Spectrum–effect relationships between high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints and anti-inflammatory activities of Leontopodium leontopodioides (Willd.) Beauv

The Analysis of Leontopodium leontopodioides (Willd.) Beauv. Chemical Composition by GC/MS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS

Leontopodium leontopodioides (Willd.) Beauv. (L. leontopodioides.) has been used to treat lung diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, a systematic analysis of its chemical components has not been reported so far. In this study, UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS and GC-MS were applied to investigate the chemical composition of the water extracts and essential oils of L. leontopodioides. UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS adopts a heating electrospray ionization source, collecting primary and secondary mass spectrometry data in positive and negative ions, respectively, and uses Compound Discoverer 3.2 software to analyze the collected raw data. As a result, a total of 39 compounds were identified from their high-resolution mass spectra in both positive and negative ionization modes, including 13 flavonoids and their glycosides, 15 phenolic acids, 4 oligosaccharides and glycosides, 4 pentacyclic triterpenoids, and 3 other compounds. Among them, 18 chemical components have not been reported in L. leontopodioides. In the GC-MS section, two common organic solvents (n-hexane and diethyl ether) were used to extract essential oils, and the mass spectra were recorded at 70 eV (electron impact) and scanned in the range of 35∼450 m/z. Compounds were identified using NIST (version 2017), and the peak area normalization method was used to calculate their relative amounts. Finally, 17 components were identified in the volatile oil extracted with n-hexane, accounting for 80.38% of the total volatile oil, including monoterpenoids, phenylpropene, fatty acids, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. In the volatile oil extracted with diethyl ether, 16 components were identified, accounting for 73.50% of the total volatile oil, including phenylpropene, aliphatic hydrocarbons, monoterpenoids, fatty acids, and esters. This study was the first to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of the L. leontopodioides water extract and its essential oil, and a comprehensive chemical composition spectrum was constructed, to lay a foundation for its further pharmacodynamic material basis and quality evaluation.

Spectrum-Effect Relationship in Chinese Herbal Medicine: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The quality of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) directly impacts clinical efficacy and safety. Fingerprint technology is an internationally recognized method for evaluating the quality of CHM. However, the existing quality evaluation models based on fingerprint technology have blocked the ability to assess the internal quality of CHM and cannot comprehensively reflect the correlation between pharmacodynamic information and active constituents. Through mathematical methods, a connection between the "Spectrum" (fingerprint) and the "Effect" (pharmacodynamic data) was established to conduct a spectrum-effect relationship (SER) of CHM to unravel the active component information associated with the pharmacodynamic activity. Consequently, SER can efficiently address the limitations of the segmentation of chemical components and pharmacodynamic effect in CHM and further improve the quality evaluation of CHM. This review focuses on the recent research progress of SER in the field of CHM, including the establishment of fingerprint, the selection of data analysis methods, and their recent applications in the field of CHM. Various advanced fingerprint techniques are introduced, followed by the data analysis methods used in recent years are summarized. Finally, the applications of SER based on different research subjects are described in detail. In addition, the advantages of combining SER with other data are discussed through practical applications, and the research on SER is summarized and prospected. This review proves the validity and development potential of the SER and provides a reference for the development and application of quality evaluation methods for CHM.

Spectrum-effect relationship between UPLC fingerprints and melanogenic effect of Ruta graveolens L

A total of 29 batches of R. graveolens were used in this study, their fingerprints were obtained by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and their melanogenesis activities were evaluated. The common peaks were identified by quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap-HRMS). Eleven coumarins, six alkaloids, three flavonoids, three phenolic acids, and four other compounds were found. The spectrum-effect relationships between R. graveolens' chemical fingerprints, the melanin synthesis, and tyrosine's activation activities were established through chemometrics methods which in detail principal component analysis (PCA), gray correlation analysis (GRA), bivariate correlation analysis (BCA) and orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS). The results showed that P18 (bergapten), P22 (isoimperatorin), P15 (kokusaginine), P7 (rutin), P12 (psoralen), and P13 (graveolinine) were relevant to intracellular melanin synthesis activity and tyrosinase activity. Among them, P18 (bergapten), P15 (kokusaginine), and P12 (psoralen) were validated with good melanogenesis activities. This study provides a research basis for future quality control and medicinal application of R. graveolens.

Protective mechanisms of Leontopodium leontopodioides extracts on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury viathe NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway

Sepsis-induced uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a critical cause of multiple organ failure. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most serious complications associated with an extremely high mortality rate in SIRS, and it lacked simple, safe, and effective treatment strategies. Leontopodium leontopodioides (Willd.) Beauv (LLB) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of acute and chronic nephritis. However, it remains unclear whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affects LPS-induced AKI. To identify the molecular mechanisms of LLB in LPS-induced HK-2 cells and mice, LLB was prepared by extraction with 70% methanol, while a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HK-2 cell model and an AKI model were established in this study. Renal histopathology staining was performed to observe the morphology changes. The cell supernatant and kidney tissues were collected for determining the levels of inflammatory factors and protein expression by ELISA, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. The results indicated that LLB significantly reduced the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-induced HK-2 cells, as well as the secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the supernatant. The same results were observed in LPS-induced AKI serum. Further studies revealed that LLB remarkably improved oxidative stress and apoptosis based on the content of MDA, SOD, and CAT in serum and TUNEL staining results. Notably, LLB significantly reduced the mortality due to LPS infection. Renal histopathology staining results supported these results. Furthermore, immunofluorescence and Western blot results confirmed that LLB significantly reduced the expression of the protein related to the NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 which were significantly increased through LPS stimulation. These findings clearly demonstrated the potential use of LLB in the treatment of AKI and the crucial role of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the process through which LLB attenuates AKI induced by LPS.

Combining ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadruple exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry with chemometrics to identify and verify the blood-activating components of hawthorn

Hawthorn, one of the widely-used Chinese herbal medicines, has been used to treat blood stasis syndrome in the clinic, but its blood-activating components are unclear. This study combined the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple exactive-orbitrap mass spectrometry with chemometrics to identify the blood-activating components of hawthorn. Different polar fractions of hawthorn aqueous extracts were extracted and mixed to prepare 14 samples. The contents of 25 chemical components for 14 samples were determined by the proposed quantitative method which was validated in terms of linearity, precision, stability, repeatability, and recovery, while the blood-activating effect was evaluated by measuring the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and plasma fibrinogen levels. Then the partial least squares model was established on the spectrum-effect relationship. The result showed that vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, rutin, citric acid, malic acid, gallic acid, and fumaric acid could reduce the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and plasma fibrinogen levels in blood stasis model rats, and these components were the blood-activating components of hawthorn. This study provided a scientific basis for clarifying the blood-activating components of hawthorn, and the spectrum-effect approach proved to be an effective approach to discovering the bioactive components of Chinese herbal medicines.

An integrated approach to uncover anti-tumor active materials of Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma based on spectrum-effect relationship, molecular docking, and ADME evaluation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma (CR-SR), an ancient and classical herbal couple, has been extensively used for tumor treatment in clinic of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to uncover the anti-tumor active materials of CR-SR water decoction (CR:SR = 1:1) via an integrated approach of spectrum-effect relationship, molecular docking, and ADME evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-tumor activities toward A549, HepG2, Hela, BGC-823, and MCF-7 cells of the different polar elution fractions (DPEFs) of CR, SR, and CR-SR were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Likewise, the DPEFs' combinations of CR and SR were also tested. The chemical fingerprints of these fractions were profiled by HPLC. Meanwhile, HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS was applied for the identification of chemical components. The main effect-related compounds were screened out by spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking method. The oral bioavailability and druggability of these active components were subsequently evaluated. Finally, five monomeric compounds were validated experimentally using HepG2 cells.

RESULTS

The 80% ethanol elution fraction of CR, SR, and CR-SR showed strong anti-tumor effects toward five cells. Also, the combinations with the 80% ethanol elution fraction of CR and SR showed stronger tumor inhibition effects among the DPEFs' combinations of CR and SR. By spectrum-effect relationship, HPLC-MS, and molecular docking analysis, 24 main effect-related compounds seemed to have potential anti-tumor effects. ADME evaluation showed rutin performed low oral bioavailability and druggability. Therefore, we suppose that 23 compounds (including 4 unknown compounds) are the primary anti-tumor active components of CR-SR water decoction. Among them, zederone, curcumol, chlorogenic acid, calycosin, and curcumenol were validated successfully with good tumor inhibition effects.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study demonstrated that the multi-components of CR-SR contribute to its anti-tumor effects. It established a rapid and useful strategy to explore the active material basis of traditional Chinese herbal couples with a multi-technology integrated approach in practice, including chromatography, mass spectrometry, machine algorithm models, online databases, and in vitro cell experiments.

Selecting and Characterizing Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma Based on Spectrum-Activity Relationship and Molecular Docking

Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR) is a famous classical Chinese traditional medicine (CTM), which has been used as a tonic for many diseases for thousands of years. In ancient China, it was used as a supplementary food for beauty in the palace. In preliminary studies, the function of whitening skin and the significant inhibiting effect on tyrosinase (TYR) which is the reactive enzyme in the composition of melanin of AMR were discovered, and the relevant research was rarely reported. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with partial least squares regression analysis (PLS) was applied to survey the coherence between the chemical constituents and the inhibiting activity of 11 batches of AMR on TYR activity. The results of PLS showed that the chromatographic peaks 11 (atractylenolide III) and 15 could be important effective ingredients of the inhibition TYR activity as ascertained by spectrum-activity relationships. Furthermore, TYR inhibitory activity of atractylenolide III was validated by in vitro test by β-arbutin served as a positive control drug. The results of the in vitro test and the molecular docking showed that atractylenolide III has high TYR inhibitory activity and could link to the residues in TYR catalytic pocket. Therefore, bioassay, molecular docking, and spectrum-activity relationships are appropriate for linking the quality of samples with pharmaceutical-related active ingredients. And our studying would lay a theoretical foundation for applying the water extracts of AMR in whitening cosmetics.

Overall quality control of the chemical and bioactive consistency of ShengMai Formula

ShengMai Formula (SMF), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been extensively used for treating the diseases caused by Qi-Yin deficiency for almost 1000 years. However, few studies are elucidated about its batch-to-batch quality control system and the quality control markers remain largely unrevealed, which have hindered the development and utilization of SMF. In this study, we aimed to screen the optimal quality control markers to evaluate the overall quality consistency of SMF. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint coupled with similarity analysis (SA), principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was firstly established to hunt for the discriminant components that resulting in the chemical inconsistence among different batches of SMF. Subsequently, different batches of samples were selected to explore their immunomodulatory activities by neutral red method, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Finally, the fingerprint-efficacy relationships were further illuminated to discover the major bioactive compositions using grey relational analysis (GRA), partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. As a result, schisandrol A, schisandrol B, methylophiopogonanone A, schisandrin B, ginsenoside Rf, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg2 and ginsenoside Rb2 were selected as the quality control markers and thus their simultaneous quantification was performed to both evaluate the batch-to-batch chemical and bioactive consistency among different batches of SMF. Our investigation not only stresses the necessity of consistency in efficacy besides chemical consistency, but also provides a comprehensive and powerful quality assessment approach, which is promising to monitor the overall quality consistency of SMF.

Quantitative assessment of secondary metabolites and cancer cell inhibiting activity by high performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting in Dendrobium nobile

Dendrobium nobile is an important medicinal food beneficial for human health, well known for polysaccharides and dendrobine. For fast, accurate, and comprehensive comparison of its quality, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting method was constructed. Firstly, spring frost stressed D. nobile herb was observed for assessment. Decreased leaf thickness, chlorophyll, and drying rate, and increased free-proline indicated heavy damages on growth. But, the content of polysaccharides increased significantly in during-frost (DF), and dropped significantly in after-frost (AF). The content of dendrobine accumulated significantly in AF. Then, low similarity among HPLC fingerprints of before-frost (BF), DF, and AF, and 75.82% of significantly variant peaks indicated the changing of much more components. Especially, some less-polar components increased significantly in DF, but not in AF. Moreover, the highest suppression rates (SRs) to A549 lung cancer cells were up to 33.08% in DF, but only 15.63% and 12.12% in BF and AF. After association analysis, eleven less-polar components were found to be significantly and positively correlated to SRs under relatively high concentration. The result shows that frost stress not only causes damages to plant growth, but also promotes the accumulation of some health-beneficial bioactive metabolites. HPLC based fingerprinting method shows good applicability on quality evaluation and bioactivity correlation analysis of complexed agricultural products.

Study on the spectrum-effect relationship of the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of Ligustrum lucidum

To evaluate the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of the chemical constituents of Ligustrum lucidum in vitro, the spectrum-effect relationship was investigated. The high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint was established by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was tested in vitro by a high-throughput screening method. Cluster analysis, principal component analysis, gray correlation analysis, and partial least squares regression were used to explore the spectrum-effect relationships. Sixty batches of Ligustrum lucidum were collected from 16 provinces for testing. The results revealed differences among the batches of medicinal materials, and the similarity score was between 0.635 and 0.968. Thirty-three characteristic peaks (1-33) were calibrated by fingerprint evaluation software for traditional Chinese medicine. The spectrum-effect relationship study further revealed that the contents of peaks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 17, 25, 28, 31, and 33, which are potentially critical ingredients for quality control of Ligustrum lucidum fruit, were highly correlated with the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity.