Identification and determination of the major constituents in Traditional Chinese Medicinal formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS

Exploring the mechanism of Sendeng-4 against rheumacid arthritis through integrated serum pharmacochemistry, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology

Mongolian medicine Sendeng-4 (SD-4) has demonstrated satisfactory clinical treatment outcomes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); nevertheless, its bioactive components and the related mechanisms have not yet been clearly elucidated. To explore the bioactive chemical components of SD-4 in the treatment of RA and its possible mechanisms, an High Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was established to simultaneously quantify the main components in SD-4, and ultraperformance LC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS (UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS) was used to identify the phytochemicals absorbed in the serum. Then, using network pharmacology methods, these components were constructed into a compound-target network of RA to predict possible biological targets of SD-4 as well as potential signaling pathways. Transcriptomics analysis and molecular docking were used to validate the results of network pharmacology. Subsequently, we established a complete Freund's adjuvant-induced RA rat model and observed the anti-RA effects of SD-4 through assessments of foot swelling, ankle diameter, arthritis score, morphology, serum inflammatory factors, and histopathological analysis of synovial tissue. Specifically, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis were used in animal experiments to validate the pathways of serum phytochemistry, network pharmacology, and transcriptomics. Tannic acid, gallic acid, corilagin, crocin I, gardenoside, ferulic acid, quercetin, limonin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, verbascoside, catechin, epicatechin, myricetin, and dihydromyricetin in SD-4 showed good linearity within their respective concentration ranges (r ≥ 0.9991); the average recovery rate was 93.77%-109.17% (relative standard deviation < 2%). A total of 37 compounds were identified in serum samples. Based on this, network pharmacology methods collected 739 genes related to these identified compounds in SD-4 and 3807 genes related to RA. Network pharmacology and transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway is the most relevant pathway affected by SD-4 in RA. In the experiments, SD-4 treatment reduced ankle swelling and arthritis scores in RA rats, improved symptoms, and reduced the production of inflammatory factors. Compared with the RA model group, SD-4 treatment significantly reduced the expression of PI3K-Akt pathway-related messenger RNA and proteins. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis confirmed these results. This study combined serum phytochemistry, network pharmacology, and transcriptomics to demonstrate that SD-4 can alleviate RA by regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This research provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of SD-4 and offers an effective strategy for the identification of bioactive substances in traditional Chinese medicine formulas and the study of their potential mechanisms.

A global profiling strategy for identification of the total constituents in Chinese herbal medicine based on online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with intelligentized chemical classification guidance

A comprehensive strategy for effective identification of total constituents in Chinese patent medicine has been advanced applying full scan-preferred parent ions capture-static and active exclusion (FS-PIC-SAE) acquisition coupled with intelligent deep-learning supported mass defect filter (MDF) process, with Naoxintong capsule (NXT) as a case. Online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) coupled with Q-TOF-MS/MS system was established for obtaining the excellent separation and detection performance of total components, which could exhibit excellent peak capacity with 1052 and orthogonality with 0.69. In addition, a total of 901 unknown compounds could be classified into nine chemical classes rapidly and effectively, based on the intelligent deep-learning algorithm supported MDF model with 96.4% accuracy. Consequently, 276 compounds were successfully identified from NXT, especially including 44 flavonoids, 27 phenolic acids, 25 fatty acids, 17 saponins, 21 phthalocyanines, 20 triterpenes, 10 monoterpenes, 13 diterpenoid ketones, 14 amino acids, and others. It is concluded that the proposed program is an effective and practical strategy enabling the in-depth chemical profiling of complex herbal and biological samples.

Comparative study on Angelica sinensis after different processing with yellow rice wine in color, aromas, chemical components, and antioxidant activities

This study aimed to explore the differences in raw Angelica Sinensis (RAS), wine washing AS (WAS), and wine stir-frying AS (WSAS). The results showed there were differences among the three AS in color and aroma, and 34 aroma compounds were identified. The content determination results revealed the ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide levels of RAS decreased after processing, and those in WAS were higher than in WSAS. Furthermore, 85 representative common components and 37 unique components were tentatively identified in three AS. Finally, the free radical scavenging assay results indicated the antioxidant capacity of RAS was reduced after processing, and the antioxidant capacity of WAS was better than WSAS. Collectively, the RAS undergoes significant changes in color, aromas, components, and antioxidant ability after processing, and the different processing methods also result in significant differences between WAS and WSAS.

Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on central neuroendocrine and pharmacokinetics in female ovariectomized rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The traditional Chinese medicine formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) has been reported to have estrogen-like effects and therapeutic effects on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore whether the central oxytocin and neuroendocrine system is involved in the modulating effects of DSS on the cognition and neuropsychiatric hebaviors in female AD rats, and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in female AD rats with DSS treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

DSS (1.2, 3.2, 8.6g/kg/day) was orally administered to ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and saline was orally administered to sham operation rats as control group. The Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and passive avoidance test were conducted for evaluation of learning and memory abilities, while elevated plus maze test and forced swim test were performed to assess anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. ELISA kits were used to detect the levels of estrogen (E), estrogen receptor α (ERα), oxytocin (OT), oxytocin receptor (OTR), acetylcholine (Ach), acetylcholin esterase (AchE), and choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) in the cortex. The concentrations of Ach, glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in the hippocampus were assessed by HPLC-MS. The changes of neuronal morphology in the hippocampus were observed by Nissl staining. The pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in OVX rats with DSS treatment were studied by HPLC.

RESULTS

In the Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and passive avoidance test, OVX rats showed cognitive impairment. In the elevated plus maze test and forced swim test, the anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats were significant as compared to the control group. Treatment of DSS significantly imporved the cognitive deficits, and ameliorated anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats. The expression of E, ERα, OT, OTR, AchE and ChAT in the cortex of model group were significantly decreased, and DSS significantly reversed these changes. The concentrations of Ach, Glu, GABA, 5-HT and NE in the hippocampus of OVX rats were significantly decreased, whereas DSS significantly increased the levels of Ach, Glu, GABA, 5-HT and NE. There was no significant difference in the concentration of DA in the hippocampus among groups. Degenerating neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region were observed in OVX rats, and the number of neurons was decreased. DSS treatment reduced the degenerating neurons, and incresed the number of neurons. The MRT (0 - ∞), AUC (0 - ∞), Cmax and t1/2z values of paeoniflorin, and the AUC _0-∞ and C_max value of ferulic acid were higher in DSS-treated OVX rats than those in the DSS-treated control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

DSS improves the learning and memory ability, and attenuates anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats. The mechanism may be through increasing estrogen, reducing cholinergic damage, and modulating neurotransmitters. The increase in absorption and elimination time of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in OVX rats may enhance the efficacy of DSS.

Chemical Profile Determination and Quantitative Analysis of Components in Oryeong-san Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and UPLC-TQ-MS/MS

In this study, a method to both qualitatively and quantitively analyze the components of Oryeong-san (ORS), which is composed of five herbal medicines (Alisma orientale Juzepzuk, Polyporus umbellatus Fries, Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi, Poria cocos Wolf, and Cinnamomum cassia Presl) and is prescribed in traditional Oriental medicine practices, was established for the first time. First, ORS components were profiled using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry, and 19 compounds were clearly identified via comparison against reference standard compounds. Subsequently, a quantitative method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was established to simultaneously measure the identified compounds. Nineteen compounds were accurately quantified using the multiple-reaction-monitoring mode and used to analyze the sample; we confirmed that coumarin was the most abundant compound. The method was validated, achieving good linearity (R2 ≤ 0.9991), recovery (RSD, 0.11-3.15%), and precision (RSD, 0.35-9.44%). The results suggest that this method offers a strategy for accurately and effectively determining the components of ORS, and it can be used for quality assessment and management.

Senkyunolide I: A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Drug-Likeness

Senkyunolide I (SI) is a natural phthalide that has drawn increasing interest for its potential as a cardio-cerebral vascular drug candidate. In this paper, the botanical sources, phytochemical characteristics, chemical and biological transformations, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties, and drug-likeness of SI are reviewed through a comprehensive literature survey, in order to provide support for its further research and applications. In general, SI is mainly distributed in Umbelliferae plants, and it is relatively stable to heat, acid, and oxygen, with good blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Substantial studies have established reliable methods for the isolation, purification, and content determination of SI. Its pharmacological effects include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-thrombotic, anti-tumor effects, alleviating ischemia-reperfusion injury, etc. Pharmacokinetic parameters indicate that its metabolic pathway is mainly phase Ⅱ metabolism, and it is rapidly absorbed in vivo and widely distributed in the kidneys, liver, and lungs.

Established UPLC-MS/MS procedure for multicomponent quantitative analysis of rat plasma: Pharmacokinetics of Taohong Siwu Decoction in normal and acute blood stasis models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As one of China's 100 classic recipes, Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) consists of Siwu Tang flavored peach kernel and safflower, and is used to nourish and activate blood. Accordingly, THSWD is mainly administered to treat blood deficiency and stasis syndrome. According to prior studies, THSWD induces antioxidant stress, inhibits inflammatory reactions, inhibits platelet aggregation, prevents fibrosis, reduces blood lipids, prolongs clotting time, prevents atherosclerosis and vascular pathology, improves hemorheological changes, and regulates related signaling pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sensitive analytical method was developed to detect the marker components of THSWD using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. A rapid and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS analytical method was developed and applied to detect 16 major bioactive components in normal and acute blood stasis (ABS) rats following oral administration of THSWD. The metabolic process of THSWD in vivo was evaluated and the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between the normal and ABS rat metabolic processes were compared.

RESULTS

This method was fully validated based on its excellent linearity (r² < 0.99), satisfactory intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD <15%), and good accuracy (RE within ±14.83%). The stability, matrix effects, and extraction recoveries of the rat plasma samples were also within the acceptable limits (RSD <15%). Compared to normal rats, the pharmacokinetics of the major active constituents (except Senkyunolide G) were significantly different (P < 0.05) in the ABS model rats, indicating that the metabolism of the 16 compounds in vivo may change under disease conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, a sensitive UPLC-Q-TOF-MS method was established to analyze the main components of THSWD, and a UPLC-MS/MS analytical method was developed and applied for the pharmacokinetic parameter detection of the 16 main bioactive components in normal and ABS rats. Our findings lay the foundation for further studies on the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic correlation for THSWD.

Rapidly and accurately screening histidine decarboxylase inhibitors from Radix Paeoniae alba using ultrafiltration-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry combined with enzyme channel blocking and directional enrichment technique

Histidine Decarboxylase (HDC), an unique enzyme responsible for the synthesis of histamine, which is an important mediator in allergy. Inhibition of HDC activity to decrease histamine production is one way to alleviate allergic symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with reported anti-allergy effect is one of important source to search for natural HDC inhibitor. Ultrafiltration combined with high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UF-HPLC/MS) is an effective method for screening HDC inhibitor from TCMs. Nevertheless, false-positive and false-negative results caused by the non-specific binding and the neglection of the trace active compounds are major problems in this method. In this study, an integrated strategy that combined UF-HPLC/MS with enzyme channel blocking (ECB) technique and directional enrichment (DE) technique was developed to seek natural HDC inhibitors from Radix Paeoniae alba (RPA), and at the same time, to reduce false-positive and false-negative results. HDC activity was detected to determine the validity of the screened compounds by RP-HPLC-FD in vitro. Molecular docking was applied to assay the binding affinity and binding sites. As a result, three compounds were screened from low content components of RPA after the DE. Among them, two non-specific compounds were eliminated by ECB, and the specific compound was identified as catechin, which has obvious HDC inhibition activity with IC₅₀ 0.52 mM. Furthermore, gallic acid (IC₅₀ 1.8 mM) and paeoniflorin (IC₅₀>2 mM) from high content components of RPA were determined having HDC inhibitory activity. In conclusion, the integrated strategy of UF-HPLC/MS combined with ECB and DE technique is an effective mode for rapid and accurate screening and identification of natural HDC inhibitors from TCMs.

Integrated UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology approach-driven quality marker discovery of Danggui Shaoyao San for primary dysmenorrhea

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), a famous prescription, has been clinically proved to be effective in treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Currently there is no valid quality control data available for DSS. The main aim of the current research was to explore quality markers (Q-markers) of DSS. The chemical constituents of DSS were qualitatively identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology. On this basis, the targets of DSS and PD were predicted and screened using the TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis was performed on the core intersection targets using string and Cytoscape 3.7.1 software. Then molecular docking was conducted to screen the Q-markers of DSS in PD. A total of 126 chemical constituents, including 22 organic acids, 14 phthalides, 24 monoterpenoids, five sesquiterpene lactones, 22 triterpenoids, four phenylpropanoids and 35 other compounds were preliminarily characterized. According to network pharmacology prediction analysis, six compounds containing polyporenic acid C, senkyunolide P, alisol B 23-acetate, naringenin, gallic acid, ferulic acid and albiflorin were regarded as Q-markers of DSS. The present research established an integrative UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology method to discover the latent Q-markers of DSS and provided a theoretical data for the follow-up quality control of DSS.

Qualitative Profiling and Quantitative Analysis of Major Constituents in Jinmu-tang by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and UPLC-TQ-MS/MS

Jinmu-tang (JMT) is a traditional herbal medicine consisting of five herbal medicines: Poria cocos Wolf, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi, and Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux. In this study, the JMT components were profiled using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, and 23 compounds were identified and characterized. In addition, UPLC-TQ-MS/MS analysis was performed in the positive and negative ion modes of an electrospray ionization source for the simultaneous quantification of the identified compounds. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method was established to increase the sensitivity of the quantitative analysis, and the method was verified through linearity, recovery, and precision. All analytes showed good linearity (R2 ≤ 0.9990). Moreover, the recovery and the relative standard deviation of precision were 86.19-114.62% and 0.20-8.00%, respectively. Using the established MRM analysis method, paeoniflorin was found to be the most abundant compound in JMT. In conclusion, these results provide information on the constituents of JMT and can be applied to quality control and evaluation.

Combining multiple acquisition modes and computational data annotation for structural characterization in traditional Chinese medicine: Miao Nationality medicine Qijiao Shengbai Capsule as a case study

Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (QSC) is a reputable Miao Nationality medicine used for treating leukopenia, but its chemical composition has not yet been elucidated. We herein present a strategy, by integrating multiple data acquisition, computational data annotation and processing methods to visualize and identify the complicated constituents in QSC based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with traveling wave ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TWIMS-QTOF-MS). The multiple data acquisition modes, including data-independent mass spectrometryEnergy (MSE), data-independent high-definition mass spectrometryEnergy (HDMSE), and fast data-dependent acquisition (fast-DDA), in both positive and negative ion modes, were conducted on a Waters-SYNAPT G2-Si mass spectrometer with an ESI source. An in-house library built by the UNIFI platform could efficiently process the peak annotation of known compounds, whilst different structural types were clustered in the molecular networks for the analogous classification and structural annotation of the unknown ones. Neutral loss, diagnostic ions, feature fragmentation behaviors, and community curation of mass spectrometry data of known compounds helped exploit those similar neighboring nodes of unknown compounds. Moreover, by combination of the predicted CCS values from CCS platform with the experimental CCS values from HDMSE, as well as diagnostic fragment ions, isomer compounds were annotated. By integrating reference compound comparison, a total of 202 constituents, including 94 flavonoids, 12 saponins, 30 phthalides, 38 organic acids, 3 amino acids, 7 alkaloids and 18 others, were unambiguously characterized or tentatively identified in QSC. Among them, 5 potential new compounds were detected and 12 pairs of isomers were comprehensively distinguished. Conclusively, the established multiple acquisition modes, computational data processing and analysis strategy proved to be useful for the in-depth structural identification of QSC.

Simultaneous Determination of Adulterants in Dietary Food Supplements Using Multivariate Data Analysis after Preconcentration with Novel Nanosorbents and Chromatographic Measurement

Background

The increasing popularity of dietary supplements and, consequently, related adulteration emphasizes the rising need to examine the association of food supplements with fraud. Intentional or unintentional fraud in food supplements by hazardous chemicals compounds is a problem that many countries are struggling with. Much effort have been made to effectively and reliably control the quality of food supplements.

Objective

Due to the importance of the subject, an analytical method for the simultaneous and reliable detection and quantitative determination of three key adulterants in dietary food supplements was developed. The proposed method benefits from analytical methods and multivariate calibration methods to progress the determination of adulterants in a complex matrix.

Methods

HPLC assisted by multivariate curve resolution-alternating least square (MCR-ALS) analysis was used to detect adulterants in real samples after separation and preconcentration using novel mesoporous carbon nanoparticles. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) optimization was accomplished by central composite design (CCD). In order to obtain the best results, the MCR-ALS model was compared with the parallel factor analysis 2 (PARAFAC2) model and validated by estimation of linearity, detection limits, and recovery.

Results

The detection limits and linear dynamics were calculated as 1.5, 4.27, and 4.77 µg/mL, and 1–50, 5–20, and 5–20 µg/mL for caffeine, ephedrine, and fluoxetine, respectively. Mean recovery for determination of caffeine, ephedrine, and fluoxetine using the developed method was reported as 101.75, 91.7, and 92.36, respectively.

Conclusion

The results showed that to avoid negative health outcomes associated with the excessive consumption of adulterated food supplements releasing such products should be carefully regulated. The developed method was validated using statistical factors and showed acceptable and reliable results.

Highlights

(1) The application of MCR-ALS coupled with HPLC-Diode-Array Detection data sets allowed the simultaneous identification and quantification of three key adulterants (caffeine, ephedrine, and fluoxetine) in dietary food supplements. (2) A small amount of the novel adsorbent was successfully used to preconcentrate the trace amounts of adulterants in samples. (3) This method benefits from the chemometrics tools and experimental design to significantly reduce the use of toxic solvents and complicated instruments to propose a less time-consuming method for quantification of multicomponents in the presence of uncalibrated interferents.

Mathematical algorithm–based identification of the functional components and mechanisms in depression treatment: An example of Danggui-Shaoyao-San

Depression, a complex epidemiological mental disorder, affects around 350 million people worldwide. Despite the availability of antidepressants based on monoamine hypothesis of depression, most patients suffer side effects from these drugs, including psychomotor impairment and dependence liability. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is receiving more and more attention due to the advantages of high therapeutic performance and few side effects in depression treatment. However, complex multicomponents and multi-targets in TCM hinder our ability to identify the functional components and molecular mechanisms of its efficacy. In this study, we designed a novel strategy to capture the functional components and mechanisms of TCM based on a mathematical algorithm. To establish proof of principle, the TCM formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS), which possesses remarkable antidepressant effect but its functional components and mechanisms are unclear, is used as an example. According to the network motif detection algorithm, key core function motifs (CIM) of DSS in treating depression were captured, followed by a functional analysis and verification. The results demonstrated that 198 pathways were enriched by the target genes of the CIM, and 179 coincided with the enriched pathways of pathogenic genes, accounting for 90.40% of the gene enrichment pathway of the C-T network. Then the functional components group (FCG) comprising 40 components was traced from CIM based on the target coverage accumulation algorithm, after which the pathways enriched by the target genes of FCG were selected to elucidate the potential mechanisms of DSS in treating depression. Finally, the pivotal components in FCG of DSS and the related pathways were selected for experimental validation in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicated good accuracy of the proposed mathematical algorithm in sifting the FCG from the TCM formula, which provided a methodological reference for discovering functional components and interpreting molecular mechanisms of the TCM formula in treating complex diseases.

Using network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Danggui-Shaoyao-San in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease

Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) is one of traditional Chinese medicine, which recently was found to play a protective role in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the pharmacological mechanisms of DSS remain obscure. This study would explore the molecular mechanisms and bioactive ingredients of DSS in the treatment of DKD through network pharmacology. The potential target genes of DKD were obtained through OMIM database, the DigSee database and the DisGeNET database. DSS-related targets were acquired from the BATMAN-TCM database and the STITCH database. The common targets of DSS and DKD were selected for analysis in the STRING database, and the results were imported into Cytoscape to construct a protein-protein interaction network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were carried out to further explore the mechanisms of DSS in treating DKD. Molecular docking was conducted to identify the potential interactions between the compounds and the hub genes. Finally, 162 therapeutic targets of DKD and 550 target genes of DSS were obtained from our screening process. Among this, 28 common targets were considered potential therapeutic targets of DSS for treating DKD. Hub signaling pathways including HIF-1 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be involved in the treatment of DKD using DSS. Furthermore, TNF and PPARG, and poricoic acid C and stigmasterol were identified as hub genes and main active components in this network, respectively. In this study, DSS appears to treat DKD by multi-targets and multi-pathways such as inflammatory, oxidative stress, autophagy and fibrosis, which provided a novel perspective for further research of DSS for the treatment of DKD.

Danggui-Shaoyao-San Attenuates Cognitive Impairment via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis With Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia

Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) has a long history of being used as a traditional medicine (TCM) and has been reported to show therapeutic effects in alleviating the symptoms of cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether DSS treatment attenuates cognitive impairment via the microbiota–gut–brain axis in scopolamine-induced amnesia. In this work, we first performed the Morris water maze (MWM) test and novel object recognition (NOR) test to evaluate the memory function of treated C57BL/6N mice. Then we evaluated 16S rRNA for gut microbiota analysis, as well as assessment of blood–brain barrier function and intestinal barrier function and lipid metabolism analysis on tissues from different groups. We hypothesised that DSS may affect brain function and behavior through the gut–brain axis in a bidirectional interplay with both top-down and bottom-up regulation. Furthermore, in order to confirm whether intestinal flora plays a crucial role in scopolamine-induced amnesia, C57BL/6N mice were treated with fecal microbial transplantation (FMT), and then behavioral tests were performed. The mice’s feces were simultaneously evaluated by 16S rRNA analysis. The result supported that the FMT-induced improvement in cognitive function highlights the role of the gut microbiota–brain axis to mediate cognitive function and behavior. Besides theses works, more findings indicated that DSS altered lipid metabolism by activating LXR-PPAR-γ and repaired mucosal barrier dysfunction assessed with a broad range of techniques, which attenuated cognitive impairment via the microbiota–gut–brain axis.

High-throughput UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS coupled with multivariable data processing approach for the rapid screening and characterization of chemical constituents and potential bioactive compounds from Danggui Shaoyao San

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), a herbal formula, has been widely used for decades in China to treat senile dementia and dysmenorrhea. Here, an integrative high-throughput UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method coupled with a multivariable data processing approach was established for rapidly screening and identifying chemical constituents and potential bioactive compounds from DSS. Through the comparison with mass fragment ions, relevant literature, and in-house reference material database coupled with MS cleavage mechanism, 150 chemical constituents, mainly including triterpenoids, flavonoids, phathalides, and organic acids, were tentatively characterized. Most of them were identified for the first time. Then, principal component analysis was used to evaluate the differences in chemical profiles between groups, whereas the variable importance of the projection (VIP) spectrum (VIP > 1) and the trend plot of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were applied to intuitively screen the candidate variables present only in the dosed group. Consequently, by comparison with all the characterized components in vitro, 23 potential bioactive compounds were successfully identified, comprising 5 triterpenoids, 4 phathalides, 4 flavonoids, 4 organic acids, 3 lactones, and 3 other compounds, which were present in various medicinal materials, reflecting a synergistic mechanism. This work developed a rapid, reliable, and robust approach for comprehensive characterization of the chemical components and potential bioactive compounds of DSS, providing solid data for further research on pharmacodynamic substances and pharmacological mechanisms of DSS.

Extraction of Functional Components from Freeze-Dried Angelica furcijuga Leaves Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Angelica furcijuga (A. furcijuga), as a material for traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan, for several centuries owing to its therapeutic effects. In this study, A. furcijuga leaves were used as starting materials to extract functional substances using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at pressure and temperature ranges of 20-40 MPa and 40-80 °C, respectively. The extraction process was performed in a semibatch-type system with extraction times of 15-120 min. The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that kaempferol, ferulic acid, ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide as selected functional substances were successfully extracted under these operating conditions. An operating pressure of 30 MPa with an extraction time of 60 min seems to be an appropriate pressure to extract functional components from A. furcijuga leaves. The Hansen solubility parameter values and statistical analysis showed that SC-CO2 with 10% ethanol addition is a feasible tool to isolate these selected functional substances from the A. furcijuga matrix.

Systematic Understanding of Mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao San against Ischemic Stroke Using a Network Pharmacology Approach

Purpose

Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) was developed to treat the ischemic stroke (IS) in patients and animal models. The purpose of this study was to explore its active compounds and demonstrate its mechanism against IS through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiment.

Methods

All the components of DSS were retrieved from the pharmacology database of TCM system. The genes corresponding to the targets were retrieved using OMIM, CTD database, and TTD database. The herb-compound-target network was constructed by Cytoscape software. The target protein-protein interaction network was built using the STRING database. The core targets of DSS were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Then, we achieved molecular docking between the hub proteins and the key active compounds. Finally, animal experiments were performed to verify the core targets. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to calculate the infarct size in mice. The protein expression was determined using the Western blot.

Results

Compound-target network mainly contained 51 compounds and 315 corresponding targets. Key targets contained MAPK1, SRC, PIK3R1, HRAS, AKT1, RHOA, RAC1, HSP90AA1, and RXRA FN1. There were 417 GO items in GO enrichment analysis (p < 0.05) and 119 signaling pathways (p < 0.05) in KEGG, mainly including negative regulation of apoptosis, steroid hormone-mediated signaling pathway, neutrophil activation, cellular response to oxidative stress, and VEGF signaling pathway. MAPK1, SRC, and PIK3R1 docked with small molecule compounds. According to the Western blot, the expression of p-MAPK 1, p-AKT, and p-SRC was regulated by DSS.

Conclusions

This study showed that DSS can treat IS through multiple targets and routes and provided new insights to explore the mechanisms of DSS against IS.

Improving natural products identification through molecular features-oriented precursor ion selection and targeted MS/MS analysis: a case study of Zhi-Ke-Yang-Yin capsule

Chemical substance identification is an indispensable step in research on therapeutic materials based on traditional Chinese medicine and its formulas.

Induction of PI3K/Akt-Mediated Apoptosis in Osteoclasts Is a Key Approach for Buxue Tongluo Pills to Treat Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

The Buxue Tongluo pill (BTP) is a self-made pill with the functions of nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation, dredging collaterals, and relieving pain. It consists of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Pheretima aspergillum (E.Perrier), Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Various clinical practices have confirmed the therapeutic effect of BTP on osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), but little attention has been paid to the study of its bioactive ingredients and related mechanisms of action. In this study, UPLC/MS-MS combined with GEO data mining was used to construct a bioactive ingredient library of BTP and a differentially expressed gene (DEG) library for ONFH. Subsequently, Cytoscape (3.7.2) software was used to analyze the protein-protein interaction between BTP and DEGs of ONFH to screen the key targets, and functional annotation analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Finally, 34 bioactive compounds were screened, which acted on 1,232 targets. A total of 178 DEGs were collected, and 17 key genes were obtained after two screenings. By bioinformatics annotation on these key genes, a total of 354 gene ontology (GO) functional annotation analyses and 42 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were obtained. The present study found that GO and KEGG enrichment were mainly related to apoptosis, suggesting that BTP may exert an anti-ONFH effect by promoting osteoclast apoptosis. Experiments in vitro demonstrated that BTP could increase the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and induce remarkable apoptosis in osteoclasts. Furthermore, we determined the apoptosis marker of cleaved(C)-caspase-3, bcl-2, and bax and found that BTP could upregulate the C-caspase-3 and bax expression in osteoclasts and decrease the expression of bcl-2, p-Akt, and p-PI3K in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that BTP could induce PI3K/Akt-mediated apoptosis in osteoclasts to treat ONFH. This study explored the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of BTP against ONFH from the perspective of systemic pharmacology, laying a foundation for further elucidating the therapeutic effects of BTP against ONFH.

Untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometric analysis deducing robust markers for discrimination of processing procedures: Wine-processed Angelica sinensis as a case study

Wine-processed Angelica Sinensis is a widely used Chinese medicinal decoction piece in China. However, there are hardly any robust markers indicating the processing procedure of wine-processed Angelica Sinensis, including the amount of rice wine and processing degree. A strategy integrating untargeted metabolomics and chemometric analysis for deducing robust markers was provided and applied to the discrimination of processing procedure. First, 86 compounds were tentatively identified in wine-processed Angelica Sinensis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry. Second, 93 potential chemical markers were selected using multivariate analysis, among which nine robust chemical markers were selected by verification with commercial samples. Finally, the effects of processing temperature, time, and amount of rice wine on the three selected chemical markers were investigated through a rapid analytical method. It was demonstrated that both m/z 258.1097 and 238.1189 were positively correlated with the amount of rice wine and processing degree. In summary, this study introduced two candidate processing markers as robust markers for discriminating the processing procedures of wine-processed Angelica sinensis. It also proposed a strategy to provide the reference for the research of other decoction pieces.

Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of rats induced by experimental tooth movement

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) on depression- and anxiety-like behavior induced by experimental tooth movement (ETM) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into a sham group (n = 12; rats underwent all operation procedures, except placement of orthodontic forces, and received saline treatment), ETM group (n = 12; rats received saline treatment and ETM), and DETM group (n = 12; rats received DSS [dose: 150 mg/kg twice daily from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 7] treatment and ETM). The vacuous chewing movement (VCM) test, open-field test, and elevated plus maze test were performed to assess the depression- and anxiety-like behaviors of the rats.

RESULTS

DSS pretreatment significantly decreased the ETM-induced VCM time (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), increased the ETM-induced time to the central area of experimental device during the 5 min open-field test (P < 0.05, DETM vs. ETM), and increased the ratio of time spent in the open arms of the 5 min elevated plus maze test induced by ETM (P < 0.01, DETM vs. ETM).

CONCLUSIONS

DSS pretreatment can restore the impaired abilities of rats caused by ETM-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior.

Danggui-Shaoyao-San Improves Gut Microbia Dysbiosis and Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis in Fructose-Fed Rats

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological state of many abnormal metabolic sections. These abnormalities are closely related to diabetes, heart pathologies and other vascular diseases. Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been used as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. DSS has rarely been reported in the application of MetS and its mechanism of how it improves gut microbia dysbiosis and hepatic lipid homeostasis. In this study, three extracts of DSS were obtained using water, 50% methanol in water and methanol as extracting solvents. Their chemical substances were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Pharmacodynamic effect of the extracts were evaluated by comparison of biochemical factors, 16S rRNA sequencing test for gut microbiota analysis, as well as metabonomic and transcriptomic assessments on liver tissues from fructose-fed rats. This study aimed at investigating DSS’s mechanism of regulating blood lipid, anti-inflammation and reducing blood glucose. The results showed that the 50% methanol extract (HME) was more effective. It was worth noting that hydroxysteroid 17β-dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17β13) as a critical element of increasing blood lipid biomarker-triglyceride (TG), was decreased markedly by DSS. The influence from upgraded hydroxysteroid 17β-dehydrogenase 7 (HSD17β7) may be stronger than that from downgraded Lactobacillus in the aspect of regulating back blood lipid biomarker-total cholesterol (TC). The differential down-regulation of tumornecrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and the significant up-regulation of Akkermansia showed the effective effect of anti-inflammation by DSS. The declining glycine and alanine induced the lowering glucose and lactate. It demonstrated that DSS slowed down the reaction of gluconeogenesis to reduce the blood glucose. The results demonstrated that DSS improved pathological symptoms of MetS and some special biochemical factors in three aspects by better regulating intestinal floras and improving hepatic gene expressions and metabolites.

Cerebralcare Granule® enhances memantine hydrochloride efficacy in APP/PS1 mice by ameliorating amyloid pathology and cognitive functions

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory deficits and cognitive decline. Current drugs can only relieve symptoms, but cannot really cure AD. Cerebralcare Granule® (CG) is a Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) containing a variety of biologically active compounds. In our previous studies, CG has shown a beneficial effect against memory impairment in mice caused by d-galactose. However, whether CG can be used as a complementary medicine for the treatment of AD remains unexplored. Here, we use a combination of CG and memantine hydrochloride (Mm) to treat Alzheimer-like pathology and investigate the effects and mechanisms in vivo.

Methods

The histology of brain was examined with Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, Golgi staining and Thioflavin S staining. ELISA was applied to assess the expression levels or activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL) in serum, as well as the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the mice brain. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of β-secretase (BACE1), amyloid precursor protein (APP), APPβ, APPα, synaptophysin (SYN), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95).

Results

In the present study, the combination group (CG + Mm) significantly attenuated Alzheimer-like behavior without adverse effects in APP/PS1 mice, indicating its high degree of safety and efficacy after long-term treatment. CG + Mm reduced AD pathological biomarker Aβ plaque accumulation by inhibiting BACE1 and APP expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). Besides, the combination group markedly inhibited the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in hippocampus (P < 0.001), as well as activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px in serum (P < 0.001). By contrast, the combination group improved synaptic plasticity by enhancing SYN, PSD95, and GAP43 expression.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data supported the notion that CG combined with Mm might ameliorate the cognitive impairment through multiple pathways, suggesting that CG could play a role as complementary medicine to increase anti-AD effect of chemical drugs by reducing Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, and improving synaptic plasticity.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacological analysis used to explore possible anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms of the Shentong-Zhuyu decoction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shentong-Zhuyu decoction (STZYD) has been recognized by the Chinese National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a classic TCM formula. Use of STZYD has shown a satisfactory clinical therapeutic outcome for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); despite this, its bioactive chemical composition and relevant mechanism(s) of this action have not been clearly elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the bioactive chemical composition of STZYD used for RA treatment and its possible mechanism(s) of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum pharmacochemistry mediated by the UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS method was employed to identify the absorbed phytochemical compounds in serum derived from STZYD, which were commonly considered as the potential bioactive compounds. And then, these components were used to construct a compound-target network for RA using a network pharmacology approach, to predict the possible biological targets of STZYD along with potential signaling pathways. Afterwards, we established a Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced RA rat model, and observed the anti-RA effect of STZYD by a series of indexes, including foot swelling, ankle diameter, arthritis score, morphological and radiographic analysis, serum inflammatory factors, and histopathological analysis of synovial tissues. Particularly, the predicted pathway by the combination of serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology was further validated using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses in animal experiment.

RESULTS

Totally, 38 compounds derived from STZYD have been identified by serum sample analysis. Based on it, 387 genes related to these identified compounds in STZYD and 3807 genes related to RA were collected by network pharmacology. Critically, KEGG analysis indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was recommended as one of the main pathway related to anti-RA effect of STZYD. Experimentally, STZYD significantly alleviated CFA-induced arthritis without any visible side-effects. Compared to the RA model group without any treatment, the treatment of STZYD significantly reduced the expression of both mRNA and protein targets in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, this result was also corroborated by immunohistochemistry analysis. All these studies could effectively corroborate the predicted result as above, suggested that the feasibility of this integrated strategy.

CONCLUSION

This study provided a useful strategy to identify bioactive compounds and the potential mechanisms for TCM formula by integrating serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology.

Laguncularia racemosa Phenolics Profiling by Three-Phase Solvent System Step-Gradient Using High-Performance Countercurrent Chromatography with Off-Line Electrospray Mass-Spectrometry Detection

The detailed metabolite profiling of Laguncularia racemosa was accomplished by high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) using the three-phase system n-hexane–tert-butyl methyl ether–acetonitrile–water 2:3:3:2 (v/v/v/v) in step-gradient elution mode. The gradient elution was adjusted to the chemical complexity of the L. racemosa ethyl acetate partition and strongly improved the polarity range of chromatography. The three-phase solvent system was chosen for the gradient to avoid equilibrium problems when changing mobile phase compositions encountered between the gradient steps. The tentative recognition of metabolites including the identification of novel ones was possible due to the off-line injection of fractions to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) in the sequence of recovery. The off-line hyphenation profiling experiment of HPCCC and ESI-MS projected the preparative elution by selected single ion traces in the negative ionization mode. Co-elution effects were monitored and MS/MS fragmentation data of more than 100 substances were used for structural characterization and identification. The metabolite profile in the L. racemosa extract comprised flavonoids, hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins and low molecular weight polyphenols.

Status of Bioactive Compounds from Bran of Pigmented Traditional Rice Varieties and Their Scope in Production of Medicinal Food with Nutraceutical Importance

Consumption of pigmented rice as a staple food is rapidly increasing due to their healthy prospective and considered as functional food ingredients. Greater interest has been shown in many color rice varieties due to their multiple biological activities. The phenolic compounds have been found to consist of anthocyanidins, ferulic acid, diferulates, anthocyanins and polymeric proanthocyanidins. Anthocyanin is located in the bran layers of the rice kernel, while phenolic acids are mainly present in the bran layers of rice, existing as free, conjugated and bound forms. Keeping in view the several health benefits associated with the functional ingredients, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anticancer effects, pigmented rice is considered as a functional food and food ingredient in many Asian countries. The application and incorporation of bran into food products for the preparation of functional foods is increasing. Within the scope of this review, we highlighted the significant bioactive compounds from pigmented rice varieties and their potentials for medicinal and nutraceutical ingredients. The information provided from this could be of high benefit to the functional food industry and further research advance medicinal products.

Effect of Salinomycin on Expression Pattern of Genes Associated with Apoptosis in Endometrial Cancer Cell Line

Background

Salinomycin is part of a group of ionophore antibiotics characterized by an activity towards tumor cells. To this day, the mechanism through which salinomycin induces their apoptosis is not fully known yet. The goal of this study was to assess the expression pattern of genes and the proteins coded by them connected with the process of programmed cell death in an endometrial cancer cell Ishikawa culture exposed to salinomycin and compared to the control.

Materials and Methods

Analysis of the effect of salinomycin on Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells (ECACC 99040201) included a cytotoxicity MTT test (with a concentration range of 0.1-100 µM), assessment of the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by salinomycin at a concentration of 1 µM as well the assessment of the expression of the genes chosen in the microarray experiment (microarray HG-U 133A_2) and the proteins coded by them connected with apoptosis (RTqPCR, ELISA assay). The statistical significance level for all analyses carried out as part of this study was p<0.05.

Results

It was observed that salinomycin causes the death of about 50% of cells treated by it (50.74±0.80% of all cells) at a concentration of 1µM. The decrease in the number of living cells was determined directly after treatment of the cells with the drug (time 0). The average percent of late apoptotic cells was 1.65±0.24% and 0.57±0.01% for necrotic cells throughout the entire observation period.

Discussion

Microarray analysis indicated the following number of mRNA differentiating the culture depending on the time of incubation with the drug: H_12 vs C = 114 mRNA, H_8 vs C = 84 mRNA, H_48 vs. C = 27 mRNA, whereas 5 mRNAs were expressed differently at all times. During the whole incubation period of the cells with the drug, the following dependence of the expression profile of the analyzed transcripts was observed: Bax>p53>FASL>BIRC5>BCL2L.

Conclusion

The analysis carried out indicated that salinomycin, at a concentration of 1 µM, stopped the proliferation of 50% of endometrial cancer cells, mainly by inducing the apoptotic process of the cells. The molecular exponent of the induction of programmed cell death was an observed increase in the transcriptional activity of pro-apoptotic genes: Bax;p53;FASL and a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic genes: BCL2L2; BIRC5.

Chemical profiling of Honghua Xiaoyao tablet and simultaneous determination of its quality markers by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with chemometrics methods

Discovering marker components of traditional Chinese medicine formulas is challenging because of the hundreds of components they inherently contain. This study first proposed a reliable and validated method for the comprehensive profiling of chemical constituents in Honghua Xiaoyao tablet by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. After searching within the in-house library, a total of 55 constituents were unambiguously characterized or tentatively identified through reference standards and by comparing mass spectrometry data with literature values. Quantitative analysis of 14 compounds, which were selected as the quality marker components based on a serum pharmacochemistry study, has been performed by triple-quardrupole mass spectrometry technique. Multiple chemometric methods, including principal components analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, were subsequently used to analyze the quantitative results, classify samples from three manufacturers, and distinguish the analytical markers. In method validation results, 14 quality marker compounds have shown good linearity (R² ≥ 0.9965) with a relative wide concentration range and acceptable recovery at 98.39-102.46%. The proposed approach provides the chemical evidence for revealing the material basis of Honghua Xiaoyao tablet, and establishes a reliable statistical analysis-based strategy of quality marker investigation for controlling its quality.

Systems pharmacology-based approach to investigate the mechanisms of Danggui-Shaoyao-san prescription for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of memory and cognitive abilities. Currently, the prevention and treatment of AD still remains a huge challenge. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, Danggui-Shaoyao-san decoction (DSS) has been demonstrated to be effective for alleviating AD symptoms in animal experiments and clinical applications. However, due to the complex components and biological actions, its underlying molecular mechanism and effective substances are not yet fully elucidated.

Methods

In this study, we firstly systematically reviewed and summarized the molecular effects of DSS against AD based on current literatures of in vivo studies. Furthermore, an integrated systems pharmacology framework was proposed to explore the novel anti-AD mechanisms of DSS and identify the main active components. We further developed a network-based predictive model for identifying the active anti-AD components of DSS by mapping the high-quality AD disease genes into the global drug-target network.

Results

We constructed a global drug-target network of DSS consisting 937 unique compounds and 490 targets by incorporating experimental and computationally predicted drug–target interactions (DTIs). Multi-level systems pharmacology analyses revealed that DSS may regulate multiple biological pathways related to AD pathogenesis, such as the oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction processes. We further conducted a network-based statistical model, drug-likeness analysis, human intestinal absorption (HIA) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration prediction to uncover the key ani-AD ingredients in DSS. Finally, we highlighted 9 key ingredients and validated their synergistic role against AD through a subnetwork.

Conclusion

Overall, this study proposed an integrative systems pharmacology approach to disclose the therapeutic mechanisms of DSS against AD, which also provides novel in silico paradigm for investigating the effective substances of complex TCM prescription.

Integrated Profiling of Fatty Acids, Sterols and Phenolic Compounds in Tree and Herbaceous Peony Seed Oils: Marker Screening for New Resources of Vegetable Oil

Tree peonies (Paeonia ostii and Paeonia rockii) are popular ornamental plants. Moreover, these plants have become oil crops in recent years. However, there are limited compositional studies focused on fatty acids. Therefore, this work aims to reveal compositional characteristics, regarding fatty acids, sterols, γ-tocopherol and phenolic compounds, of tree peony seed oils from all major cultivation areas in China, and to compare with herbaceous peony seed oil. For that, an integrative analysis was performed by GC-FID, GC-MS and UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS technologies. The main fatty acid was α-linolenic acid (39.0–48.3%), while β-sitosterol (1802.5–2793.7 mg/kg) and fucosterol (682.2–1225.1 mg/kg) were the dominant phytosterols. Importantly, 34 phenolic compounds, including paeonol and “Paeonia glycosides” (36.62–103.17 μg/g), were characterized in vegetable oils for the first time. Conclusively, this work gives new insights into the phytochemical composition of peony seed oil and reveals the presence of bioactive compounds, including “Paeonia glycosides”.

Quality transitivity of Danhong Huayu Koufuye: A study on chemical profiles of medicinal herbs, compound preparation and dosed rat plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Danhong Huayu Koufuye (DHK), an effective Chinese medicine preparation, is mainly used for the treatment of blurred vision and sudden blindness caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis, as well as the absorption period of central retinal vein occlusion. However, the current quality standard is relatively low, only stipulating the content of protocatechualdehyde. Chemical transitivity is the basis for discovering quality markers and is used in quality process control of Chinese medicines. Herein, the chemical profiles of seven medicinal herbs, DHK and dosed rat plasma were comprehensively analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As a result, 134 chemical constituents were identified in seven medicinal herbs, including salvianolic acids, diterpene quinones, phenolic acids, phthalides, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins. Among them, 55 chemical constituents were transferred to DHK along with extraction and preparation, and 26 were further absorbed into blood and metabolized to produce 11 metabolites after oral administration. The transitivity of DHK from medicinal herbs to compound preparation and into blood was analyzed for the first time. This article will be valuable to ascertain the quality markers for quality process control and further pharmacokinetic studies.

Characterization of chemical profile and quantification of representative components of DanLou tablet, a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, by UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with UHPLC-TQ-MS

DanLou tablet (DLT), a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription (TCMP) consisting of 10 herbal medicines, is extensively used for the treatment of angina pectoris and acute coronary syndrome in China. However, active chemical constituents responsible for the therapeutic effects still remain unclear, due to the fact that the complex composition in DLT have not been holistically clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the chemical profile and simultaneously quantify the representative components in DLT. First, 157 chemical constituents including flavonoids, triterpenoids, tanshinones, lactones, phenolic acids, paeoniflorins and the other types of components were detected, among which 39 were exactly identified by comparing their retention times and MS fragmentation behaviors with those of authentic standards by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Moreover, 33 representative components were simultaneously quantified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TQ-MS), which were selected based on following three principles: qualitative and quantitative markers in the Chinese Pharmacopeia (2015 edition), bioactive components possessing cardiovascular-related in vivo or in vitro activities and those derived from 10 consisted herbs in DLT with a diversity of representative structure types. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability and recovery and successfully applied for the quality evaluation of 20 batches of DLT samples. Further chemometric analysis indicated that danshensu and salvianolic acid B were the most significant quantitative markers for the content fluctuation of DLT. In summary, the chemical profiles of DLT were systematically characterized and a practical quantitative method combined with chemometrics was developed to evaluate the intrinsic quality of multiple DLT samples in this study. The present work would be helpful for guaranteeing the safety, efficacy, and controllability in clinical medication of DLT.

A Comprehensive Review of the Structure Elucidation of Tannins from Terminalia Linn

OBJECTIVES

Tannins with complex structures are important plant resources, which are abundant in the genus Terminalia. Various Terminalia species have been playing an important role in traditional medicine system. A systematic scoping review of Terminalia Linn. research literature for tannins was conducted to summarize the structures of tannins and analysis fragmentation pathway characteristics, which could provide references for the structural analysis of tannins from Terminalia Linn.

METHODS

After an update of the literature search up to September 2018, the terms of Terminalia in all publications were analyzed. Electronic searches were conducted in scifinder and PubMed, and the information from 197 articles in all with regard to the tannin structure study was extracted.

RESULTS

The compounds of 82 tannins from the genus Terminalia were reviewed. According to the structural differences, they can be divided into three categories, hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins, and complex tannins, respectively. The fragmentation pathways of 46 identified tannins were analyzed, and the fragmentation rules of tannins were speculated according to different types.

CONCLUSION

This review has attracted attention to the active substances in this species such as the tannins summarized in further study. How to improve the extraction and purification technology of tannins from genus Terminalia is an urgent problem to be solved.

Rapid Analysis of the Chemical Compositions in Semiliquidambar cathayensis Roots by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Semiliquidambar cathayensis Chang was a traditional medicinal plant and used to treat rheumatism arthritis and rheumatic arthritis for centuries in China with no scientific validation, while only 15 components were reported. Thus, a rapid, efficient, and precise method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was applied in both positive- and negative-ion modes to rapidly analysis the main chemical compositions in S. cathayensis for the first time. Finally, a total of 85 chemical compositions, including 35 alkaloids, 12 flavonoids, 7 terpenoids, 5 phenylpropanoids, 9 fatty acids, 7 cyclic peptides, and 10 others were identified or tentatively characterized in the roots of S. cathayensis based on the accurate mass within 5 ppm error. Moreover, alkaloid, flavonoid, phenylpropanoid, and cyclic peptide were reported from S. cathayensis for the first time. This rapid and sensitive method was highly useful to comprehend the chemical compositions and will provide scientific basis for further study on the material basis, mechanism and clinical application of S. cathayensis roots.

Comprehensive characterization of multiple components and metabolites of Xiaojin Capsule based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Xiaojin Capsule, a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used to treat mammary cancer, thyroid nodules, and hyperplasia of the mammary glands. However, its systematic chemical information remained unclear, which hindered the interpretation of the pharmacology and the mechanism of action of this drug. In this research, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed to identify the complicated components and metabolites of Xiaojin Capsule. Two acquisition modes, including the MS^Energy mode and fast data directed acquisition mode, were utilized for chemical profiling. As a result, 156 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively identified by comparing their retention times and mass spectrometry data with those of reference standards or literature. After the oral administration of Xiaojin Capsule, 53 constituents, including 24 prototype compounds and 29 metabolites, were detected in rat plasma. The obtained results were beneficial for a better understanding of the therapeutic basis of Xiaojin Capsule. A high-resolution and efficient separation method was firstly established for systematically characterizing the compounds of Xiaojin Capsule and the associated metabolites in vivo, which could be helpful for quality control and pharmacokinetic studies of this medicine.

A strategy for the discovery and validation of toxicity quality marker of Chinese medicine based on network toxicology

BACKGROUND

Considering that the quality control indicators in Chinese medicine (CM) are disconnected from safety and effectiveness, Prof. Chang-xiao Liu et al. has proposed a concept regarding the quality marker (Q-marker) of CM to promote the healthy development of the CM industry and improve the CM quality control method.

PURPOSE

In this study, we proposed a strategy to discover and verify the toxicity Q-marker of CM based on network toxicology.

METHODS

First, traditional biochemical pathology indicators and sensitive biomarkers were used to predict the toxicity of CM. Next, the chemical composition of toxic CMs and their metabolites were rapidly identified by multidimensional detection techniques. Subsequently, the interaction network between "toxicity - toxic chemical composition - toxic target - effect pathway" was built through network toxicology, and the potential toxicity Q-marker of CM was initially screened. Finally, the chemical properties of toxicity Q-markers were verified by traceability and testability.

RESULTS

Based on the predicted results of network toxicology, the toxic compounds of CM were preliminarily identified, and the toxic mechanism was comprehensively interpreted. In the context of definite biological properties and chemical properties, the toxicity Q-marker was finally confirmed.

CONCLUSION

This extensive review provides a study method for the toxicity Q-marker of CM, which helps to systemically and thoroughly reveal the internal toxicity mechanism of CM. The in-depth study of the toxicity Q-marker provides the material basis and technical support for the safety evaluation of CM.

Mucosal immunomodulatory evaluation and chemical profile elucidation of a classical traditional Chinese formula, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

With fast development and high pace life in modern society, autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease had become increasingly common. Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT), a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription (TCMP), has been used for 700 years mainly in Eastern Asia countries for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorder, and weakness after serious diseases. These diseases were proved to be closely related to human immune system, among which, mucosal immune system is the largest immune system. So it is necessary to discover the mucosal immune related bioactive components of BZYQT.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the mucosal immunomodulatory bioactivity of BZYQT and ingredients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Peyer's patches were collected from mice administrated orally with BZYQT, its related Octadecylsilane (ODS) fractions and polysaccharide part. Productions of several cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γ from T lymphocytes were tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by Peyer's patch cells ex vivo experiments. Chemical profile including low molecular part and polysaccharide part were investigated. Low molecular part of BZYQT and related ODS fractions were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) based on LC-MS information from self-established compound library. exclusion chromatography, and chemical property has been analyzed.

RESULT

Three-days' administration of BZYQT enhanced productions of IL-4 and IFN-γ in T lymphocytes of Peyer's patches in addition to IL-2. Some hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions (30%, 70% and 100% MeOH ODS fraction), which were fractionated from BZYQT by ODS column chromatography, showed enhancing or suppressive effects on productions of IL-2, IL-4 or IL-5 in T lymphocytes of Peyer's patches after oral administration. Besides, 161 components from hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions of BZYQT were unequivocally identified or tentatively characterized by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS according to retention time behaviors and fragments, and most of them were flavonoids and saponins from Glycyrrhizae Radix, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, and Cimicifugae Rhizoma. Polysaccharide part was separated and purified both by anion-exchange and size. BZYQT also contained at least one neutral and three weakly or strongly acidic polysaccharides, and analysis of their chemical properties indicated that a neutral polysaccharide was glucan, and acidic polysaccharides possessed heteroglycan and pectic arabinogalactan features. Murine administration of polysaccharide fractions of BZYQT induced different changes on functions of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches from hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions. By experiment using intranasally-immunized mice, BZYQT negatively regulated antibody response in lung as combinatorial actions of its low molecular weight ingredients and polysaccharides.

CONCLUSION

BZYQT contains several low and macromolecular weight ingredients, which affect to immune-function of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches, and the formula expresses its regulative activity on lower respiratory immune system through combinatorial actions of these ingredients on immunocompetent cells in Peyer's patches.

Simultaneous quantification combined with multivariate statistical analysis of multiple chemical markers of Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill by UHPLC–MS/MS

Wu Ji Bai Feng Pill (WJBFP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) complex formula, which has been widely used in the treatment of various gynecological disorders. However, the quality control of multiple components in WJBFP is challengeable by using the methods applicable to analysis of several phytochemicals in single herbs or simple herbal preparations. The purpose of this study is to establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of 20 bioactive compounds in WJBFP. The modified chromatographic conditions were achieved on an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C₁₈ column with a gradient elution consisted of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v). All analytes were determined using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in positive or negative ionization modes with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. An UHPLC–MS/MS method was optimized and validated for linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, repeatability, stability and recovery. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of 20 compounds in 19 batches of commercial WJBFP products. principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to evaluate intrinsic quality and to identify chemical markers most responsible for quality evaluation. In conclusion, the established method offered speedy and sensitive determination for 20 compounds and is helpful for chemical standardization of commercial WJBFP products.

UPLC-QTOF/MS-Based Nontargeted Metabolomic Analysis of Mountain- and Garden-Cultivated Ginseng of Different Ages in Northeast China

Aiming at further systematically comparing the similarities and differences of the chemical components in ginseng of different ages, especially comparing the younger or the older and mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG), 4, 5, 6-year-old cultivated ginseng (CG) and 12, 20-year-old MCG were chosen as the analytical samples in the present study. The combination of UPLC-QTOF-MS^E, UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analysis were developed to profile CGs and MCGs. By the screening analysis based on UNIFI, 126 chemical components with various structural types were characterized or tentatively identified from all the CG and MCG samples for the first time. The results showed that all the CG and MCG samples had the similar chemical composition, but there were significant differences in the contents of markers. By the metabolomic analysis based on multivariate statistical analysis, it was shown that CG_{4⁻6 years}, MCG_{12 years} and MCG_{20 years} samples were obviously divided into three different groups, and a total of 17 potential age-dependent markers enabling differentiation among the three groups of samples were discovered. For differentiation from other two kinds of samples, there were four robust makers such as α-linolenic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid and panaxydol for CG_{4⁻6 years}, five robust makers including ginsenoside Re₁, -Re₂, -Rs₁, malonylginsenoside Rb₂ and isomer of malonylginsenoside Rb₁ for MCG_{20 years}, and two robust makers, 24-hydroxyoleanolic acid and palmitoleic acid, for MCG_{12 years} were discovered, respectively. The proposed approach could be applied to directly distinguish MCG root ages, which is an important criterion for evaluating the quality of MCG. The results will provide the data for the further study on the chemical constituents of MCG.

Advancement in the chemical analysis of Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao)

Paeoniae Radix Alba (baishao or white peony root) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (chishao or red peony root) are two highly valuable traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) usually indicated for painful conditions, menstrual disorders and viral infections. These two TCMs are collectively referred to as shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) due to their close origins and similar chemical compositions. Modern research indicates that monoterpene glycosides, polyphenols and paeonols are the three main types of compounds related to the pharmacological activities of Paeoniae Radix. This review summarizes recent advances in the chemical analysis of Paeoniae Radix and the related traditional Chinese medicine formulas/preparations, including methods used for sample pretreatment, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis and biological sample analysis. More than 120 papers are discussed in this review, focusing on the chemical analysis of Paeoniae Radix, and various analytical techniques (such as HPLC, LC-MS, IR, near IR and quantitative NMR), as well as their advantages/disadvantages, are described. It is our hope that this paper can provide necessary information for improving the quality evaluation methods currently available for Paeoniae Radix and offer a scientific basis for the future in-depth study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Paeoniae Radix.

Radix Paeoniae Rubra stimulates osteoclast differentiation by activation of the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Background

Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR), a traditional Chinese herb, has anti-inflammatory and immuno-regulatory properties. This study explored the effects of RPR on stimulation of osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)s.

Methods

The mature osteoclasts were measured by bone resorption assays and TRAP staining. JNK, ERK, p38 and NF-κB inhibitors were used applied in order to verify their contribution in RPR-induced osteoclast differentiation. The NF-κB and MAPK pathways were evaluated by western blotting, RT-PCR and luciferase assay.

Results

RPR induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner and induced the resorption activity of osteoclasts differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and PBMCs. Western blotting showed that RPR treatment induced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 in RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment of JNK, ERK, and p38 MAP kinase inhibitors verified the contribution of JNK, ERK and p38. RPR treatment induced c-Fos and NFATc1 protein expression; NF-κB inhibitor treatment and luciferase assay verified the contribution of the NF-κB pathway.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the interesting effect, in which RPR stimulated osteoclast differentiation in murine RAW264.7 cells and human monocytes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2196-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.