Rapid and sensitive analysis of parishin and its metabolites in rat plasma using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection

Chemistry, Biological Activities, and Pharmacological Properties of Gastrodin: Mechanism Insights

Gastrodin, a bioactive compound derived from the rhizome of the orchid Gastrodia elata, exhibits a diverse range of biological activities. With documented neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-tumor effects, gastrodin stands out as a multifaceted therapeutic agent. Notably, it has demonstrated efficacy in protecting against neuronal damage and enhancing cognitive function in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia. Additionally, gastrodin showcases immunomodulatory effects by mitigating inflammation and suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Its cytotoxic activity involves the inhibition of angiogenesis, suppression of tumor growth, and induction of apoptosis. This comprehensive review seeks to elucidate the myriad potential effects of Gastrodin, delving into the intricate molecular mechanisms underpinning its pharmacological properties. The findings underscore the therapeutic potential of gastrodin in addressing various conditions linked to neuroinflammation and cancer.

Gastrodia elata BI.:A Comprehensive Review of Its Traditional Use, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics

Materials and Methods

This article collects information from relevant documents, including scientific papers, books, and dissertations concerning Gastrodia elata BI.

Results

To date, research on Gastrodia elata BI. has identified about 100 active compounds. Many compounds in Gastrodia elata BI. have biological activities, such as sedation and hypnosis, anticonvulsion, improvement of learning and memory, protection of neurons, antidepressive effects, lowering of blood pressure, promotion of angiogenesis, protection of cardiomyocytes, antiplatelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory activity, and amelioration of labor pains.

Conclusion

Although many traditional uses of this plant have been confirmed, it is necessary to continue to study the relationship between its structure and function, clarify the mechanisms of pharmacological effects, and explore new clinical applications so as to better delineate the quality control standards for Gastrodia elata BI.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Reveals the Protective Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms Combined With Gastrodia elata Blume on Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

The effects of current treatment strategies used in ischemic stroke are weakened by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) injury. Suitable treatment regimens targeting CIR injury are still lacking. Two herbs, namely, Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms (ASE) and Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), have been used as traditional Chinese medicine and are indicated in the treatment of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases. However, there are no studies that report the effects of ASE combined with GEB in the treatment of CIR injury. In this study, we used the Zea Longa method to induce CIR injury in male Wistar rats. Results of the pharmacodynamic studies revealed that co-administration of ASE and GEB may improve neuronal injury and prevent neuronal apoptosis by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and also help prevent CIR injury. On the basis of our hypothesis, we combined the results from transcriptomic and metabonomic analyses and found that ASE and GEB could prevent CIR injury by targeting phenylalanine, pyrimidine, methionine, and sphingolipid metabolism. Therefore, our study provides the basis for the compatibility and efficacy of ASE and GEB.

A simplified LC−MS/MS approach for simultaneous quantification and pharmacokinetics of five compounds in rats following oral administration of Gastrodia elata extract

Background

To support the multicomponent pharmacokinetics of Gastrodia elata, a rapid, simple, and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem with mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) approach was established for simultaneous quantification of gastrodin, parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, and parishin E.

Methods

Five compounds were extracted from plasma by using one-step protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column with gradient mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid. The detection was performed using negative electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode.

Results

This new method maximizes assay throughput by using minimal sample clean-up procedures and a shorter analytical run time. The approach exhibited good linearity for the five compounds (r2 > 0.995) in the concentration ranges. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) were determined as 1.37 ng/mL for parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, and parishin E and 10 ng/mL for gastrodin. Then the method was fully validated with intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, matrix effects, extraction recovery, and stability.

Conclusion

This validated approach was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study following oral administration of Gastrodia elata extract to rats. This investigation may provide some guidance for the clinical application and explanation of the pharmacological mechanism of Gastrodia elata.

Novel Strategies Using Total Gastrodin and Gastrodigenin, or Total Gastrodigenin for Quality Control of Gastrodia elata

Gastrodia elata Blume (G. elata), a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for treatment of various neuro dysfunctions. However, its quality control is still limited to the determination of gastrodin. In the present study, two novel strategies based on quantitative evaluation of total gastrodin and gastrodigenin with base hydrolysis and total gastrodigenin with base-enzymatic hydrolysis followed by HPLC-FLD were put forward and successfully applied to evaluate the quality of 47 batches of G. elata from eight localities. Meanwhile, a systematic comparison of the novel strategy with the multiple markers and the Pharmacopeia method was performed. The results showed that the parishins category could be completely hydrolyzed to gastrodin by sodium hydroxide solution, and gastrodin could further utterly hydrolyze to gastrodigenin with β-d-glucosidase buffer solution. The contents of total gastrodin and gastrodigenin ranged from 1.311% to 2.034%, and total gastrodigenin from 0.748% to 1.120% at the eight localities. From the comparison, we can conclude that the two novel strategies can comprehensively reveal the characteristics of overall active ingredients in G. elata for quality control. The present study provides a feasible and credible strategy for the quality control of G. elata, suggesting a revision of the latest Chinese Pharmacopoeia or European Pharmacopoeia methods for the modernization of G. elata use.

An Optimized and Sensitive Pharmacokinetic Quantitative Method of Investigating Gastrodin, Parishin, and Parishin B, C and E in Beagle Dog Plasma using LC-MS/MS after Intragastric Administration of Tall Gastrodia Capsules

Gastrodia elata Blume, called Tianma in China, has been widely used to treat headaches, convulsions and epilepsy for thousands of years. In the present study, a series of optimizations were employed to develop a rapid, sensitive, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method, which was then used for the simultaneous determination of gastrodin, parishin, parishin B, parishin C and parishin E in beagle dog plasma after intragastric administration of tall Gastrodia capsules (Tianma brand). The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column with gradient elution by using a mixture of 0.4% formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.15 mL/min. A tandem mass spectrometric detection was conducted using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) via electrospray ionization (ESI) source in negative ionization mode. Samples were pre-treated by a single-step protein precipitation with methanol, and bergenin was used as internal standard (IS). Under the optimized conditions, the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.10 ng/mL for gastrodin, 0.40 ng/mL for parishin B, 0.02 ng/mL for parishin E and 0.20 ng/mL for parishin and parishin C, all of which previously were the highest levels of sensitivity. The methods were optimized for selectivity, calibration curves, accuracy and precision. Extraction recoveries, matrix effects and stability were within acceptable ranges. Pharmacokinetic parameters of the tested substances were also quantitatively determined. Finally, a possible metabolic pathway was induced based on correlations obtained from quantitative and qualitative data analysis in vivo.

A practical protocol for comprehensive evaluation of sulfur-fumigation of Gastrodia Rhizoma using metabolome and health risk assessment analysis

Gastrodia Rhizoma is one of the most heavily sulfur-fumigated edible and medical herbs in the marketplace. We developed a practical protocol using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight-MS^E (UPLC/QTOF-MS^E)-based metabolome and health risk assessment model to identify characteristic sulfur-fumigated markers, dissect chemical transformation mechanisms, and control the quality of sulfur-fumigated Gastrodia Rhizoma. Two sulfur-containing p-hydroxybenzyl products, one sulfur-containing disaccharide, one glycolipid, and two phospholipids were selected and identified as markers based on multivariate statistical analysis. In particular, the sulfur-containing markers p-hydroxybenzyl hydrogen sulfite and trace p-mercaptobenzyl hydrogen sulfate were positively correlated with the active major phenolics. Moreover, a practical index the time of the minimum content was useful for evaluating the extent of the sulfur-fumigation under different weight ratios of the sulfur to herbal materials (1:20, 1:40, and 1:80). Ultimately, the 1:40 ratio within 1h of sulfur-fumigation was considered as safe and efficient for herb quality preservation under the maximum residue limit of 750mg/kg. This study shows that the practical protocol-based discriminated markers and practical limits can be applied to quality assurance of sulfur-fumigation and non-fumigation Gastrodia Rhizoma and other edible or medical materials.

Analytical Techniques and Pharmacokinetics of Gastrodia elata Blume and Its Constituents

Gastrodia elata Blume (G. elata), commonly called Tianma in Chinese, is an important and notable traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has been used in China as an anticonvulsant, analgesic, sedative, anti-asthma, anti-immune drug since ancient times. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the abundant efforts of scientists in developing analytical techniques and performing pharmacokinetic studies of G. elata and its constituents, including sample pretreatment methods, analytical techniques, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and influence factors to its pharmacokinetics. Based on the reported pharmacokinetic property data of G. elata and its constituents, it is hoped that more studies will focus on the development of rapid and sensitive analytical techniques, discovering new therapeutic uses and understanding the specific in vivo mechanisms of action of G. elata and its constituents from the pharmacokinetic viewpoint in the near future. The present review discusses analytical techniques and pharmacokinetics of G. elata and its constituents reported from 1985 onwards.

Relative tissue distribution and excretion studies of gastrodin and parishin from powder and extract of Gastrodiae Rhizoma in rat by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

New research has indicated that Gastrodiae Rhizome (GR) has potential anti-diabetic and anti-asthmatic effects in mouse models. On the basis of our previous study of the relative bioavailability of gastrodin (GAS) and parishin (PA) from extract and powder of GR, we performed further research on the tissue distribution and excretion of the two analytes. A reliable bioanalytical method for the quantification of GAS and PA in rat tissues and excretion is required. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile-water with 0.1% formic acid. Calibration curves (1/x² weighted) offered satisfactory linearity (r²  > 0.9835) within 100-3000 ng mL^-1 for GAS and (r²  > 0.9862) within 10-1000 ng mL^-1 for PA. The relative standard deviations of the intra-day and inter-day precision were all <14.98%, whilst the relative errors of the intra-day and inter-day accuracy were all within ±14.71%. The matrix effect and recovery values were satisfactory in all of the biological matrices examination. The data of relative differences in tissue distribution and excretion of GAS and PA from powder and extract of GR indicated that higher bioavailabilities for GAS and PA were obtained when a dosage of 4 g kg^-1 GR powder was used.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of gastrodin in rats after intragastric administration of free gastrodin, parishin and Gastrodia elata extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gastrodia elata Blume, a traditional Chinese herb, was widely used against convulsant, vertigo, paralysis, epilepsy, tetanus, asthma and immune dysfunctions. Gastrodin is one of the major bioactive components of G. elata and it is known for its anticonvulsive, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic and neuroprotective effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (UHPLC-FLD) method was developed to determine gastrodin in rat plasma. Gastrodin and Thiamphenicol (internal standard, IS) were extracted from rat plasma by immediately protein precipitation. The pharmacokinetics of gastrodin in rats by following differently administered types was studies: intragastric administration of gastrodin (100mg/kg), parishin (116 mg/kg, with the same mole of gastrodin moiety) and G. elata extract (2.3g/kg, with the same mole of gastrodin moiety). Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic profiles were constructed using the software of WinNonlin (Phoenix, version 6.3), and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared using unpaired Student's t-test.

RESULTS

The results showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-∞, t1/2, MRT, Vd, CL, were quite different among the three types of gastrodin administration. The administration of parishin and G. elata extract, which either could convert to gastrodin in vivo or contained free gastrodin and abundant gastrodin conjugates, gave rise to higher elimination half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) values for gastrodin compared to free gastrodin administered.

CONCLUSION

The comparison of the pharmacokinetics of gastrodin among three different administered types of gastrodin in rats suggested that administration of parishin or G. elata extract in clinic may result in a longer duration time of action than that of the administration of free gastrodin. The results may provide some guidance for the clinical applications of parishin and G. elata.

Chemical fingerprint and metabolic profile analysis of ethyl acetate fraction of Gastrodia elata by ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

The chemical fingerprint and metabolic profile of traditional Chinese medicine is very complicated and has been a great challenge. In the present study, chemical fingerprint of ethyl acetate fraction of Gastrodia elata (EtAcGE) and metabolic profile of rat plasma sample after intragastric administration of EtAcGE (2.5g/kg) were investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS). A total of 38 chemical constituents of EtAcGE were identified by comparing their retention time, accurate molecular mass and characteristic fragment ions with those of references, or tentatively characterized by comparing molecular formula, fragment ions with that of known compound or information available in literature. And 40 compounds were detected in dosed rat plasma sample, including 16 prototypes and 24 metabolites underwent metabolic process of glucuronidation, glucosylation, sulfation, methylation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation or mixed modes. The metabolic "soft spots" was hydroxyl or carboxy group. This is the first research for chemical fingerprint and metabolic profile of EtAcGE, which lay a foundation for the further investigation of EtAcGE.

Pharmacokinetic study of Gastrodia elata in rats

The pharmacokinetics of parishin, gastrodin, Gastrodia elata extract and Rhizoma Gastrodiae capsule was investigated by intragastric and/or intravenous administration to rats. Parishin was metabolized into nine metabolites after intravenous administration, and the area under the curve (AUC0-∞) of parishin and its metabolites (except parishin G and parishin E) increased nonlinearly from 72.5 to 220 mg/kg. When combining regression equation with the AUC0-∞ and dose of gastrodin injection, the percent conversion of parishin to gastrodin was obtained as 50 %. Based on multi-active metabolites of parishin in vivo, integrated pharmacokinetic mode was established. It is notable that each metabolite from parishin shares the similar metabolic process at three dosages of parishin and the bioavailability of parishin was approximately 14 %. The integrated pharmacokinetic mode was successfully applied to evaluate the holistic pharmacokinetics of gastrodin injection, G. elata extract and Rhizoma Gastrodiae capsule. The results showed that the holistic pharmacokinetics of gastrodin injection and G. elata extract was closed to that of gastrodin, but for parishin and Rhizoma Gastrodiae capsule, integrated pharmacokinetic parameters were more suitable to evaluate its holistic pharmacokinetics. Graphical abstract Pharmacokinetic study of Gastrodia elata in rats.

Analysis of the metabolic profile of parishin by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry

Parishin is a dominant active ingredient originating from Gastrodia elata Blume, and has good neuroprotective effects against brain disorders. In the present study, the metabolic profile of parishin by in vitro and in vivo experiments was investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF MS) combined with an automated MS(E) technique. By comparison with reference compounds, accurate mass measurement, the characteristic fragmentation patterns of the parent drug parishin and gastrodin and relevant bio-transformation knowledge, 14 metabolites (seven hydrolyzates and seven derivatives of gastrodin) were detected and identified in rat plasma and urine after intragastric administration of parishin, including processes of hydrolyzation, oxidation, sulfation and glucuronidation. According to the proposed metabolic pathways of parishin, in vitro hydrolytic experiments and metabolic study of gastrodin in rat plasma, it can be inferred that parishin mainly functions as a prodrug and undergoes hydrolysis before being absorbed into the blood. The hydrolyzate, mainly gastrodin, was involved in further metabolism, which was responsible for pharmacological activities of parishin. In conclusion, this work provides valuable information on parishin metabolism using a rapid and reliable UHPLC/Q-TOF MS method, which could be widely used for the metabolic investigation of natural product.