Recent advances on HPLC/MS in medicinal plant analysis

Quality Evaluation of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS and Electronic Sensory Techniques with Different Numbers of Steaming Cycles

In this study, electronic sensory techniques were employed to comprehensively evaluate the organoleptic quality, chemical composition and content change rules for Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH) during the steaming process. The results were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). These analyses revealed, from a sensory product perspective, overall differences in colour, odour and taste among the samples of PCH with different numbers of steaming cycles. Using the UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS technique, 64 chemical components, including polysaccharides, organic acids, saponins and amino acids were detected in PCH before and after steaming. The sensory traits were then correlated with the chemical composition. From the perspectives of sensory traits, chemical composition, and multi-component index content, it was preliminarily deduced that carrying out five cycles of steaming and sun-drying was optimal, providing evidence for the quality evaluation of PCH during the steaming process.

Yellow Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm.): Ethnomedicinal, Nutraceutical, and Pharmacological Aspects

Yellow Himalayan raspberry (Rubus ellipticus Sm., Rosaceae) is a native species of the Indian subcontinent, Southern China, and the Philippines, which has been historically used as a traditional medicine and food. All of the parts of this plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorder, and as an anti-infective agent. The scientific evaluation revealed a richness of macronutrients, micronutrients, and minerals in the fruits, indicating its potential use as a nutraceutical. Furthermore, this plant has been found to be rich in various secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and terpenoids. Ascorbic acid, kaempferol, gallic acid, and catechin are some of the compounds found in this plant, which have been widely discussed for their health benefits. Furthermore, various extracts and compounds obtained from R. ellipticus have shown antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, antipyretic, anticonvulsant, and anti-infective activities investigated through different study models. These findings in the literature have validated some of the widespread uses of the fruits in folk medicinal systems and the consumption of this nutritious wild fruit by local communities. In conclusion, R. ellipticus holds strong potential for its development as a nutraceutical. It can also improve the nutritional status of villagers and uplift the economy if properly utilized and marketed.

Investigations of plausible pharmacodynamics supporting the antispasmodic, bronchodilator, and antidiarrheal activities of Berberis lycium Royle. Via in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Berberis lycium Royle, a member of the Berberidaceae family, is a high-value medicinal plant with a documented history of usage in traditional medicine and has demonstrated significant therapeutic results among local populations throughout the globe. It is used traditionally in many parts of Pakistan to treat diarrhea, abdominal spasms, coughs, and chest problems.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the antispasmodic, bronchodilator, and antidiarrheal effects of B. lycium and its possible underlying mechanisms through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LC ESI-MS/MS analysis was used to identify bioactive components within the hydromethanolic extract of B. lycium. In silico studies, including network pharmacology and molecular docking, were utilized to investigate the antispasmodic and bronchodilator properties of the extract's bioactive components. In vitro pharmacological studies were conducted using isolated rabbit jejunum, trachea, urinary bladder, and rat ileum preparations. In vivo antidiarrheal activities were conducted in mice, including castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal transit, and castor oil-induced enteropooling.

RESULTS

The LC ESI-MS/MS analysis of the hydromethanolic extract of B. lycium identified 38 bioactive compounds. Network pharmacology study demonstrated that the mechanism of BLR for the treatment of diarrhea might involve IL1B, TLR4, PIK3R1, TNF, PTPRC, IL2, PIK3CD, and ABCB1, whereas, for respiratory ailments, it may involve PIK3CG, TRPV1, STAT3, ICAM1, ACE, PTGER2, PTGS2, TNF, MMP9, NOS2, IL2, CCR5, HRH1, and VDR. Molecular docking research revealed that chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin, isorhamnetin, quinic acid, gallic acid, camptothecin, formononetin-7-O-glucoside, velutin, caffeic acid, and (S)-luteanine exhibited a higher docking score than dicyclomine with validated proteins of smooth muscle contractions such as CACB2_HUMAN, ACM3_HUMAN, MYLK_HUMAN, and PLCG1_HUMAN. In vitro investigations demonstrated that Blr.Cr, Blr.EtOAc, and Blr.Aq relaxed spontaneously contracting jejunum preparations; carbachol (1 μM)-induced and K⁺ (80 mM)-induced jejunum, trachea, and urinary bladder contractions in a concentration-dependent manner, similar to dicyclomine. Moreover, Blr.Cr, Blr.EtOAc, and Blr.Aq exhibited a rightward shift in Ca⁺² and carbachol cumulative response curves, similar to dicyclomine, demonstrating the coexistence of antimuscarinic and Ca⁺² antagonistic mechanisms due to the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids. In vivo antidiarrheal activities showed that the hydromethanolic extract was significantly effective against castor oil-induced diarrhea and castor oil-induced enteropooling, similar to loperamide, and charcoal meal intestinal transit, similar to atropine, in mice at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight, which supports its traditional use in diarrhea.

CONCLUSION

The dual blocking mechanism of muscarinic receptors and Ca⁺² channels behind the smooth muscle relaxing activity reveals the therapeutic relevance of B. lycium in diarrhea, abdominal spasms, coughs, and chest problems.

Development of approach for flavonoid profiling of biotechnological raw materials Iris sibirica L. by HPLC with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Iris L. are promising in medicine due to the biological activity of extracts. Iris sibirica L. is spread in Russia but its phytochemical composition has not been studied in detail though it is included in the Red Book. For this reason, I. sibirica L. biotechnology is in high demand. One of the key points in biotechnology is the regulation of plant metabolism using phytohormones. Obtaining of chromatographic metabolite profiles allows to control this process.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop an approach for effective control of biotechnological raw materials of I. sibirica L. by flavonoid profiles using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and to investigate the influence of phytohormones in nutrient media on content of flavonoids.

METHODOLOGY

Iris sibirica L. regenerated plants were grown on Murashige-Skoog media with 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) and α-naphtylacetic acid (NAA) additives. To optimise extraction conditions, the design of the experiment was used. Profiles of polyphenols were obtained by HPLC-MS/MS in the positive and negative ionisation modes.

RESULTS

The process for efficient extraction from leaves of I. sibirica L. were developed. The factors influencing the extraction efficiency of flavonoids have been determined. A total of 36 compounds were identified by HPLC-MS/MS. Among them isoflavones and their glycosides are the main classes. Addition of an auxin-like hormone increased the non-polar flavonoid levels, but decreased the polar ones. The variation in concentration of cytokinin (6-BAP) affected almost all of the analytes.

CONCLUSION

The methodology for effective control of I. sibirica L. raw plant material biotechnology was developed by analysing obtained chromatographic polyphenol profiles.

Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Cancer, and Toxicity Assessment of Tribulus terrestris-In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Tribulus terrestris L. belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae and integral part of various ancient medicinal systems including Chinese, Indian, and European to combat various health ailments. The aim of the present study was to assess the phytochemical constituents, in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH, FRAP, and H2O2 assays, in vitro anticancer activity using MTT assay, and in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of T. terrestris. The acute and sub-acute toxicity of extracts exhibiting most biological potential was examined using murine models. Liquid-liquid partitioning followed by RP-HPLC sub-fraction of crude extract was performed. After that, ESI-MS/MS analysis was done for the timid identification of bioactive metabolites responsible for bioactivities of sub-fractions and HPLC analysis to quantify the compounds using external standards. Among all extracts, T. terrestris methanol extract was noted to hold maximum phenolic (341.3 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (209 mg QE/g) contents, antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50 71.4 µg/mL), FRAP (35.3 mmol/g), and H2O2 (65.3% inhibition) assays, anti-inflammatory activities in vitro at 400 µg/mL (heat-induced hemolysis, % inhibition 68.5; egg albumin denaturation, % inhibition 75.6%; serum albumin denaturation, % inhibition 80.2), and in vivo at 200 mg/kg (carrageenan-induced paw edema, % inhibition 69.3%; formaldehyde-induced paw edema, % inhibition 71.3%) and anticancer activity against breast cancer cell (MCF-7) proliferation (IC50 74.1 µg/mL). Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies recorded with no change in body weight, behavior, hematological, serum, and histopathological parameters in treated rats with T. terrestris methanol extracts when compared to control group. Fraction B obtained through liquid-liquid partitioning resulted in more bioactive potential as compared to the parent methanol extract. RP-HPLC analysis of fraction B resulted with four sub-fractions (TBTMF1-TBTMF4), wherein TBTMF3 delineated notable bioactive capabilities as compared to other fractions and parent methanol extract. ESI-MS/MS analysis of TBTMF3 resulted with tentative identification of myricetin, rutin, liquitrigenin, physcion, and protodioscin. It can be stated that T. terrestris is a potential bearing herb and findings of current study further verify the claims made in ancient medicinal systems. However, after investigation of each identified compound, it must be considered for drug discovery.

Toxicity, Antioxidant Activity, and Phytochemicals of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves Cultivated in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most common aromatic herbs, a rich source of bioactive compounds, and is used extensively to add aroma and flavor to food. The leaves, both in fresh and dried form, are used as a culinary ingredient in different cultures. O. basilicum is also famous for its therapeutic potential and preservation effects. The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of basil at three different growth stages (GS), i.e., GS-1 (58 days of growth), GS-2 (69 days of growth), and GS-3 (93 days of growth) using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The results revealed that cytotoxicity was influenced by GS and the concentration of extracts. Aqueous extracts of basil at a concentration of 10 to 1000 µg/mL did not show notable toxicity. The lowest mortality rate, i.e., 8.9%, was recorded for GS-2 at the highest tested dose of basil extracts. The mortality rate at GS-1, GS-2, and GS-3 was found to be 26.7 ± 3.34%, 8.91 ± 0.10%, and 16.7 ± 0.34%, respectively, at 1000 µg/mL. GS-2 basil powder with the lowest toxicological risk was extracted with different solvents, viz., n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, and water. The highest concentration of plant secondary metabolites including total phenolic acid, flavonoids, and tannin content was observed in ethanol extracts. Ethanol extracts also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP and H₂O₂ assays. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis presented ethanol extracts of basil as a promising source of known health-promoting and therapeutic compounds such as rosmarinic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, liquiritigenin, and umbelliferone. The results suggest basil, a culinary ingredient, as a potential source of bioactive compounds which may offer an array of health promoting and therapeutic properties.

Edible oils as a co-extractant for the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of flavonoids from propolis

Propolis is a good source for flavonoids, however, their recovery is challenging, as it is a waxy material. This study investigated edible oils virgin coconut oil (VCO), corn oil (CO), and ghee (G) as co-extractants for the supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) extraction of flavonoids from the propolis. The extraction of flavonoids using 20% VCO as co-extractant with scCO₂ (25 g/min) for 210 min at 150 bar and 50°C was found to be the most appropriate, yielding a total flavonoid content (TFC) of 11.7 mg/g and 25% TFC recovery. At a higher temperature (60°C) and pressure (250 bar and 350 bar), the propolis became softer and compressed causing the extractions to retrograde. The extraction curves correlated to the diffusion model with 1.6% (AARD). The matrix diffusivities increased from 4.7 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s (scCO₂) to 6.9 × 10⁻¹¹–21.4 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s upon the addition of edible oils. Thus, edible oils could be used with scCO₂ to improve the flavonoid extraction from propolis.

Antiinflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Grewia asiatica Crude Extracts and Fractions: A Bioassay-Guided Approach

The study was an extension of our earlier work on antiinflammatory and anticancer properties of G. asiatica fruit. We aimed to develop a bioassay guided multistep purification technique for producing bioactive fractions of G. asiatica crude extracts. Dried fruit powder was sequentially fractionated with 100% dichloromethane, 100% methanol (MeOH), and 50% MeOH. Active extracts were subjected to liquid-liquid partitioning followed by subfractionation using RP-HPLC. Antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anticancer activities of the fruit extracts, and their potent fractions were evaluated in vitro, while identification of compounds from the bioactive fractions was performed by ESI-MS/MS analysis. The amount of the identified compounds present was confirmed using external standards adopting a simple, accurate, and rapid analytical HPLC method. The results showed that 100% and 50% MeOH extracts possessed bioactivity; one of which (the 50% MeOH extract) displayed potent activity in all in vitro bioassays. MeOH extract (50%) derived fraction C and hydroalcoholic fraction 5 (GAHAF5) were observed to possess higher antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and in vitro anticancer activity. IC₅₀ of GAHAF5 against MCF-7, HEp-2, and NCI-H522 cancer cells was recorded as 26.2, 51.4, and 63 μg/mL, respectively. ESI-MS/MS and HPLC analysis identified catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and morin as potential bioactive compounds in the GAHAF5 fraction with concentrations of 1230, 491, 957, and 130 μg/g, respectively. The findings indicated that G. asiatica bioactive fractions possessed antiinflammatory activity in vitro and were cytotoxic against breast cancer, lung cancer, and laryngeal cancer cell lines.

Hydrothermally Grown ZnO Nanostructures for Water Purification via Photocatalysis

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is a well-known and efficient process for achieving water depollution with very limited rejects in the environment. Zinc oxide (ZnO), as a wide-bandgap metallic oxide, is an excellent photocatalyst, able to mineralize a large scale of organic pollutants in water, under UV irradiation, that can be enlarged to visible range by doping nontoxic elements such as Ag and Fe. With high surface/volume ratio, the ZnO nanostructures have been shown to be prominent photocatalyst candidates with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, owing to their being low-cost, non-toxic, and able to be produced with easy and controllable synthesis. Thus, ZnO nanostructures-based photocatalysis can be considered as an eco-friendly and sustainable process. This paper presents the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanostructures (NSs) grown on different substrates. The photocatalysis has been carried out both under classic mode and microfluidic mode. All tests show the notable photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO NSs with remarkable results obtained from a ZnO-NSs-integrated microfluidic reactor, which exhibited an important enhancement of photocatalytic activity by drastically reducing the photodegradation time. UV-visible spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), are simultaneously used to follow real-time information, revealing both the photodegradation efficiency and the degradation mechanism of the organic dye methylene blue.

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don: A review of its ethnobotany, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology and toxicities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is a well known medicinal plant belonging to family Apocynaceae that have been traditionally used as medicine since ancient times. C. roseus is a well-recognized herbal medicine due to its anticancer bisindole alkaloids (vinblastine (111), vincristine (112) and vindesine (121)). In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, different parts of C. roseus are used in folklore herbal medicine for treatment of many types of cancer, diabetes, stomach disorders, kidney, liver and cardiovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The main idea behind this communication is to update comprehensively and analyze critically the traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of various extracts and isolated compounds from C. roseus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The presented data covers scientific works on C. roseus published across the world between 1967 and 2021 was searched from various international publishing houses using search engines as well as several traditional texts like Ayurveda and relevant books. Collected data from different sources was comprehensively summarized/analyzed for ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, analytical chemistry, biological activities and toxicity studies of C. roseus.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

C. roseus has a wide range of applications in the traditional system of medicine especially in cancer and diabetes. During phytochemical investigation, total of 344 compounds including monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) (110), bisindole alkaloids (35), flavonoids (34), phenolic acids (9) and volatile constituents (156) have been reported in the various extracts and fractions of different plant parts of C. roseus. The extracts and isolated compounds of C. roseus have to exhibit many pharmacological activities such as anticancer/cytotoxic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, larvicidal and pupicidal. The comparative toxicity of extracts and bioactive compounds investigated in dose dependent manner. The investigation of toxicity showed that the both extracts and isolated compounds are safe to a certain limit beyond that they cause adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

This review is a comprehensive, critically analyzed summarization of sufficient baseline information of selected topics in one place undertaken till date on C. roseus for future works and drug discovery. The phytochemical investigation including biosynthetic pathways showed that the MIAs and bisindole alkaloids are major and characteristic class of compounds in this plant. The present data confirm that the extracts/fractions and their isolated alkaloids especially vinblastine (111) and vincristine (112) have a potent anticancer/cytotoxic and antidiabetic property and there is a need for further study with particular attention to the mechanisms of anticancer activity. In biosynthesis pathways of alkaloids especially bisindole alkaloids, some enzymes and rearrangement are unexposed therefore it is required to draw special attention. It also focuses on attracting the attention of scientific communities about the widespread biological activities of this species for its better utilization prospects in the near future.

Cosmeceutical Potential of Major Tropical and Subtropical Fruit By-Products for a Sustainable Revalorization

The increasing production of tropical fruits followed by their processing results in tons of waste, such as skins or seeds. However, these by-products have been reported to be rich in bioactive compounds (BACs) with excellent properties of interest in the cosmeceutical industry: antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and photoprotective properties. This review summarizes the tropical fruits most produced worldwide, their bioactive composition and the most important and studied therapeutic properties that their by-products can contribute to skin health, as well as the different approaches for obtaining these compounds using techniques by conventional (Soxhlet, liquid-liquid extraction or maceration) and non-conventional extractions (supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and two-phase aqueous system), followed by their identification by HPLC-MS or GC-MS analysis. Moreover, this work encompasses several studies that may prove the effects of seeds and skins from tropical fruits against oxidative stress, hyperpigmentation, acne, aging or UV radiation. Therefore, the investigation of functional components present in tropical fruit by-products under a circular bioeconomy model could be of great interest for the cosmeceutical industry and a very promising option for obtaining new cosmeceutical formulations.

A sensitive approach for screening acetylcholinesterase inhibition of water samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive assay was developed to evaluate inhibitory effects of aqueous solution on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity via measuring hydrolysis rates of acetylcholine (ACh) based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Upon having identified precursor ions and product ions of the ACh and its hydrolysis products choline (Ch), the separation chromatogram for these two analytes has been established using a 50 mm reverse-phase BEH Shield RP18 column. The total chromatographic separation time is 7 min; limits of detection (LODs) for ACh and Ch are 0.14 µg L^-1 and 0.12 µg L^-1, respectively. A simple method for inactivation of AChE and optimization of operational parameters were then sequentially performed. It was found that adjusting solution pH to 2.5 not only can terminate the enzymatic reaction but also solve band shifting and broadening caused by aqueous matrices in chromatographic separation during UPLC-MS/MS detection. Under conditions of 0.00075 U mL^-1 AChE, initial concentration of ACh at 100 µg L^-1 and 20 min observation time, IC₅₀ values of the proposed assay for chlorpyrifos-oxon, diazoxon, malaoxon, methidathion oxon, omethoate and paraoxon were 3.5 nM, 16.8 nM, 2.4 nM, 6.8 nM, 270 nM and 36.9 nM, respectively. They are 4.5-51.9 times smaller than those reported in a LC-MS based method, and >120 times lower than those obtained by the traditional Ellman method. The results suggested that, the proposed assay significantly increases the sensitivity of commercial AChE. In addition, inhibition efficiencies of three surface waters, a groundwater and four commercial brands of bottled drinking water samples on AChE activity were firstly measured using this UPLC-MS/MS based method. These water samples were proved to have different inhibitory effects on AChE activity, and the inhibition efficiencies dependent on concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) but are independent of UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV₂₅₄) values. These results indicate that the proposed method has advantages of high sensitivity over all other conventional methods. It may become a promising AChE inhibition assay for assessing toxicity of aqueous solution containing neurotoxicity contaminants such as organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) at low levels, or used to evaluate potential inhibition effects of natural waters on AChE activity.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Peganum harmala Extracts: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Peganum harmala (P. harmala) belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae, and is utilized in the traditional medicinal systems of Pakistan, China, Morocco, Algeria, and Spain to treat several chronic health disorders. The aim of the present study was to identify the chemical constituents and to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and toxicity effects of P. harmala extracts both in vitro and in vivo. Sequential crude extracts including 100% dichloromethane, 100% methanol, and 70% aqueous methanol were obtained and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was investigated using the carrageenan-induced paw edema method in mice, whereas the toxicity of the most active extract was evaluated using an acute and subacute toxicity rat model. In addition, we have used the bioassay-guided approach to obtain potent fractions, using solvent–solvent partitioning and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography from active crude extracts; identification and quantification of compounds from the active fractions was achieved using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography techniques. Results revealed that the 100% methanol extract of P. harmala exhibits significant in vitro antioxidant activity in DPPH assay with an IC₅₀ of 49 µg/mL as compared to the standard quercetin with an IC₅₀ of 25.4 µg/mL. The same extract exhibited 63.0% inhibition against serum albumin denaturation as compared to 97% inhibition by the standard diclofenac sodium in an in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, and in vivo anti-inflammatory against carrageenan-induced paw edema (75.14% inhibition) as compared to 86.1% inhibition caused by the standard indomethacin. Furthermore, this extract was not toxic during a 14 day trial of acute toxicity when given at a dose of 3 g/kg, indicating that the lethal dose (LD₅₀) of P. harmala methanol extract was greater than 3 g/kg. P. harmala methanolic fraction 2 obtained using bioassay-guided fractionation showed the presence of quinic acid, peganine, harmol, harmaline, and harmine, confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and quantified using external standards on high performance liquid chromatography. Taken all together, the current investigation further confirms the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and safety aspects of P. harmala, which justifies its use in folk medicine.

Insight into chemical basis of traditional Chinese medicine based on the state-of-the-art techniques of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been an indispensable source of drugs for curing various human diseases. However, the inherent chemical diversity and complexity of TCM restricted the safety and efficacy of its usage. Over the past few decades, the combination of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry has contributed greatly to the TCM qualitative analysis. And novel approaches have been continuously introduced to improve the analytical performance, including both the data acquisition methods to generate a large and informative dataset, and the data post-processing tools to extract the structure-related MS information. Furthermore, the fast-developing computer techniques and big data analytics have markedly enriched the data processing tools, bringing benefits of high efficiency and accuracy. To provide an up-to-date review of the latest techniques on the TCM qualitative analysis, multiple data-independent acquisition methods and data-dependent acquisition methods (precursor ion list, dynamic exclusion, mass tag, precursor ion scan, neutral loss scan, and multiple reaction monitoring) and post-processing techniques (mass defect filtering, diagnostic ion filtering, neutral loss filtering, mass spectral trees similarity filter, molecular networking, statistical analysis, database matching, etc.) were summarized and categorized. Applications of each technique and integrated analytical strategies were highlighted, discussion and future perspectives were proposed as well.

Syzygium cumini(L.),Skeels fruit extracts: In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels is an important medicinal plant utilized in the health care systems of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. S. cumini have been used to treat renal issues, indigestion, diabetes, dysentery, and employed in folk medicine to treat inflammations. It is known to anticipate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, antifungal, activities, and radioprotective activities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We examined the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of S. cumini fruit extracts, evaluated using membrane stabilization, egg albumin denaturation, and bovine serum albumin denaturation assays. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was also assessed, using murine models of carrageenan, formaldehyde, and PGE2 induced paw edema. Fractionation of active extracts was performed using HPLC, followed by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.

RESULTS

The crude methanolic extract showed stronger in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities compared to other extracts. The most potent effects were observed in the formaldehyde induced paw edema assay wherein methanolic extract and standard indomethacin induced 72% and 88% inhibition against paw edema volume in comparison to control (normal saline) respectively. In the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay the methanolic extract induced 82% inhibition against denaturation as compared to control (phosphate buffer) while standard diclofenac sodium induced 98% inhibition. In contrast, 50% v/v MeOH:H2O or 100% dichloromethane extracts displayed moderate to weak effects in the anti-inflammatory models. HPLC fractionation provided 6 active sub-fractions, four (MF2, MF3, MF6, MF7) from the 100% methanolic extract and two (HAF1, HAF3) from the 50% methanolic extract. The MF2, MF7, and HAF1 sub-fractions displayed potent activity in all studied in vitro assays. LC-ESI-MS-MS analysis tentatively identified delphinidin 3-glucoside, peonidin-3,5-diglucoside, gallic acid, liquitrigenin, scopoletin, umbelliferon, and rosmanol from the 100% methanolic fractions. Myricetin, catechin, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, and caffeic acid were identified in the 50% methanolic fractions.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that S. cumini fruit extracts are a rich source of bioactive compounds that are worthy of further investigation as leads for anti-inflammatory drug discovery.

pH-dependent selective separation of acidic and basic proteins using quaternary ammoniation functionalized cysteine-zwitterionic stationary phase with RPLC/IEC mixed-mode chromatography

In this paper, a cysteine-functionalized zwitterionic stationary phase (Cys-silica) was prepared based on the "thiol-ene" click chemistry between cysteine and vinyl-functionalized silica, and was further modified with bromoethane, 1-bromooctane and 1-bromooctadecane, respectively, to obtain a series of quaternary ammoniation-functionalized stationary phases (Cys-silica-C_n, n = 2, 8 and 18). These zwitterionic stationary phases were regarded as reversed-phase/ion-exchange (RP/IEC) mixed-mode chromatography (MMC) stationary phases for protein separation. The retention behaviors of proteins on these zwitterionic stationary phases were carefully investigated. The results indicated that the retentions of acidic and basic proteins on these zwitterinonic stationary phases were significantly influenced by the acetonitrile and salt concentrations, pH of mobile phase as well as the hydrophobicity of the ligand. The separation selectivity of proteins on these zwitterionic stationary phases strongly depended on the pH value of mobile phase. The baseline separation of 6 kinds of basic proteins can be achieved at pH 8.0 using Cys-silica-C2 or Cys-silica-C8 column, and 5 kinds of acidic proteins can also be separated completely at pH 4.0 with Cys-silica-C2 column. Moreover, owing to the quaternary ammoniation-functionalization on Cys-silica by using appropriately hydrophobic bromoalkanes, the selectivity and separation efficiency of proteins can be enhanced greatly. As a result, the acidic and basic proteins can be separated completely step by step from the complex sample by adjusting pH of mobile phase using a single Cys-silica-C2 column, which illustrates that the cysteine-functionalized zwitterionic stationary phase has a great potential for protein separation.

The Role of High-Resolution Analytical Techniques in the Development of Functional Foods

The approaches based on high-resolution analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance or mass spectrometry coupled to chromatographic techniques, have a determining role in several of the stages necessary for the development of functional foods. The analyses of botanical extracts rich in bioactive compounds is one of the fundamental steps in order to identify and quantify their phytochemical composition. However, the compounds characterized in the extracts are not always responsible for the bioactive properties because they generally undergo metabolic reactions before reaching the therapeutic targets. For this reason, analytical techniques are also applied to analyze biological samples to know the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and/or metabolism of the compounds ingested by animal or human models in nutritional intervention studies. In addition, these studies have also been applied to determine changes of endogenous metabolites caused by prolonged intake of compounds with bioactive potential. This review aims to describe the main types and modes of application of high-resolution analytical techniques in all these steps for functional food development.

Structural characterization of the metabolites of orally ingested hederasaponin B, a natural saponin that is isolated from Acanthopanax senticosus leaves by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Plant saponins are important natural product with biologically active. However, the metabolism of these compounds has rarely been studied due to their low bioavailability and the complexity of their metabolite structures. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography/Fusion Lumos Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze the metabolites of hederasaponin B in vivo, and its possible metabolic pathways were proposed. After oral administration of the parent drug, a total of 47 metabolites are identified in rat feces (42), urine (11), and plasma (9) samples. These metabolites resulted from the metabolic processes in phases I and II reactions involved in deglycosylation, hydroxylation, acetylation, oxidation, gluconalciation and glycosylations. Deglycosylation is the main metabolic pathway (accounts for 52.46 % of all metabolites in feces samples). Among the identified metabolites, four were glycosylated (deprotonated precursors at m/z = 1335.7, 1365.7, 1467.9, and 1379.6) with higher molecular weight than the parent drug . These glycosylated compounds account for 11.55 % of the metabolites in rat feces according to the semi-quantitative chromatographic peak areas. To sum up, the results of this study provide a basis for further understanding the metabolism of plant saponins in vivo.

Analytical Strategies for Fingerprinting of Antioxidants, Nutritional Substances, and Bioactive Compounds in Foodstuffs Based on High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: An Overview

New technology development and globalisation have led to extreme changes in the agri-food sector in recent years that need an important food supply chain characterisation from plant materials to commercial productions. Many analytical strategies are commonly utilised in the agri-food industry, often using complementary technologies with different purposes. Chromatography on-line coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most selective and sensitive analytical methodologies. The purpose of this overview is to present the most recent MS-based techniques applied to food analysis. An entire section is dedicated to the recent applications of high-resolution MS. Covered topics include liquid (LC)– and gas chromatography (GC)–MS analysis of natural bioactive substances, including carbohydrates, flavonoids and related compounds, lipids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and other different molecules in foodstuffs from the perspectives of food composition, food authenticity and food adulteration. The results represent an important contribution to the utilisation of GC–MS and LC–MS in the field of natural bioactive compound identification and quantification.

Efficacy of massage therapy for postprandial distress syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), characterized by the presence of prevalently meal-related early satiation and fullness, is a highly prevalent condition with major socioeconomic and healthcare impact. To date, there is a lack of pharmacological treatment proven value for PDS. Therefore, an ideal strategy to relieve PDS is urgently needed. In recent years, massage therapy has been increasingly accepted by PDS patients due to its lower costs, fewer unwanted side effects and safety for clinical use. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with postprandial distress syndrome.

METHODS

We will search the following electronic databases for randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy in treating postprandial distress syndrome: Wanfang and Pubmed Database, CNKI, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Each database will be searched from inception to October 2020. The entire process will include study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and meta-analyses.

RESULTS

This proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with postprandial distress syndrome. The outcomes will include changes in PDS relief and adverse effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This proposed systematic review will evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with postprandial distress syndrome.

DISSEMINATION AND ETHICS

The results of this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. Because all of the data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis has been published, this review does not require ethical approval. Furthermore, all data will be analyzed anonymously during the review process.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/9WRX8.

Efficacy and safety of massage therapy for chronic atrophic gastritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is an established precursor of gastric carcinoma with high prevalence worldwide. It is a typical complex gastro-intestinal disease with multiple influence factors, of which exact mechanisms remain unelucidated. Therefore, an ideal strategy to relieve CAG is urgently needed. In recent years, massage therapy has been increasingly accepted by CAG patients due to its lower costs, fewer unwanted side effects and safety for clinical use. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with chronic atrophic gastritis.

METHODS

We will search the following electronic databases for randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy in treating chronic atrophic gastritis: Wanfang and Pubmed Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Cochrane Central register of controlled trials, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Excerpta Medica database. Each database will be searched from inception to September 2020. The entire process will include study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and meta-analyses.

RESULT

This proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. The outcomes will include changes in CAG relief and adverse effect.

CONCLUSION

This proposed systematic review will evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with chronic atrophic gastritis.

DISSEMINATION AND ETHICS

The results of this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. Because all of the data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis has been published, this review does not require ethical approval. Furthermore, all data will be analyzed anonymously during the review process.

Phenolic Compounds in Poorly Represented Mediterranean Plants in Istria: Health Impacts and Food Authentication

Phenolic compounds are well-known bioactive compounds in plants that can have a protective role against cancers, cardiovascular diseases and many other diseases. To promote local food development, a comprehensive overview of the phenolic compounds' composition and their impact on human health from typical Mediterranean plants such as Punica granatum L., Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Arbutus unedo L., Celtis australis L., Ficus carica L., Cynara cardunculus var. Scolymus L. is provided. Moreover, the potential use of these data for authenticity determination is discussed. Some of the plants' phenolic compounds and their impact to human health are very well determined, while for others, the data are scarce. However, in all cases, more data should be available about the content, profile and health impacts due to a high variation of phenolic compounds depending on genetic and environmental factors. Quantifying variation in phenolic compounds in plants relative to genetic and environmental factors could be a useful tool in food authentication control. More comprehensive studies should be conducted to better understand the importance of phenolic compounds on human health and their variation in certain plants.

From Ocean to Medicine: Pharmaceutical Applications of Metabolites from Marine Bacteria

Oceans cover seventy percent of the planet's surface and besides being an immense reservoir of biological life, they serve as vital sources for human sustenance, tourism, transport and commerce. Yet, it is estimated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that eighty percent of the oceans remain unexplored. The untapped biological resources present in oceans may be fundamental in solving several of the world's public health crises of the 21st century, which span from the rise of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, pathogenic fungi and parasites, to the rise of cancer incidence and viral infection outbreaks. In this review, health risks as well as how marine bacterial derived natural products may be tools to fight them will be discussed. Moreover, an overview will be made of the research pipeline of novel molecules, from identification of bioactive bacterial crude extracts to the isolation and chemical characterization of the molecules within the framework of the One Health approach. This review highlights information that has been published since 2014, showing the current relevance of marine bacteria for the discovery of novel natural products.

NMR-Based Metabolic Profiling of Edible Olives-Determination of Quality Parameters

Edible olive drupes (from Olea europaea L.) are a high-value food commodity with an increasing production trend over the past two decades. In an attempt to prevent fraud issues and ensure quality, the International Olive Council (IOC) issued guidelines for their sensory evaluation. However, certain varieties, geographical origins and processing parameters are omitted. The aim of the present study was the development of a method for the quality assessment of edible olives from the Konservolia, Kalamon and Chalkidikis cultivars from different areas of Greece processed with the Spanish or Greek method. A rapid NMR-based untargeted metabolic profiling method was developed along with multivariate analysis (MVA) and applied for the first time in edible olives' analysis complemented by the aid of statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). Specific biomarkers, related to the classification of olives based on different treatments, cultivars and geographical origin, were identified. STOCSY proved to be a valuable aid towards the assignment of biomarkers, a bottleneck in untargeted metabolomic approaches.

Network pharmacology research of Astragali Radix in treating chronic atrophic gastritis rats based on mitochondrial metabonomics

Astragali Radix (HuangQi), one important traditional Chinese herb, is used for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). To comprehensively evaluate its regulation on CAG, a mitochondria-specific metabonomics was applied to reveal its action on energy metabolism based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole - Exactive mass spectrometry. 16 related metabolites from mitochondria samples were served as potential biomarkers of CAG. Nine out of them were significantly regulated by HuangQi. Combining with network pharmacology, three active components from HuangQi and 3 mitochondrial metabolites exerted better docking abilities with 56 predicted targeted proteins based on SystemsDock, which were involved into multiple biological abnormities including mitochondrion dysfunction. The results demonstrated that mitochondrial energy metabolism played crucial role contributing to HuangQi against CAG, which was one important mechanism of HuangQi.

Simultaneous quantification of thirty polyphenols in blackthorn flowers and dry extracts prepared thereof: HPLC-PDA method development and validation for quality control

The paper presents development and validation of a RP-HPLC-PDA method for quantification of 30 phenolic constituents of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) flower, a traditional European herbal medicine with a unique and complex composition. The target analytes were selected from over 50 active compounds present in the investigated plant material, and their separation was optimized on a C18 Ascentis Express fused-core column (2.7 μm, 150 mm × 4.6 mm), in a step-by-step process, in terms of elution solvents, gradient profile, temperature, and flow rate. The final procedure was carried out with an acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran gradient at a flow rate of 1.09 mL/min and column temperature of 28°C. Under those conditions, the matrix peaks were satisfactorily separated within 35 min. The validation showed good precision (RSD < 5 %), accuracy (93.5-102.1 %), linearity (r > 0.9998), and sensitivity (LODs 0.51-2.05 ng) of the method. The real sample analysis demonstrated its applicability for quantification of the phenolics both in commercial samples of P. spinosa flowers (different manufacturers and years of collection), as well as in the extracts (of different polarity) prepared thereof. Thus, the developed procedure proved to be a useful tool in quality control, and the optimization approach might serve as a practical guideline for LC-method development in complex matrices.

Recent developments and emerging trends of mass spectrometric methods in plant hormone analysis: a review

Plant hormones are naturally occurring small molecule compounds which are present at trace amounts in plant. They play a pivotal role in the regulation of plant growth. The biological activity of plant hormones depends on their concentrations in the plant, thus, accurate determination of plant hormone is paramount. However, the complex plant matrix, wide polarity range and low concentration of plant hormones are the main hindrances to effective analyses of plant hormone even when state-of-the-art analytical techniques are employed. These factors substantially influence the accuracy of analytical results. So far, significant progress has been realized in the analysis of plant hormones, particularly in sample pretreatment techniques and mass spectrometric methods. This review describes the classic extraction and modern microextraction techniques used to analyze plant hormone. Advancements in solid phase microextraction (SPME) methods have been driven by the ever-increasing requirement for dynamic and in vivo identification of the spatial distribution of plant hormones in real-life plant samples, which would contribute greatly to the burgeoning field of plant hormone investigation. In this review, we describe advances in various aspects of mass spectrometry methods. Many fragmentation patterns are analyzed to provide the theoretical basis for the establishment of a mass spectral database for the analysis of plant hormones. We hope to provide a technical guide for further discovery of new plant hormones. More than 140 research studies on plant hormone published in the past decade are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on the recent advances in mass spectrometry and sample pretreatment techniques in the analysis of plant hormone. The potential progress for further research in plant hormones analysis is also highlighted.

Simultaneous Analysis of Twelve Bile Acids by UPLC-MS and Exploration of the Processing Mechanism of Bile Arisaema by Fermentation

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q/TOF-MS) in the MS/MS mode and UPLC coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS) using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were used to make a qualitative and quantitative analysis of twelve bile acids in Bile Arisaema. The fragmentation pathway of twelve bile acids was proposed. The quantification method showed a good linearity over a wide concentration range (R ² > 0.99), repeatability (RSD < 4.12%), stability (RSD < 4.25%), precision (RSD < 4.06%), and recovery (95.36-102.15%). Content of twelve compounds in Bile Arisaema varied significantly depending on region. Chemometric methods, hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and principal components analysis (PCA) were successfully used to optimize the fermentation time of the Bile Arisaema. The results suggested that the Bile Arisaema could complete fermentation in 15 days. The possible processing mechanism of Bile Arisaema promoted the transformation of conjugated bile acids into free bile acids in fermentation.

Low Level of Allergens in the Argentinean Plant Zuccagnia punctata Cav.: Screening and Quality Control of North-Western Propolis Using an LC-DAD-QTOF System

North-western Argentinean propolis (NAP), having promising bioactivity, was recently included into the National Food Code. Zuccagnia punctata Cav., a native shrub of north-western Argentina, is one of the prevalent botanical sources of NAPs, but no information on its allergenic constituents was available so far. A liquid chromatography-diode array detector -quadrupole-time of flight system (LC-DAD-QTOF) was used as a screening method for the reliable identification of sensitizing agents belonging to caffeic acid derivatives in Z. punctata and in two NAPs collected in the provinces of Catamarca and Tucumán. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, one of the most active allergens in propolis, was never detected in either Z. punctata or NAP. Among 31 sensitizers, only geranyl caffeate was alleged in Z. punctata as <10% of its major constituent, whereas three caffeic acid derivatives with strong allergenic effect, i.e., geranyl, pentenyl, and benzyl caffeates, occurred in NAP samples (29%–36% of the Z. punctata major constituent), indicating other minor botanical sources. However, the high content of chalcones and flavonoids ascribed to Z. punctata significantly contributes to the antiallergenic and antioxidant character of these NAPs. This peculiar chemical profile depends on the extremophile condition in which this shrub grows and suggests other studies to characterize such raw materials for oral and topical formulations.

UPLC-MS Analysis of Cannabis sativa Using Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), and Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA) as Marker Compounds: Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cell Survival and Progression

Cannabis sativa L. extracts were characterized by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) as marker compounds. The inhibitory effects of various extracts were determined on the survival and progression of highly metastatic breast cancer cells. A higher amount of CBD was found in the dichloromethane extract, and this was found to be effective in inhibiting breast cancer cell growth in vitro and in angiogenesis. Collectively, it may be concluded that CBD, THC, and THCA in the African variety of C. sativa can be used as marker compounds in UPLC-MS analysis. The ability of the plant to inhibit breast cancer cell survival and progression may affirm the traditional use of the drug as an anticancer agent.

Comprehensive chemical profiling of monascus-fermented rice product and screening of lipid-lowering compounds other than monacolins

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Monascus-fermented rice product (MFRP) has been regarded as a dietary supplement and traditional medicine with circulation-promoting effects in China and other countries for centuries.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was carried out to profile the chemical components in MFRP, and provide available information for elucidating the potential lipid-lowering compounds other than monacolins.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF MS) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods were applied to comprehensive analysis of chemical components in MFRP. Potential small molecules were identified by comparing with reference standards, or tentatively characterized by comparing their retention time and high-resolution mass spectral data with previous literature. The lipid-lowering properties of ten major non-monacolin compounds were evaluated in cholesterol-fed zebrafish larvae. And one with optimum lipid-lowering activity was subsequently evaluated in high fat diet-fed C57BL/6 J mice, with the dyslipidemia and ectopic lipid deposition being investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 99 compounds were characterized in MFRP, including 38 monacolins, 5 decalins, 6 isoflavones, 13 pigments, 8 azaphilonoids, 11 amino acids, 4 nucleosides, 9 lipid acids, 4 phytosterols and glycerol. The preliminary screening showed that ergosterol remarkably reduced cholesterol levels in zebrafish larvae. Moreover, ergosterol delayed body weight gain and decreased circulating total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in high fat diet-fed mice. Ectopic lipid accumulation was also ameliorated in the liver and heart of obese mice.

CONCLUSION

Global analysis of chemical components and screening of lipid-lowering non-monacolin compounds in MFRP have improved our understanding of its therapeutic material basis.

Worldwide research trends on aristolochic acids (1957-2017): Suggestions for researchers

Aristolochic acids and their derivatives are components of many traditional medicines that have been used for thousands of years, particularly in Asian countries. To study the trends of research into aristolochic acids and provide suggestions for future study, we performed the following work. In this paper, we performed a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace and HistCite software. We reviewed the three phases of the development of aristolochic acids by using bibliometrics. In addition, we performed a longitudinal review of published review articles over 60 years: 1,217 articles and 189 review articles on the history of aristolochic acid research published between 1957 and 2017 were analyzed. The performances of relevant countries, institutions, and authors are presented; the evolutionary trends of different categories are revealed; the history of research into aristolochic acids is divided into three phases, each of which has unique characteristics; and a roadmap of the historical overview of aristolochic acid research is finally established. Finally, five pertinent suggestions for future research into aristolochic acid are offered: (1) The study of the antitumor efficacy of aristolochic acids is of value; (2) The immune activity of aristolochic acids should be explored further; (3) Researchers should perform a thorough overview of the discovery of naturally occurring aristolochic acids; (4) More efforts should be directed toward exploring the correlation between aristolochic acid mutational signature and various cancers; (5) Further efforts should be devoted to the research and review work related to analytical chemistry. Our study is expected to benefit researchers in shaping future research directions.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Major Ingredients of a Herbal Preparation, Ciwujia Injection by Combination of HPLC-Q-TOF-MS, HPLC-TQ-MS/MS and UPLC-PDA

Background:

Ciwujia injection, prepared from water extraction of Acanthopanax senticosus, is widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the clinic in China. The ingredients of the preparation are still not efficiently clear and its quality control method requires further improvement. </P><P> Objective: In this paper, the qualitative and quantitative methods for quality control of Ciwujia injection were originally developed by a combination of HPLC-Q-TOF-MS, HPLC-TQ-MS/MS and UPLCPDA.

Methods:

With HPLC-Q-TOF-MS and HPLC-TQ-MS/MS, compounds were identified firstly by comparison of their MS spectra and retention times with those of standards or recorded information in the literature. Further, a new UPLC-PDA method was originally established to simultaneously determine the multiple ingredients in the preparations.

Results:

For qualitative analysis, 22 compounds were identified by the presented method. For quantitative analysis, the validated method exhibited good linearity (R2 > 0.998), repeatability (RSD < 1.50%), intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD < 8.33%) and recoveries (95.93-108.58%) for the simultaneous determination of the active ingredients, including protocatechuic acid-3-glucoside, l-phenylalanine, protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, gentiopicroside, eleutheroside B, and cryptochlorogenic acid, and was successfully utilized to analyze the eight compounds in 4 batches of Ciwujia injection.

Conclusion:

The presented method is simple and rapid for quality control of Ciwujia injection, and could provide a useful reference for the quality control and routine analysis of others Ciwujia preparations.

Cinnamic acid as an inhibitor of growth, flavonoids exudation and endophytic fungus colonization in maize root

Cinnamic acid (CA) is an allelochemical that inhibits the growth of root promoting soil microorganisms. To prevent the growth of soil microbes, CA modulates several metabolic pathways in host plants and soil microbes. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of CA on maize root growth, exudation of secondary metabolites and its interaction with beneficial endophyte Pz11. The endophyte Pz11 was isolated from the roots of drought stressed Asphodelus tenuifolius (wild onion). The Pz11 strain was identified as Fusarium culmorum by homology of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of 18 S rDNA sequence. The F. culmorum Pz11 produced phytostimulants and signaling compounds, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), flavonoids and sugars. Moreover, the strain have effectively colonized the roots of maize and subsequently enhanced the growth of its host plants. On the contrary, application of CA has reduced root growth in maize seedlings as well as root colonization ability of F. culmorum Pz11. Also, maize seedlings exposed to CA exude low quantities of flavonoids and polyphenols. In conclusion, CA reduces the maize root growth and exudation of secondary metabolites, which may affects its ability to attract plant growth promoting endophytic fungi.

Quality Analysis of American Ginseng Cultivated in Heilongjiang Using UPLC-ESI--MRM-MS with Chemometric Methods

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) has long been cultivated in China for the function food and medicine. Here, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography was coupled with electrospray ionization and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI⁻-TQ-MS) for simultaneous detection of 22 ginsenosides in American ginseng cultivated in Mudanjiang district of Heilongjiang. The extraction conditions also were optimized by a Box Behnken design experiment. The optimized result was 31.8 mL/g as ratio of liquid to raw materials, 20.3 min of extraction time, and 235.0 W of extraction powers. The quantitative MS parameters for these 22 compounds were rapidly optimized by single factor experiments employing UPLC-ESI⁻-multiple reaction monitoring or multiple ion monitoring (MRM/MIM) scans. Furthermore, the established UPLC-ESI⁻-MRM-MS method showed good linear relationships (R² > 0.99), repeatability (RSD < 3.86%), precision (RSD < 2.74%), and recovery (94–104%). This method determined 22 bioactive ginsenosides in different parts of the plant (main roots, hairy roots, rhizomes, leaves, and stems) and growth years (one year to four years) of P. quinquefolium. The highest total content of the 22 analytes was in the hairy roots (1.3 × 10⁵ µg/g) followed by rhizomes (7.1 × 10⁴ µg/g), main roots (6.5 × 10⁴ µg/g), leaves (4.2 × 10⁴ µg/g), and stems (2.4 × 10⁴ µg/g). Finally, chemometric methods, hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA), were successfully used to classify and differentiate American ginseng attributed to different growth years. The proposed UPLC-ESI⁻-MRM-MS coupled with HCA and PLS-DA methods was elucidated to be a simple and reliable method for quality evaluation of American ginseng.

Comprehensive metabolite profiling of Solanum tuberosum L. (potato) leaves by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS

The objective of this work was to study the non-targeted metabolite profiling of potato leaves using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The mass accuracy, true isotopic pattern in both MS and MS/MS spectra provided by QTOF-MS made possible the tentative identification of 109 compounds present in potato leaves, including organic acids, amino acids and derivatives, phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, oxylipins and other polar and semi-polar compounds. Among them, 32 compounds have been found for the first time in potato leaf and in the Solanaceae family. Quinic acid and its derivatives represented more than 45% of the bioactive compounds quantified in the extract. Derivatives of hydroxybenzoic acid and gentisic acid were also founded at considerable concentrations. This study shed light on the composition of potato leaf extract and will serve as a base for further research into activities of the various compounds found in this matrix which has demonstrated a potential use as functional ingredients.

Glycyrrhiza glabra HPLC fractions: identification of Aldehydo Isoophiopogonone and Liquirtigenin having activity against multidrug resistant bacteria

Background

Medicinal plants have been founded as traditional herbal medicine worldwide. Most of the plant’s therapeutic properties are due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, glycosides, tannins and volatile oil.

Methods

The present investigation analyzed the High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fractions of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Aqueous, Chloroform, Ethanol and Hexane) against multidrug resistant human bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). All the fractions showed antibacterial activity, were subjected to LC MS/MS analysis for identification of bioactive compounds.

Results

Among total HPLC fractions of G. glabra (n = 20), three HPLC fractions showed potential activity against multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial isolates. Fraction 1 (F1) of aqueous extracts, showed activity against A. baumannii (15 ± 0.5 mm). F4 from hexane extract of G. glabra showed activity against S. aureus (10 ± 0.2 mm). However, F2 from ethanol extract exhibited activity against S. aureus (10 ± 0.3 mm). These active fractions were further processed by LC MS/MS analysis for the identification of compounds. Ellagic acid was identified in the F1 of aqueous extract while 6-aldehydo-isoophiopogonone was present in F4 of hexane extract. Similarly, Liquirtigenin was identified in F2 of ethanol.

Conclusions

Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts HPLC fractions showed anti-MDR activity. Three bioactive compounds were identified in the study. 6-aldehydo-isoophiopogonone and Liquirtigenin were for the first time reported in G. glabra. Further characterization of the identified compounds will be helpful for possible therapeutic uses against infectious diseases caused by multidrug resistant bacteria.

UPLC Orbitrap HRMS Analysis of Panax quinquefolium L. for Authentication of Panax Genus with Chemometric Methods

Ginsenosides in Panax quinquefolium L. were determined using developed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) method with electrospray ionization and orbitrap MS analyzer in negative ionization mode. Optimal UPLC separation was achieved using a mixture of acetonitrile and water with 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase in linear gradient elution. The MS parameters were optimized for reliable detection with enhanced selectivity and sensitivity, and improved identification and quantification of ginsenosides. The applicability of this method was demonstrated on ginsenosides from Panax quinquefolium L. (American ginseng), Panax ginseng (Chinese ginseng) and Panax notoginseng (Sanchi) roots and products. The differences between Chinese and Northern American Panax quinquefolium L., main roots and hair roots, and products from different pharmacy were investigated. The results were also confirmed by principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminatory analysis. It indicated that the strategy can be extended to rapid and accurate authentication of Panax genus.

Recent (2000-2015) developments in the analysis of minor unknown natural products based on characteristic fragment information using LC-MS

Liquid chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) has been widely used in natural product analysis. Global detection and identification of nontargeted components are desirable in natural product research, for example, in quality control of Chinese herbal medicine. Nontargeted components analysis continues to expand to exciting life science application domains such as metabonomics. With this background, the present review summarizes recent developments in the analysis of minor unknown natural products using LC-MS and mainly focuses on the determination of the molecular formulae, selection of precursor ions, and characteristic fragmentation patterns of the known compounds. This review consists of three parts. Firstly, the methods used to determine unique molecular formula of unknown compounds such as accurate mass measurements, MSⁿ spectra, or relative isotopic abundance information, are introduced. Secondly, the methods improving signal-to-noise ratio of MS/MS spectra by manual-MS/MS or workflow targeting-only signals were elucidated; pure precursor ions can be selected by changing the precursor ion isolated window. Lastly, characteristic fragmentation patterns such as Retro-Diels-Alder (RDA), McLafferty rearrangements, "internal residue loss," and so on, occurring in the molecular ions of natural products are summarized. Classical application of characteristic fragmentation patterns in identifying unknown compounds in extracts and relevant fragmentation mechanisms are presented (RDA reactions occurring readily in the molecular ions of flavanones or isoflavanones, McLafferty-type fragmentation reactions of some natural products such as epipolythiodioxopiperazines; fragmentation by "internal residue loss" possibly involving ion-neutral complex intermediates). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 37:202-216, 2018.

Nutraceuticals in Alternative and Underutilized Fruits as Functional Food Ingredients: Ancient Species for New Health Needs

A diet containing high levels of fruit has been associated with a lowered risk of chronic diseases as, in addition to their vitamin and mineral content, they also contain various compounds with health-protective effects, in particular antioxidant and antiinflammatory compounds. Wild plant species are of interest to the food industry because of their ability to replace synthetic chemicals and nutraceuticals; however, the nutritional, economical, and sociocultural values of some neglected and underutilized natural resources have not yet been fully exploited. Some of these less well-known and underutilized fruits, which have the potential to provide novel sources of health-promoting agents, are presented in this chapter (i.e., Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal, Crataegus azarolus L., Lycium barbarum L., Morus nigra L., and Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medicus). Underutilized fruits could represent an opportunity for growers to gain access to these special markets where consumers place emphasis on high contents of nutrients that are capable of preventing degenerative diseases. The development of specific horticultural models for nutraceutical fruit production could be an interesting opportunity to obtain a highly standardized raw material for fresh or derived products.