Simultaneous determination of nine bioactive compounds in Yijin-tang via high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for simultaneous determination of 22 marker compounds in traditional herbal medicine Ojeoksan

Traditional herbal medicines (THMs) have long been in use worldwide and are considered safe for use as tonics or complementary treatments for many diseases. Advanced quality control methods for THMs are required in the regulatory framework of modern medicines. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay was established for the simultaneous determination of 22 marker compounds in Ojeoksan (OJS), which is composed of 15 herbal substances. All marker compounds were analyzed within 20 min and successfully identified via scheduled multiple reaction monitoring. The method validation revealed excellent performance characteristics of the method such as specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, demonstrating its suitability for intended use. The developed method was applied to samples of commercial OJS tablet and soft-extract dosage forms. The 14 marker compounds corresponding to 12 component herbal substances were determined in the samples; ephedirine, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, hesperidine, neohesperidin, cinnamic acid, platycodin D, 6-gingerol, atractylenolide III, glycyrrhizin, honokiol, decursin, and magnolol. A fast and easy assay method with sufficient discrimination power was established. As a novel assay, this method can contribute to the quality control of OJS products.

Regulation of Fatty Acid Metabolism and Inhibition of Colorectal Cancer Progression by Erchen Decoction

Erchen decoction (ECD) is a traditional Chinese prescription widely used in the treatment of various diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, diabetes, and hypertension. In this study, we investigated the effect of ECD on fatty acid metabolism in a colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model fed a high-fat (HF) diet. The HF-CRC mouse model was established by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) combined with a high-fat diet. Mice were then gavaged with ECD. Change in the body weight was recorded every two weeks for 26 weeks. Changes in blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Colorectal tissues were collected to observe changes in colorectal length and tumorigenesis. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed to observe changes in intestinal structure and inflammatory markers. Fatty acids and the expression of related genes in colorectal tissues were also studied. ECD gavage inhibited HF-induced weight gain. CRC induction and HF diet intake resulted in increased GLU, TC, TG, and CRP, where ECD gavage reduced these elevated indicators. ECD gavage also increased colorectal length and inhibited tumorigenesis. HE staining revealed that ECD gavage suppressed inflammatory infiltration of colorectal tissues. ECD gavage suppressed the fatty acid metabolism abnormalities caused by HF-CRC in colorectal tissues. Consistently, ECD gavage lowered ACSL4, ACSL1, CPT1A, and FASN levels in colorectal tissues. Conclusions. ECD inhibited HF-CRC progression through the regulation of fatty acid metabolism.

Yijin-Tang Attenuates Cigarette Smoke and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Mice

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a lung disorder associated with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and sputum production. Traditionally, Yijin-tang (YJT), a mixture of Pinellia ternate, Poria cocos, ginger, Chinese liquorice, and tangerine peel, has been prescribed for the treatment of respiratory system diseases caused by dampness phlegm. This experiment investigated the therapeutic effect of YJT in a mouse model of cigarette smoke (CS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced COPD.

METHODS

COPD was induced by exposing mice to CS for 1 hour per day for 8 weeks, with intranasal delivery of LPS on weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7. YJT was administered at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg 1 hour before CS exposure for the last 4 weeks.

RESULTS

YJT significantly suppressed CS- and LPS-induced increases in inflammatory cell counts and reduced interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. In addition, YJT not only decreased airway wall thickness, average alveolar intercept, and lung fibrosis, but it also suppressed the expression of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-7, MMP-9, and transforming growth factor-B (TGF-β) and collagen deposition. Moreover, YJT suppressed phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) as well as expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our findings show that YJT attenuates respiratory inflammation and airway remodeling caused by CS and LPS exposure; therefore, therapeutic applications in COPD can be considered.

Integrated omics analysis unraveled the microbiome-mediated effects of Yijin-Tang on hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance in obese mouse

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota play important roles in insulin homeostasis and the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Yijin-Tang (YJT), a traditional Korean and Chinese medicine, is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and obesity-related disorders such as insulin resistance (IR) and NAFLD.

PURPOSE

Our aim was to identify the microbiome-mediated effects of YJT on IR and associated NAFLD by integrating metagenomics and hepatic lipid profile.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal chow diet (NC) or high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet with or without YJT treatment. Hepatic lipid profiles were analyzed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and the composition of gut microbiota was investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing. Then, hepatic lipid profiles, gut microbiome, and inflammatory marker data were integrated using multivariate analysis and bioinformatics tools.

RESULTS

YJT improved NAFLD, and 39 hepatic lipid metabolites were altered by YJT in a dose-dependent manner. YJT also altered the gut microbiome composition in HFHC-fed mice. In particular, Faecalibaculum rodentium and Bacteroides acidifaciens were altered by YJT in a dose-dependent manner. Also, we found significant correlation among hepatic phosphatidylglycerol metabolites, F. rodentium, and γδ-T cells. Moreover, interleukin (IL)-17, which is secreted by the γδ-T cell when it recognizes lipid antigens, were elevated in HFHC mice and decreased by YJT treatment. In addition, YJT increased the relative abundance of B. acidifaciens in NC or HFHC-fed mice, which is a gut microbiota that mediates anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects by modulating the gut environment. We also confirmed that YJT ameliorated the gut tight junctions and increased short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in the intestine, which resulted in improved IR.

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrated that gut microbiome and hepatic lipid profiles are regulated by YJT, which improved the IR and NAFLD in mice with diet-induced obesity.

Identification and determination of chemical constituents of Citrus reticulata semen through ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with Q Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry

Citrus reticulata semen, a traditional Chinese medicinal material, has desirable medicinal and dietary properties. In this study, a method combining ultra high performance liquid chromatography with Q Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry was established and validated for the identification and analysis of the chemical components of C. reticulata semen for the first time. The evaluation of different retention times and fragmentation characteristics, as well as comparative analysis with the literature, resulted in the identification of 35 chemical constituents, including 21 flavonoids and 14 other compounds. The 21 flavonoids derived from C. reticulata semen were reported for the first time. Seven of the chemical components of C. reticulata semen were quantitatively analyzed using the developed method under the optimal conditions. The results showed that the content of limonin, hesperidin, nobiletin, synephrine, tangeretin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxide-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone in C. reticulata semen was 11.1666, 0.0404, 0.0092, 0.0255, 0.0087, 0.0010, and 0.0008 mg/g, respectively. This study demonstrated that the ultra high performance liquid chromatography Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry based method can be used to rapidly and reliably analyze the chemical constituents of C. reticulata semen. These results provide a scientific basis for further studies of C. reticulata semen.

Enhancement of neuroprotective activity of Sagunja-tang by fermentation with lactobacillus strains

BACKGROUND

Sagunja-tang (SGT) is widely used in traditional herbal medicine to treat immune system and gastrointestinal disorders and reportedly has protective effects against inflammation, cancer, and osteoporosis. In this study, we fermented SGT with different Latobacillus strains and investigated the change in phytochemical compositions in SGT and enhancement of it neuroprotective effects in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma.

METHODS

Marker components, including ginsenoside Rg₁, glycyrrhizin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, and pachymic acid, in SGT, were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. SGT was fermented with eight different Lactobacillus strains to yield eight fermented SGTs (FSGTs). The conversion efficiencies of SGT marker components were determined in each FSGT. To detect the protective effect of SGT and FSGT, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay and mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs) assay were performed in SH-SY5Y cells.

RESULTS

Compared with the other FSGTs, SGT166, i.e., SGT fermented with L. plantarum 166, had high conversion efficiency, as indicated by increased amounts of glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin, and atractylenolides I-III. In SH-SY5Y cells, protection against cell death induced by H₂O₂ and etoposide was high using SGT166 and very low using SGT. Furthermore, ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption in SH-SY5Y cells were markedly suppressed by SGT166 treatment, which demonstrated that inhibition of ROS generation may be one of the neuroprotective mechanisms of SGT166.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that fermentation of SGT with L. plantarum 166 enhanced suppression of oxidative stress and MMP loss. This enhanced neuroprotective effect was thought to be caused by the conversion of SGT phytochemicals by fermentation. SGT166 shows potential for treating neurological damage-related diseases.

Erchen Decoction Ameliorates Lipid Metabolism by the Regulation of the Protein CAV-1 and the Receptors VLDLR, LDLR, ABCA1, and SRB1 in a High-Fat Diet Rat Model

Lipid metabolism disorder is a common metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal lipid levels in blood. Erchen decoction (ECD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, which is used for the treatment of diseases caused by retention of phlegm dampness. It has been reported to ameliorate the disorder of lipid metabolism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of ECD in lipid metabolism disorder induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. ECD (4.35g/kg/d) and atorvastatin (10mg/kg/d, positive control) were orally administered to HFD-fed rats for four weeks. The parameters, food, water consumption, body weight, body length, liver, and visceral fat weight and the content of serum lipids and lipid transporters were assessed. The effects of ECD on the mRNA and protein expression levels of lipid transport factors were measured by real-time PCR and western blotting. The present study demonstrated that ECD improved the disorders of serum lipid and lipid transporters in HFD-fed rats, TG (0.70±0.08 mmol/L, p<0.01), LDL-C (1.50±0.19 mmol/L, p<0.01), LDL (1.38±0.21 mmol/L, p<0.05), and oxLDL (1.77±0.39 ng/mL, p<0.05) were downregulated, while HDL-C (0.87±0.13 mmol/L, p<0.01), FFA (0.62±0.13 mmol/L, p<0.05), HDL (38.8±4.0 mg/dL, p<0.05), and CETP (903.6±120.0 ng/mL, p<0.05) were upregulated. But ECD obviously had no effects on the indices food/water/energy intake, body/tissue (liver and fat) weight, and BMI (p>0.05). Concomitantly, ECD reversed the abnormal expressions of those lipid transport factors in the liver and visceral fat.

Network pharmacology-based prediction of active compounds and molecular targets in Yijin-Tang acting on hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yijin-Tang (YJT) is a traditional prescription for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia, atherosclerosis and other ailments related to dampness phlegm, a typical pathological symptom of abnormal body fluid metabolism in Traditional Korean Medicine. However, a holistic network pharmacology approach to understanding the therapeutic mechanisms underlying hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis has not been pursued.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine the network pharmacological potential effects of YJT on hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis, we analysed components, performed target prediction and network analysis, and investigated interacting pathways using a network pharmacology approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on compounds in herbal medicines was obtained from public databases, and oral bioavailability and drug-likeness was screened using absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) criteria. Correlations between compounds and genes were linked using the STITCH database, and genes related to hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis were gathered using the GeneCards database. Human genes were identified and subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis.

RESULTS

Network analysis identified 447 compounds in five herbal medicines that were subjected to ADME screening, and 21 compounds and 57 genes formed the main pathways linked to hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis. Among them, 10 compounds (naringenin, nobiletin, hesperidin, galangin, glycyrrhizin, homogentisic acid, stigmasterol, 6-gingerol, quercetin and glabridin) were linked to more than four genes, and are bioactive compounds and key chemicals. Core genes in this network were CASP3, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, MMP2 and MMP9. The compound-target gene network revealed close interactions between multiple components and multiple targets, and facilitates a better understanding of the potential therapeutic effects of YJT.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacological network analysis can help to explain the potential effects of YJT for treating dampness phlegm-related diseases such as hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis.

Pharmacokinetics of Sijunzi decoction in rat plasma after oral administration using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese herbal formulations. This study elucidates the pharmacokinetics of SJZD in rat plasma after the administration of a single oral dose of 3 mL/kg using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS) with bergapten as an internal standard. The separation was performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C₁₈ column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) by elution with acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Electrospray ionization in positive and negative ion modes was used to quantify six compounds, with monitored ion m/z values of 249.1397 [M + H]⁺ and 529.3857 [M + H]⁺ for atractylenolide III (ATL-III) and pachymic acid (PA), respectively, and m/z of 1107.6638 [M - H]^- , 991.5746 [M - H + HCOO]^- , 821.3714 [M - H]^- , 469.3315 [M - H]^- for ginsenoside Rb_1, Re, glycyrrhizic acid (GL), and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), respectively. The calibration curves for ginsenoside Rb₁ , Re, ATL-III, PA, GL and GA were 0.0015-0.75, 0.001-0.5, 0.0004-0.2, 0.003-0.9, 0.0015-0.3 and 0.001-1.5 μg/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD) were <14.3%. The rapid, sensitive and specific UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS method developed and validated in this study was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the six components of SJZD using rat plasma for pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration.

Anti-Nociceptive Effect and Standardization from Mixture of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Extracts

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb has been previously reported to produce an anti-nociceptive effect in ICR mice in both tail-flick and hot-plate tests. Studies have shown that Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, also renowned in traditional Chinese medicine, is an effective anti-inflammatory treatment. Among the extraction solvents investigated, a 50% ethanol (EtOH) extract of A. pilosa produced the highest anti-nociceptive effect in monosodium uric acid-induced gout pain models and the greatest yield. The 80% EtOH extract of S. miltiorrhiza moderately inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide release from RAW 264.7 murine macrophages and exhibited outstanding yield. The mixture of optimized A. pilosa and S. miltiorrhiza extracts were evaluated for enhanced anti-nociceptive effects in gout arthritis treatment. To control extract quality, four marker compounds were determined using an HPLC-DAD method. A 1:1 mixture of A. pilosa 50 and S. miltiorrhiza 80% EtOH extracts of produced better results than when the extracts were administered individually.

Development of Simultaneous Analysis of Thirteen Bioactive Compounds in So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang Using UPLC-DAD

So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang, which is a standardized Korean medicine of the National Health Insurance, is a traditional prescription for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. Simultaneous analysis and development of SCRT is essential for its stability, efficacy, and risk management. In this study, a simple, reliable, and accurate method using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprinting with a diode array detector (DAD) was developed for the simultaneous analysis. The chromatographic separation of the analytes was performed by an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μM, 2.1 × 100 mm, Waters) with a mobile phase of water containing 0.01% (v/v) phosphoric acid and acetonitrile containing 0.01% (v/v) phosphoric acid. The flow rate and detection wavelength were set at 0.4 mL/min and 215, 230, 254, and 280 nm. All calibration curves of the thirteen components showed good linearity (R² > 0.999). The limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged 0.001-0.360 and 0.004-1.200 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra- and interday was less than 2.60%, and the recoveries were within the range 76.08-103.79% with an RSD value of 0.03-1.50%. The results showed that the developed method was simple, reliable, accurate, sensitive, and precise for the quantification of bioactive components of SCRT.