidin (IFD) is a natural coumarin isolated from the plants Sarcandra glabra and Siberian ginseng, and exerts anticancer, antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. In the present study, we examined the therapeutic effects of IFD in ADP- or arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation model and in influenza A virus (IAV)-induced ALI mouse model. The results showed that IFD significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and AA in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner as well as the release of soluble P-selectin and platelet factor 4. Moreover, IFD significantly relieved IAV-induced lung inflammation, reduced the expressions of platelet activation biomarkers (P-selectin and CD61), decreased the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MIP-2, suppressed peripheral platelet aggregation and prolonged the survival time of infected mice. The western blotting results also demonstrated that IFD reduced the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT and p38 in the activated platelets stimulated by ADP and IAV infection. But IFD did not have any effects on IAV replication. It indicated that IFD ameliorated IAV-induced severe lung damage and lethal infection by suppressing platelet aggregation via regulating PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways.

Identification and quantitative analysis of phenolic glycosides with antioxidant activity in methanolic extract of Dendrobium catenatum flowers and selection of quality control herb-markers

Recently, the flowers of Dendrobium catenatum (D. officinale) have been approved as new food ingredient. This study aimed to investigate the herb-markers and their antioxidant activities in methanolic extracts of D. catenatum flowers, and to establish the quality evaluation methods for raw materials and their products of flower by HPLC. The methanolic extract of 11 strains of D. catenatum flowers were found to contain a high content of total phenol and flavonoids, and they possessed potential antioxidant capacities based on DPPH radical scavenging assay. A total of 21 phenolic herb-markers were selected according to the similarity and principal component analysis of the chromatographic fingerprinting profiles. Their structures were further elucidated by UV, HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and NMR analyses. The identified compounds included 2 phenylpropanoids, 11C-glycosylflavones and 6 O-glycosylflavones, which could be employed as the indicators for quantitative evaluation of the quality and authenticity of the flowers. Based on the pre-column DPPH/ABTS⁺-HPLC analysis, the major compounds contributed to the antioxidative activity were identified as 1-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucoside, rutin and isoquercitrin, all of which, were also the most abundant constituents in the methanolic extract. The results suggest the potential of D. catenatum flowers as a new antioxidant resources for medicinal and food products.

Identification of flavonoids in Dendrobium huoshanense and comparison with those in allied species of Dendrobium by TLC, HPLC and HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem MS analyses

Dendrobium huoshanense, a unique species in the genus Orchidaceae, is only found in China and is known as "mihu". Due to the lack of quality control, the use of D. huoshanense in the herbal market has been limited. In this study, methods based on thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry were used to identify the flavonoids in D. huoshanense and distinguish this species from other Dendrobium species. Using thin-layer chromatography, a characteristic band was observed for D. huoshanense, and this band was absent from the thin-layer chromatography plates of other Dendrobium species. Then, using high-performance liquid chromatography, nine peaks of flavonoids were observed in the chromatograms of ten batches of D. huoshanense. Ultimately, 22 flavonoids in D. huoshanense were identified by multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry, and 11 of these compounds are being reported from D. huoshanense for the first time. In addition, two compounds both with molecular weights of 710, were identified as being unique to D. huoshanense; one of these compounds, apigenin-6-C-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside-8-C-α-L-arabinoside, was proven to be responsible for the characteristic thin-layer chromatography band of D. huoshanense. These analysis methods can be applied for the identification and quality control of D. Huoshanense.

Multiple fingerprint profiles and chemometrics analysis of polysaccharides from Sarcandra glabra

Multiple techniques including high performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and pre-column derivatization high-performance liquid chromatography (PCD-HPLC) were applied to the fingerprint analysis of the polysaccharides from Sarcandra glabra (SGPs) in different regions. Chemometrics was used to evaluate the similarity and differences of SGPs from different regions based on their fingerprints. The results of the present study showed that polysaccharides from 18 batches of Sarcandra glabra had a high degree of similarity based on the HPSEC, PCD-HPLC, and FT-IR fingerprints. The samples from different regions could be classified by clustering analysis based on their nuances. The five monosaccharides (Gal, Rha, Xyl, GlcA, and Glc) and the wavelengths of FT-IR (3371 cm^-1 and 1411 cm^-1) could be selected as herb markers for the quality control of Sarcandra glabra.

Comparing the antidiabetic effects and chemical profiles of raw and fermented Chinese Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian decoction by integrating untargeted metabolomics and targeted analysis

Background

Microbial fermentation has been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years in China. Various beneficial effects of fermentation for applications in TCM or herbals have been reported, such as enhanced anti-ovarian cancer, antioxidative activity, and neuroprotective effects. Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian decoction (GQD), a classic TCM formula, has been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus in China. In this study, GQD was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the antidiabetic activities and overall chemical profiles of raw and fermented GQD (FGQD) were systematically compared.

Methods

First, the antidiabetic effects of GQD and FGQD on high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were compared. Then, high-performance liquid chromatography Q Exactive MS was applied for rapid characterization of the chemical components of GQD. Additionally, we proposed an integrated chromatographic technique based untargeted metabolomics identifying differential chemical markers between GQD and FGQD and targeted analysis determining the fermenting-induced quantitative variation tendencies of chemical marker strategy for overall chemical profiling of raw and fermented GQD.

Results

Both GQD and FGQD displayed effects against HFD and STZ-induced diabetes, and FGQD showed a better recovery trend associated with profound changes in the serum lipoprotein profile and body weight gain. In addition, 133 compounds were characterized from GQD. It was demonstrated that the integrated strategy holistically illuminated 30 chemical markers contributed to the separation of GQD and FGQD, and further elucidated the fermenting-induced chemical transformation mechanisms and inherent chemical connections of secondary metabolites. Although there were no new secondary metabolites in FGQD compared with GQD, the amounts of secondary metabolites, which were mostly deglycosylated, were redistributed in FGQD.

Conclusion

The anti-diabetic activities of GQD could be improved by applying fermentation technology. Moreover, the proposed strategy could serve as a powerful tool for systematically exploring the chemical profiles of raw and fermented formulas.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-018-0208-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparison of the polyphenolic profile and antibacterial activity of the leaves, fruits and flowers of Rhododendron ambiguum and Rhododendron cinnabarinum

Background

Rhododendron species have been traditionally used in countries like China, Nepal, Russia and North America for treating human diseases. These species are known to be a good source of polyphenolic plant secondary plant metabolites. They are known to have beneficial health properties for humans and have been used to treat diseases like asthma, skin diseases. In this contribution we investigate the phenolic profile and antibacterial activity of extracts from several plant organs including for the first time from leaves of different development stages.

Methods

In this study, the polyphenolic profile of fruits, flowers and leaves of different ages of Rhododendron ambiguum and Rhododendron cinnabarinum were studied by using HPLC–MS and compounds identified based on high resolution masses and identity of tandem mass spectra, UV/VIS spectra and retention times if compared to standards.

Results

Fifty-nine different polyphenols including isomers were identified in these species by their fragmentation pattern and high resolution data. Also, the antibacterial activity of these parts (leaves, fruits and flowers) against gram-positive bacteria was studied.

Conclusion

The leaves and fruits contained more polyphenols than the flowers. With the exception of flowers, the fruits and leaves of both species were also determined to have a significant antibacterial effect against four gram-positive bacteria.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2601-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Simultaneous determination of three active components in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS: Application to pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Herba Sarcandrae extract

A rapid, specific and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for determination of isofraxidin, rosmarinic acid and kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide in rat plasma using warfarin as an internal standard (IS). Separation was conducted on a Thermo Hypersil GOLD C18 column with linear gradient elution using methanol and water. Mass spectrometric detection was conducted using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) via an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. All analytes exhibited good linearity within their concentration ranges (r > 0.9990). The lower limits of quantitations of isofraxidin, rosmarinic acid, and kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide were 1.31, 0.67 and 0.92 ng/mL, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precisions of these investigated components exhibited an RSD within 11.7%, and the accuracy ranged from -12.5 to 15.0% at all QC levels. The developed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of isofraxidin, rosmarinic acid, and kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide in rats after oral administration of Herba Sarcandrae Extract.

Fingerprinting profile of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum using multiplex approaches and chemometrics

Techniques including ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV), high performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and pre-column derivatization high-performance liquid chromatography (PCD-HPLC) were used in the fingerprinting analysis of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) from different locations and varieties. Multiple fingerprinting profiles were used to evaluate the similarity and classification of different LBPs with the help of chemometrics. The results indicated that sixteen batches of LBPs had good consistency, and fingerprinting techniques were simple and robust for quality control of LBPs as well as related products. In addition, fingerprinting techniques combined with chemometrics could also be used to identify different cultivation locations of LBPs samples. Finally, four monosaccharides (galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose and arabinose) and the absorptions of stretching vibration of ester carbonyl groups as well as NH variable angle vibration of -CONH- could be selected as herbal markers to distinguish different samples.

A novel strategy for screening new natural products by a combination of reversed-phase liquid chromatography fractionation and 13C NMR pattern recognition: the discovery of new anti-cancer flavone dimers from Dysosma versipellis (Hance)

A new screening strategy for the discovery of new natural products by a combination of reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and ¹³C NMR pattern recognition.

Identification and quantitation of phenolic compounds from the seed and pomace of Perilla frutescens using HPLC/PDA and HPLC-ESI/QTOF/MS/MS

INTRODUCTION

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., an essential traditional Asian crop and Chinese medicine, potentially exerts anti-oxidation effects through its phenolic compounds. These compounds have already been reported in perilla seed, however, little is reported in Perilla pomace, the primary waste during oil production of Perilla seed.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate major phenolic compounds in perilla seeds and pomaces in order to check whether the pomace could be an alternative resource to the seed for nutritional and medical purposes.

METHODS

Compounds in extracts of perilla seeds and pomaces were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and detected by photodiode array, and by electrospray ionisation with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Herb-markers selected by principal components analysis were then quantified in both seeds and pomaces. Moreover, a fingerprinting approach and multiple discriminant analysis were applied to screen the phenolic markers in 22 samples.

RESULTS

Ten phenols were tentatively identified, among which four (rosmarinic acid, luteolin, apigenin and rosmarinic acid-3-O-glucoside) were selected as herb-markers. Perilla seeds and pomaces showed similar phenol profiles, however, the pomaces contained almost two times the amount of the four herb-markers than the seeds.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated perilla pomace is a promising alternative source of phenolic compounds that could be recovered and potentially used as natural anti-oxidants.

Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Sarcandra glabra polysaccharide in type 2 diabetic mice

Sarcandra glabra(Thunb.) Nakai is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and dietary supplement used for treating several diseases.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolics in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum and their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities

The phenolic profiles of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaf extracts by different solvents (80% methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane) and their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities were investigated. Thirteen phenolic compounds (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 1-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-p-coumaroylquinic acid, isoorientin-2″-O-rhamnoside, isoorientin, orientin-2″-O-rhamnoside, orientin, 1-p-coumaroylquinic acid, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, isovitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, vitexin and isovitexin) were identified in T. hemsleyanum leaves for the first time, and six of them were quantified using a combination of LC-QTOF-MS and LC-QqQ-MS techniques. It was found that 80% methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH, 3.32 mmol of Trolox/g DW; ABTS, 1.38 mmol of Trolox/g DW; FRAP, 1.85 mmol of FeSO4/g DW), while the hexane extract had the lowest (1.23, 0.43 and 0.13, respectively). Total phenolic contents (TPC) of various extracts of T. hemsleyanum leaves ranged from 28.95 to 275.71 mg of GAE/g DW. Also, total antioxidant activities as evaluated by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays were correlated well with TPC. In addition, 80% methanol extract provided antiproliferative activity on HepG2 cells (IC50 = 524 μg/mL). This paper provides a complete picture of phenolics in T. hemsleyanum leaves and relates them to their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.