Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major constituents in Chinese medicinal preparation Guan-Xin-Ning injection by HPLC–DAD–ESI-MSn

Exploring Ocimum basilicum's Secondary Metabolites: Inhibition and Molecular Docking against Rhynchophorus ferrugineus for Optimal Action

The objective of our work is to create a practical procedure to produce in vitro cell suspensions of O. basilicum and to ascertain the factors that encourage enhanced secondary metabolite production. We investigated the impact of these metabolites on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus's adult and larval target enzymes. The explants were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with 0.1 to 1 mg/L plant growth regulators (PGRs) to create calluses. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin, 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-butryic acid (IBA) at 0.5, 0.5, 0.1, and 1 mg/L, respectively, with 3% sucrose led to the highest biomass accumulation. In cell suspensions, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were 39.68 and 5.49 mg/g DW, respectively, with abiotic Verticillium dahliae as an activator. Rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, nepetoidin A and B, salvigenin, and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside as flavonoids and phenolics were analyzed using UPLC-I TQD MS, with the highest concentrations reached after 40 days. The extract demonstrates insecticidal activity against the fourth-instar larvae of R. ferrugineus, with adults at 1197 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/larvae as LC50 and LD50 values. The extract inhibited acetylcholine esterase (AChE), acid phosphatases (ACPs), alkaline phosphatases (ALPs), and gamma-aminobutyric acid-transaminase (GABA-T) in larval tissue in vitro, with IC50 values of 124.2, 149.3, 157.8, and 204.8 µg/mL, and in vivo, with IC50 values of 157.2, 179.4, 185.3, and 241.6 µg/mL, after 24 h. Pure compounds identified the activity of the extract, showing the inhibition of AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T with IC50 values ˂ 200 µg/mL (in vitro). The ABMET examination revealed good oral permeability, and docking tests showed that the compounds bind AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T. These findings show that a green bioprocessing method such as an O. basilicum cell suspension is a quick and straightforward technique for producing phenolic compounds, and it may be used to develop sustainable bio-insecticides and new green procedures.

Pharmaceutical process-omics for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine preparations: A 1H-qNMR assisted case study of Guanxinning injection

Guanxinning injection (GXNI) is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation derived from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Chuanxiong Rhizoma. It is produced through a series of processes involving water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and other techniques. GXNI is primarily used for treating angina pectoris in coronary heart disease, and it has shown remarkable efficacy in clinical practice. One of the key components responsible for its pharmacological effects is salvianolic acids. However, these components are known for their poor stability and susceptibility to pH and temperature variations. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on ensuring the quality and stability of salvianolic acids in GXNI. In this study, we employed Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) to analyze the intermediate products formed during the manufacturing of GXNI. We thoroughly examined the spectra of these intermediates and developed a precise 1H-qNMR method for the accurate quantification of various classes of chemical components present in GXNI. Additionally, we applied this method to investigate how the composition of GXNI evolves and transfers throughout the entire production process. To further enhance our understanding, we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) to identify critical steps in the production process and to identify potential quality markers (Q-markers) associated with these processes. Our study sheds light on the dynamic changes in composition that occur during the production of GXNI. This research serves as a foundation for establishing a comprehensive quality evaluation system for GXNI, ensuring its efficacy and safety in clinical applications.

Guanxinning tablets improve myocardial hypertrophy by inhibiting the activation of MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Myocardial hypertrophy may lead to heart failure and sudden death. As traditional Chinese medicine, Guanxinning tablets (GXN) have significant pharmacological effects in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the anti-cardiac hypertrophy efficacy of GXN and its mechanism of action are still unclear. Therefore, we established a heart failure rat model and isolated primary cardiomyocytes of neonatal rat to observe the protective effect of GXN on heart failure rat model and the intervention effect on myocardial cell hypertrophy, and to explore the possible mechanism of GXN preventing and treating myocardial hypertrophy. The results of in vivo experiments showed that GXN could significantly reduce the degree of cardiac hypertrophy, reduce the size of cardiomyocytes, inhibit the degree of myocardial remodeling and fibrosis, and improve cardiac function in rats with early heart failure. The results of in vitro experiments showed that GXN was safe for primary cardiomyocytes and could improve cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and reduce the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in pathological state, which may be related to the inhibition of the over-activation of MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, GXN may inhibit cardiac hypertrophy and improve early heart failure by inhibiting the over-activation of MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Guanxinning injection ameliorates cardiac remodeling in HF mouse and 3D heart spheroid models via p38/FOS/MMP1-mediated inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. Guanxinning injection (GXNI) is clinically used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, but its therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism for HF are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of GXNI on HF, with a special focus on its role in myocardial remodeling.

METHODS

3D cardiac organoids and transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse models were established and utilized. Heart function and pathology were evaluated by echocardiography, hemodynamic examination, tail-cuff blood pressure and histopathology. Key targets and pathways regulated by GXNI in HF mouse heart were revealed via RNA-seq and network pharmacology analysis, and were verified by RT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

GXNI significantly inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and cells death. It protected mitochondrial function in cardiac hypertrophic organoids and markedly improved cardiac function in HF mice. Analysis of GXNI-regulated genes in HF mouse hearts revealed that IL-17A signaling in fibroblasts and the corresponding p38/c-Fos/Mmp1 pathway prominently mediated cardiac. Altered expressions of c-Fos, p38 and Mmp1 by GXNI in heart tissues and in cardiac organoids were validated by RT-PCR, WB, IHC, and IF. H&E and Masson staining confirmed that GXNI substantially ameliorated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in HF mice and in 3D organoids.

CONCLUSION

GXNI inhibited cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy mainly via down-regulating p38/c-Fos/Mmp1 pathway, thereby ameliorating cardiac remodeling in HF mice. Findings in this study provide a new strategy for the clinical application of GXNI in the treatment of heart failure.

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.

Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Variations, Antioxidant Profiles and Antimicrobial Activity of Salvia hispanica (Chia) Seed, Sprout, Leaf, Flower, Root and Herb Extracts

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles of the seeds, sprouts, leaves, flowers, roots and herb of Salvia hispanica and to demonstrate their significant contribution to antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Applied methods were: HPLC-DAD coupled with post-column derivatization with ABTS reagent, untargeted metabolomics performed by LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, and two-fold micro-dilution broth method, which involved suspending a solution of tested compounds dissolved in DMSO in Mueller–Hinton broth for bacteria or Mueller–Hinton broth with 2% glucose for fungi. Metabolomic profiling using LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS used in this study yielded the identification and preliminary characterization of one hundred fifteen compounds. The dominant class of compounds was terpenoids (31 compounds), followed by flavonoids (21 compounds), phenolic acids and derivatives (19 compounds), organic acids (16 compounds) and others (fatty acids, sugars and unidentified compounds). The organic and phenolic acids were the most abundant classes in terms of total peak area, with distribution depending on the plant raw materials obtained from S. hispanica. The main compound among this class for all types of extracts was rosmarinic acid which was proven to be the most abundant for antioxidant potential. All tested extracts exhibited considerable antibacterial and antifungal activity. The strongest bioactivity was found in leaf extracts, which presented bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, S. epidermidis, M. luteus and E. faecalis). The work represents the first compendium of knowledge comparing different S. hispanica plant raw materials in terms of the profile of biologically active metabolites and their contribution to antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activity.

Integrated plasma pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba in treatment of allergic asthma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba (GPH), a commonly used traditional medicine in China, is derived from Gerbera piloselloides (Linn.) Cass. It is featured by its special bioactivities as antitussive, expectorant, anti-asthma, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, uterine analgesia, and immunity-enhancing. With a long history of medication in ethnic minority areas in China, it is often used as an effective treatment for cough and sore throat as well as allergic asthma. Although our previous investigation also has discovered GPH performed effective treatment on allergic asthma, its underlying mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aims to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in the treatment for allergic asthma through combination of plasma pharmacology and network pharmacology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the components of GPH in blood samples were identified using UHPLC- Q-Orbitrap HRMS. An interaction network of "compound-target-disease" was constructed based on the compounds confirmed in blood and on their corresponding targets of allergic asthma acquired from disease gene databases, predicting the possible biological targets and potential signal pathways of GPH with the network pharmacology analysis. Then, a molecular docking between the blood ingredients and the core targets was carried out using the Autodock Vina software. Subsequently, after establishing a mouse model with allergic asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA), the effect of GPH on allergic asthma was evaluated by analyzing a series of indicators including behavior, lung pathological changes, inflammatory factors in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Finally, the key pathway and targets predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking were further verified using Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven chemical constituents (such as arbutin, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, etc.) were identified through the analysis of plasma samples, on which basis a total of 142 genes intersecting GPH and allergic asthma were collected by network pharmacology. After performing enrichment analysis of these genes in gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), it was found that arbutin-related targets mainly focused on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway, while luteolin and marmesin -related targets tended to locate at Interleukin-17 (IL-17) signal pathway. Meanwhile, the findings of molecular docking suggested that such components as arbutin, luteolin and marmesin entering into blood had good binding with the core targets related to PI3K/Akt and IL-17 pathways. In addition, GPH improved the OVA-induced asthma symptoms, the alveolar septa thickening and the infiltration of inflammatory cell around bronchi and bronchioles as well as reduced the levels of IgE, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum or BALF. Furthermore, GPH could inhibit the phosphorylation level of Akt and the expression of PI3K, an efficacy supported by the findings by way of Western blot which suggests that GPH in the treatment of allergic asthma was linked to PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a comprehensive strategy to combine the UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS with network pharmacology was employed to clarify the mechanism of GPH against allergic asthma, a finding where GPH may inhibit PI3K/Akt signal pathway to protect mice from OVA-induced allergic asthma. This study provides a deeper understanding of the pharmacological mechanism of GPH in treatment of asthma, offering a scientific reference for further research and clinical application of GPH in terms of allergic asthma.

Analysis of Volatile Secondary Metabolites in Ocimum basilicum Cell Suspensions: Inhibition, In Silico Molecular Docking, and an ADMET Analysis against Proteolytic Enzymes of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Our study's overarching goal was to determine which O. basilicum cell suspensions approach yielded the most insecticidal and R. ferrugineus-inhibitory volatile secondary metabolites. After inoculation with Verticillium dahliae as an activator, the growth kinetics were measured, and the extract was identified using GC-MS. Validation was achieved for the insecticidal efficacy of a volatile extract, the pure phenolic content against larva and adult R. ferrugineus, and the inhibitory effect on proteases (in vivo and in vitro). The volatile extract achieved an LC₅₀ of 1229 µg/mL and an LD₅₀ of 13.8 µg/larva. The LC₅₀ values for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene were 1294, 1312, 1356, 1398, 1426, 1459, 1491, and 1523 g/mL, respectively. The LD₅₀ activities of α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and nerol were 12.4, 13.7, 13.9, 14.2, and 15.6 g/larva, respectively. Active volatile extract of O. basilicum inhibited trypsin proteinase, elastase, cysteine, overall protease, and metalloprotease activity with IC₅₀ values of 89.4, 101.7, 394.7, 112.4, and 535.2 µg/mL and 178.5, 192.4, 547.3, 208.3, and 924.8 µg/mL, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. There was evidence of action against total proteases (in vitro) with IC₅₀ values of 78.9, 81.2, 88.6, 90.7, 91.5, 97.6, 107.4, and 176.3 µg/mL for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene, respectively. Total proteases (in vivo) are inhibited by the α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, nerol, and (E)-β-ocimene, with IC₅₀ values of 162.3, 192.7, 193.1, 201.4, 248.6, and 273.2 µg/mL, respectively. ADMET and molecular docking modeling were the only two methods used to conduct in-depth computational analyses of compounds. The study recommended using an efficient cell suspension method to produce a volatile extract rich in useful secondary metabolites that may be utilized as a bio-insecticide.

CXCR1 and its downstream NF-κB inflammation signaling pathway as a key target of Guanxinning injection for myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Guanxinning Injection (GXNI) is used clinically to treat cardiac injury, but its active components and mode of action remains unclear. Therefore, a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) model-based integrated strategy including function evaluation, RNA-seq analysis, molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was employed to elucidate the effect and mechanism of GXNI and its main ingredient on cardiac injury. These results revealed that GXNI significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and myocardial injury in I/R mice. RNA-seq analysis clarified that CXCR1-mediated interleukin-8 pathway played a critical role in MIRI. Molecular docking screening identified danshensu (DSS) as the major active components of GXNI targeting CXCR1 protein, which was confirmed in an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocytes damage model showing that GXNI and DSS reduced the protein expression of CXCR1 and its downstream NF-κB, COX-2, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. CETSA and isothermal dose-response fingerprint curves confirmed that DSS combined with CXCR1 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, GXNI and DSS significantly decreased the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and the number of neutrophils in post I/R myocardial tissue. In conclusion, this study revealed that GXNI and its active components DSS exert inhibitory effects on inflammatory factor release and leukocyte infiltration to improve I/R-induced myocardial injury by down-regulating CXCR1-NF-κB-COX-2/ICAM-1/VCAM-1 pathway.

Guanxinning Injection Combined With Ischemic Postconditioning Attenuate Myocardial Ischemic Reperfusion Injury in Chronic Renal Failure Rats by Modulating Mitochondrial Dynamics

Purpose

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen, DS) and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Chuanxiong, CX) have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat myocardial ischemia and renal insufficiency, and their extracts (Guanxinning injection, GXN) have been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury properties. It is well-established that ischemic postconditioning (IPOC) can protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF). However, little is known on whether GXN combined with IPOC may affect myocardial I/R injury in CRF rats. We sought to observe the effect of GXN combined with IPOC on myocardial I/R injury in CRF rats by quantifying changes in the expression of proteins related to mitochondrial dynamics.

Materials and Methods

In a survey, 90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (15 rats per group): CRF group, I/R group, comorbid group (CRF + I/R), IPOC group, IPOC + GXN group and the sham group. Changes in blood myocardial injury markers, urea, and creatinine were analyzed. Heart tissues were harvested for histomorphometry and western blotting when rats were sacrificed. Myocardial infarction area was measured by Evans blue and Triphenyltetrazolium chloride solution staining. The expressions of mitochondrial fission relative proteins (DRP1 and FIS1) and mitochondrial fusion relative proteins (OPA1 and MFN1) were detected by western blotting.

Results

IPOC could significantly decrease myocardial injury markers and myocardial area of necrosis (AN)/area at risk (AAR) of the comorbid model rats. Further results showed that GXN combined with IPOC could significantly reduce CK-MB levels and myocardial AN/AAR in comorbid model rats compared with the IPOC group. Meanwhile, both IPOC and IPOC + GXN significantly reduced DRP1 levels and increased the MFN1 and OPA1 protein levels in the comorbid model rats. However, compared with the IPOC group, MFN1 and OPA1 protein levels increased significantly in the IPOC + GXN group.

Conclusion

Extracts of DS and CX combined with IPOC exert a protective effect against myocardial I/R injury in rats with CRF, mediated by increased expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins (MFN1 and OPA1).

Secondary Metabolites in Basil, Bio-Insecticide, Inhibition Effect, and In Silico Molecular Docking against Proteolytic Enzymes of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

The purpose of this work was to determine the secondary metabolites generated by O. basilicum cell suspensions, as well as their insecticide and inhibitory activity against R. ferrugineus. The growth kinetics with inoculation Verticillium dahliae were determined and identified using LC-MS. Determination of total phenolic components (TFC), flavonoids (TF), and condensed tannins (TCT) were measured. Insecticidal activity of O. basilicum extract against R. ferrugineus (larva and adult) and proteolytic enzymes activity were assessed (in vitro and in vivo). The O.basilicum extract had an LC₅₀ of 1238 µg/mL and an LD₅₀ of 13.4 µg/larva. The LC₅₀ of chicoric acid, ursolic acid, salvigenin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, rosmarinyl glucoside, and nepetoidin B demonstrated activity at an LC₅₀ of 1132, 1167, 1189, 1214, 1275, and 1317 µg/mL, respectively. Chicoric acid, salvigenin, nepetoidin B, and rosmarinic acid demonstrated an LD₅₀ activity of 10.23, 11.4, 11.9, and 12.4 µg/larva, respectively. The active extract of O. basilicum inhibited total protease, trypsin-like serine proteinases, elastase, cysteine, and metalloprotease activity with an IC₅₀ (in vitro) of 119.4, 91, 102.4, 76.4, and 52.4 µg/mL, respectively. In silico studies of compounds were conducted, such as molecular docking and ADMET analysis. The study proposes using an efficient cell suspension technique to produce O. basilicum extract containing active secondary metabolites and accessible using as bio-insecticide.

Protective effects on ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma models and qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple compounds in Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba

Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba is widely used to treat cough and asthma in China. However, its effects on allergic asthma as related to its chemical compositions have not been fully elucidated, and there is a scarcity of methods to determine multi-component contents for quality control. In this study, protective effects of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba on ovalbumin-induced asthma models were investigated, while qualitative and quantitative analyses of multiple constituents in Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba were conducted by using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography -Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry and an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography -photodiode array detection. The results showed that Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba could significantly mitigate asthma symptoms, reduce eosinophils counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as decrease IgE, IL-5 and IL-13 concentration, and inflammatory cellular infiltration in lung tissues. A total of 51 compounds were tentatively identified, in which the content of 10 representative compounds was determined in 24 batches of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba by using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method with good linearity, precision, repeatability, accuracy and stability. This research presents a comprehensive strategy combining biological activity evaluation with chemical profiling, providing a useful and comprehensive reference for further application and quality control of Gerberae Piloselloidis Herba. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Restoration of early deficiency of axonal guidance signaling by guanxinning injection as a novel therapeutic option for acute ischemic stroke

Despite of its high morbidity and mortality, there is still a lack of effective treatment for ischemic stroke in part due to our incomplete understanding of molecular mechanisms of its pathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate that SHH-PTCH1-GLI1-mediated axonal guidance signaling and its related neurogenesis, a central pathway for neuronal development, also plays a critical role in early stage of an acute stroke model. Specifically, in vivo, we evaluated the effect of GXNI on ischemic stroke mice via using the middle cerebral artery embolization model, and found that GXNI significantly alleviated cerebral ischemic reperfusion (I/R) injury by reducing the volume of cerebral infarction, neurological deficit score and cerebral edema, reversing the BBB permeability and histopathological changes. A combined approach of RNA-seq and network pharmacology analysis was used to reveal the underlying mechanisms of GXNI followed by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting validation. It was pointed out that axon guidance signaling pathway played the most prominent role in GXNI action with Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 genes as the critical contributors in brain protection. In addition, GXNI markedly prevented primary cortical neuron cells from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation damage in vitro, and promoted axon growth and synaptogenesis of damaged neurons, which further confirmed the results of in vivo experiments. Moreover, due to the inhibition of the SHH-PTCH1-GLI1 signaling pathway by cyclopropylamine, the effect of GXNI was significantly weakened. Hence, our study provides a novel option for the clinical treatment of acute ischemic stroke by GXNI via SHH-PTCH1-GLI1-mediated axonal guidance signaling, a neuronal development pathway previously considered for after-stroke recovery.

Characterization of chemical components in the Guanxinning injection by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Guanxinning injection (GXNI) is widely used in the treatments of cerebral thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage, sequela, coronary disease, stenocardia, arrhythmia, and so on. For the herbal injections, more components should be characterized and quantified as much as possible to guarantee the drug safety. However, large numbers of the chemical constituents in the GXNI still remain unknown. In this study, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q Orbitrap HRMS), in combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), was used to identify the components in GXNI, which led to the identification of 194 compounds. With the aid of solvent partition, more phthalides, diterpenoid quinines, and salvianolic acids were tentatively identified, and minor compounds with the other structural types were also detected. The structural diversity of phthalides and diterpenoid quinones were revealed by the structural network, and six phthalides and 13 diterpenoid quinones were further detected in GXNI with the help of the characteristic fragmentation pattern and structural network. In addition, NMR also revealed the presence of a series of primary metabolites in the GXNI, which could be used as a complimentary approach for the rapid identification of the chemical components in the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). However, the unknown NMR signals of GXNI needed to be further identified to guarantee the drug safety.

Application of an in vitro digestion model to study the metabolic profile changes of an herbal extract combination by UHPLC-HRMS

BACKGROUND

STW 5 is a fixed herbal combination containing extracts from nine medicinal plants: bitter candytuft, greater celandine, garden angelica roots, lemon balm leaves, peppermint leaves, caraway fruits, licorice roots, chamomile flowers, and milk thistle fruit. STW 5 is a clinically proven treatment for functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome.

PURPOSE

Using a static in vitro method, we simulated oral, gastric, and small intestinal digestion and analyzed the metabolic profile changes by UHPLC-HRMS to determine the impact of oro-gastro-intestinal digestion on STW 5 constituents.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

STW 5 was incubated according to the InfoGest consensus method. Samples of each digestive phase were analyzed by UHPLC-HRMS in ESI positive and negative modes. After data processing, background subtraction, and normalization, the peak areas of detectable compounds were compared to untreated reference samples and recovery ratios were calculated to monitor the metabolic profile of STW 5 during simulated digestion.

RESULTS

Although the levels of some constituents were reduced, we did not observe complete degradation of any of the constituents of STW 5 upon in vitro digestion. We did not detect any new metabolites beyond increased levels of caffeic acid and liquiritigenin due to degradation of progenitor compounds. Changes observed in intestinal bioaccessibility ratios were mainly a result of isomerization, hydrolysis, protein binding, and low water solubility.

CONCLUSION

The majority of STW 5 constituents are stable towards simulated in vitro digestion and can reach the colon to interact with gut microbiota if they remain unabsorbed in the upper intestinal tract.

Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactive Properties of Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum cv. 'Cinnamon') and Lemon Basil (Ocimum × citriodorum)

The aim of this work was to contribute to the knowledge on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of two species of the Ocimum genus, namely O. basilicum cultivar ’Cinammon’ and O. × citriodorum. For this purpose, samples of these plants grown in Portugal were evaluated for their composition in phenolic and volatile compounds, and the infusion and hydroethanolic extracts were assessed for their in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In total, the two basil samples showed the presence of seven caffeic acid and derivatives (dimers, trimers, and tetramers) and five flavonoids, mainly glycoside derivatives of quercetin. Despite some qualitative and quantitative differences, in both samples rosmarinic acid was the major phenolic compound, and linalool the predominant volatile compound. In general, the tested extracts provided relevant bioactive properties since both basil species showed higher antioxidant activity in Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARs) and Oxidative Hemolysis Inhibition (OxHLIA) assays when compared with the positive control Trolox. Despite O. × citriodorum extracts showing slightly better activity against some strains, both types of extracts evidenced similar antimicrobial activity, being more active against Gram-positive bacteria. The extracts also revealed interesting cytotoxicity, particularly the O. × citriodorum hydroethanolic extract which was also the only one exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity.

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.

Insight into Composition of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds in Leaves and Flowers of Green and Purple Basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a culinary, medicinal, and ornamental plant appreciated for its antioxidant properties, mainly attributed to high content of rosmarinic acid. This species also includes purple varieties, characterized by the accumulation of anthocyanins in leaves and flowers. In this work, we compared the main morphological characteristics, the antioxidant capacity and the chemical composition in leaves, flowers, and corollas of green (‘Italiano Classico’) and purple (‘Red Rubin’ and ‘Dark Opal’) basil varieties. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of individual compounds allowed quantifying 17 (poly)phenolic acids and 18 flavonoids, differently accumulated in leaves and flowers of the three varieties. The study revealed that in addition to rosmarinic acid, basil contains several members of the salvianolic acid family, only scarcely descripted in this species, as well as, especially in flowers, simple phenolic acids, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and salvianic acid A. Moreover, the study revealed that purple leaves mainly contain highly acylated anthocyanins, while purple flowers accumulate anthocyanins with low degree of decoration. Overall, this study provides new biochemical information about the presence of not yet characterized bioactive compounds in basil that could contribute to boosting the use of this crop and to gaining new knowledge about the roles of these compounds in plant physiology.

Pseudotargeted screening and determination of constituents in Qishen granule based on compound biosynthetic correlation using UHPLC coupled with high-resolution MS

Detection and determination of many known/unknown compounds in traditional Chinese medicines have always been challenging. To comprehensively identify compounds in Qishen granule, which is a widely prescribed herbal formula for treating chronic heart failure, a pseudotargeted screening method was proposed based on compound biosynthetic correlation using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Firstly, all possible compounds of Qishen granule were classified into nine types according to their core skeletons, and potential analogue molecular formulas were predicted according to core compound-related biosynthetic correlations, such as methylation, hydroxylation, and glucosidation. Secondly, nine pseudocompound databases consisting of core compounds, deduced biosynthetic correlations, and predicted analogue molecular formulas were established. Then, compounds of interest were directly located by pseudotargeted screening of high resolution mass spectrometry data and further verified by target tandem mass spectrometry. As a result, 213 constituents were identified and 21 of them were determined as potential new compounds. This demonstrated that pseudotargeted screening based on compound biosynthetic correlations significantly facilitated the processing of extremely large information data and improved the efficiency of compound identification. This research provided essential data for exploration of effective substances in Qishen granule and enriched the methodology for comprehensive characterization of constituents in complex traditional Chinese medicines.

Chemical Fingerprint and Metabolic Profile Analysis of Tianshu Tablets by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

In recent years, the chemical fingerprinting of traditional Chinese medicines and the metabolites in these compounds has been a hot topic. In the present study, the chemical fingerprint of Tianshu tablets (TST) and the metabolic characteristics of compounds in rats after intragastric administration were studied by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS). In a preliminary study, 77 chemical components in TST were determined by comparison with retention times, accurate molecular mass, and characteristic fragment ions of the known compounds in the literature and some well-known compounds were analyzed in detail, and the fragmentation pathways for parishins B, gastrodin A, and cnidilide or neocnilide were specifically analyzed. After intragastric administration of TST (4 g/kg) to rats, a total of 61 compounds were detected in plasma samples, including 7 prototypes and 54 metabolites. After further analysis, it was found that these metabolites were subjected to glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, or mixed metabolic processes. Hydroxylation and glucuronidation were finally confirmed as the main metabolic pathways. This is the first research on the chemical fingerprint and metabolites of TST, which lays a foundation for further investigation of TST.

Puccinellia maritima, Spartina maritime, and Spartina patens Halophytic Grasses: Characterization of Polyphenolic and Chlorophyll Profiles and Evaluation of Their Biological Activities

Halophytic grasses have been recently targeted as possible sources of nutraceutical and medicinal compounds. Nonetheless, few studies have been conducted on the phytochemistry and biological activities of metabolites produced by these plants. Among these, Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald, Spartina patens (Aiton.) Muhl., and Puccinellia maritima (Hudson) Parl. are three halophytic grasses whose chemical composition and bioactivities are unknown. The present work broadens the knowledge on the polyphenolic and chlorophyll composition of these species identifying for the first time hydroxycinnamic acids and their derivatives, flavones, flavonols, lignans, as well as chlorophylls and xantophylls. The extracts were particularly rich in caffeic and ferulic acids as well as in trihydroxymethoxyflavone, apigenin and tricin derivatives. Interestingly, several of the identified compounds are relevant from a medicinal and nutraceutical point of view putting in evidence the potential of these species. Thus, the antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of the polyphenolic extracts were assessed as well as the photophysical properties of the chlorophyll-rich extracts. The results, herein presented for the first time, reinforce the nutritional and the medicinal potential of these halophytic grasses.

Chemical profiling and the potential active constituents responsible for wound healing in Periploca forrestii Schltr

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Periploca forrestii Schltr. is a popular folk medicine in china, commonly prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and wounds. The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of HLG on wound healing and reveal the potential active constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The wound healing activity was assessed by proliferation of fibroblast, migration and collagen production using L929 cells. A reliable HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was constructed for the systematic identification and characterization of main components in HLG. For further clarifying the potential active ingredients responsible for wound healing, total extract was separated by D101 macroporous resin. The fraction with strongest potency on wound healing was screened out by comparing with total extract. Finally, a new quantitative method was developed for determination of four typical cardiac glycosides in HLG by LC-MS.

RESULTS

The results showed that the total extract significantly promoted proliferation of fibroblast L929 up to 168% at 50 μg/ml. It also notably enhanced L929 migration on day 2 up to 56% and stimulated collagen release (96.1 μg/ml) at 50 μg/ml. A total of 38 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS based on reference substances or literatures. The separation by D101 macroporous adsorption resin led to the identification of 65 ethanol eluate as the most effective fraction. The data suggested that it could markedly promote L929 growth (174% of control), accelerate wound contraction (63% on day 2) and stimulate collagen generation (103.7 μg/ml) at 50 μg/ml, all of which were comparable to those of total extract. Interestingly, the HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed that the 65 ethanol fraction was mainly composed of cardiac glycosides. Finally, the new quantitative method was successfully utilized for detection of four typical cardiac glycosides in HLG, showing good performance in terms of analytical methodology.

CONCLUSION

The present study identified the cardiac glycosides as potential active constituents associated with wound healing and might afford a chemical foundation for preparation development of crude drug and quality evaluation of relevant products.

Novel Phenolic Constituents of Pulmonaria officinalis L. LC-MS/MS Comparison of Spring and Autumn Metabolite Profiles

Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L., Boraginaceae) is considered to possess therapeutic properties and it has been traditionally used as a remedy against various lung disorders in many countries. Nevertheless, very few data concerning its phytochemical composition are available. This research aims to provide a detailed description of specialized metabolites from the aerial parts of lungwort. Nine previously undescribed and 36 known phenolic compounds were detected in the 50% methanolic extract. Following multistep preparative procedures, structures of newly discovered compounds were determined using one- and two-dimensional techniques of NMR spectroscopy. Among the identified compounds were caffeic acid esters with aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, conjugates of dicaffeic acid with rosmarinic acid, and previously unknown isomers of isosalvianolic acid A and yunnaneic acid E, as well as other lignans. Concentrations of all identified phenolic derivatives in the investigated herbal material were estimated using a method based on liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry detection. Seasonal changes in the concentration of metabolites were also investigated using targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques.

Phenolic Composition and Bioactivity of Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. Samples from Different Geographical Origin

The aim of this study was to characterize the phenolic composition and evaluate the bioactivity of several samples of Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav, and to compare aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts. Plant materials were obtained by growing some accessions (seed samples) of various wild populations from different regions of Portugal conserved at the Portuguese Genebank in Braga. Phenolic compounds were analised by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, antioxidant potential through in vitro assays (DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation), cytotoxicity on tumor cells (MCF-7, NCI-H460, HeLa and HepG2) and non-tumor (PLP2) cells, anti-inflammatory activity in rat RAW 264.7 macrophages, by the ability to inhibit NO production and antimicrobial potential by the microdilution method with INT dye (iodonitrotetrazolium chloride). Thirteen compounds were identified, being salvianolic acid B, rosmarinic acid and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, the main compounds present, with values ranging between 44.3–582, 50.9–550, and 24.36–101.5 mg/g extract, respectively. L. pedunculata aqueous extract revealed a higher antioxidant potential (EC₅₀ values between 14 to 530 μg/mL), which could be related to its higher concentration in phenolic compounds; however, the hydroethanolic extract showed a higher anti-inflammatory (lower EC₅₀ values than 124 μg/mL) potential and antiproliferative capacity (lower GI₅₀ values than 34 μg/mL). Thus, this study highlights the bioactive effects of this species and opens up possibilities of uses in food and pharmaceutical formulations. However, there are potential differences in such properties according to geographical origin of plant material, as in general, the samples from Alentejo presented higher results in all the bioactivities, compared with Trás-os-Montes samples.

Mentha spicata L. infusions as sources of antioxidant phenolic compounds: emerging reserve lots with special harvest requirements

Mentha spicata L., commonly known as spearmint, is widely used in both fresh and dry forms, for infusion preparation or in European and Indian cuisines. Recently, with the evolution of the tea market, several novel products with added value are emerging, and the standard lots have evolved to reserve lots, with special harvest requirements that confer them with enhanced organoleptic and sensorial characteristics. The apical leaves of these batches are collected in specific conditions having, then, a different chemical profile. In the present study, standard and reserve lots of M. spicata were assessed in terms of the antioxidants present in infusions prepared from the different lots. The reserve lots presented the highest concentration in all the compounds identified in relation to the standard lots, with 326 and 188 μg mL^-1 of total phenolic compounds, respectively. Both types of samples presented rosmarinic acid as the most abundant phenolic compound, at concentrations of 169 and 101 μg mL^-1 for reserve and standard lots, respectively. The antioxidant activity was higher in the reserve lots which had the highest total phenolic compounds content, with EC₅₀ values ranging from 152 to 336 μg mL^-1. The obtained results provide scientific information that may allow the consumer to make a conscientious choice.

Characterization of phenolic compounds in tincture of edibleNepeta nuda: development of antimicrobial mouthwash

The activity of edibleNepeta nudaL. (Lamiaceae) tincture and Listerine towards a selected group of oral pathogenic microorganisms (4 bacterial and 9 fungal strains) has been explored.

Cretan tea (Origanum dictamnus L.) as a functional beverage: an investigation on antiglycative and carbonyl trapping activities

Chemical characterization of dittany infusion and its inhibitory effects on AGEs formation at different stages of the glycation reaction were investigated.

Profiling polyphenol composition by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and the antibacterial activity of infusion preparations obtained from four medicinal plants

Infusions ofT. pallescens,P. verticillataandL. guyonianumare a source of bioactive compounds.

Quality evaluation of Guan-Xin-Ning injection based on fingerprint analysis and simultaneous separation and determination of seven bioactive constituents by capillary electrophoresis

The purpose of this study was to develop a comprehensive, rapid and practical capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for quality control (QC) of Guan-Xin-Ning (GXN) injection based on fingerprint analysis and simultaneous separation and determination of seven constituents. In fingerprint analysis, a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with a running buffer of 30 mM borate solution (pH 9.3) was established. Meanwhile, ten batches of samples were used to establish the fingerprint electropherogram and 34 common peaks were obtained within 20 min. The RSD of relative migration times (RMT) and relative peak areas (RPA) were less than 5%. In order to further evaluate the quality of GXN injection, a micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for simultaneous separation and determination of bioactive constituents. Seven components reached baseline separation with a running buffer containing 35 mM SDS and 45 mM borate solution (pH 9.3). A good linearity was obtained with correlation coefficients from 0.9906 to 0.9997. The LOD and LOQ ranged from 0.12 to 1.50 μg/mL and from 0.40 to 4.90 μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries ranged between 99.0 and 104.4%. Therefore, it was concluded that the proposed method can be used for full-scale quality analysis of GXN injection.

Quality Evaluation and Chemical Markers Screening of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen) Based on HPLC Fingerprints and HPLC-MSn Coupled with Chemometrics

Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., is a widely used commercially available herbal drug, and unstable quality of different samples is a current issue. This study focused on a comprehensive and systematic method combining fingerprints and chemical identification with chemometrics for discrimination and quality assessment of Danshen samples. Twenty-five samples were analyzed by HPLC-PAD and HPLC-MSⁿ. Forty-nine components were identified and characteristic fragmentation regularities were summarized for further interpretation of bioactive components. Chemometric analysis was employed to differentiate samples and clarify the quality differences of Danshen including hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Consistent results were that the samples were divided into three categories which reflected the difference in quality of Danshen samples. By analyzing the reasons for sample classification, it was revealed that the processing method had a more obvious impact on sample classification than the geographical origin, it induced the different content of bioactive compounds and finally lead to different qualities. Cryptotanshinone, trijuganone B, and 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I were screened out as markers to distinguish samples by different processing methods. The developed strategy could provide a reference for evaluation and discrimination of other traditional herbal medicines.

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technology in the analysis of Chinese Medicine Formulas: A bibliometric analysis (1997-2015)

There is a recognized challenge in analyzing traditional Chinese medicine formulas because of their complex chemical compositions. The application of modern analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry has improved the characterization of various compounds from traditional Chinese medicine formulas significantly. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to recognize the overall trend of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry approaches in the analysis of traditional Chinese medicine formulas, its significance and possible underlying interactions between individual herbs in these formulas. Electronic databases were searched systematically, and the identified studies were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Access 2010, Graph Pad 5.0 software and Ucinet software package. 338 publications between 1997 and 2015 were identified, and analyzed in terms of annual growth and accumulated publications, top journals, forms of traditional Chinese medicine preparations and highly studied formulas and single herbs, as well as social network analysis of single herbs. There is a significant increase trend in using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry related techniques in analysis of commonly used forms of traditional Chinese medicine formulas in the last 3 years. Stringent quality control is of great significance for the modernization and globalization of traditional Chinese medicine, and this bibliometric analysis provided the first and comprehensive summary within this field.

Melissa officinalis L. decoctions as functional beverages: a bioactive approach and chemical characterization

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is a member of the Lamiaceae family with a long story of human consumption. It has been consumed for decades, directly in food and as a decoction or an infusion for its medicinal purposes. In this manuscript, a detailed chemical characterization of the decoction of this plant is described, encompassing antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumor activities. Rosmarinic acid and lithospermic acid A were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Quinic acid, fructose, glucose and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant within their groups of molecules. M. officinalis decoctions were active against a wide range of microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium, and Penicillium funiculosum being the most sensitive bacteria and fungi, respectively. The growth inhibition of different human tumor cell lines (mainly MCF-7 and HepG2) was also observed, as also high free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. This manuscript highlights some beneficial effects of these functional beverages.

Rosemary extracts in functional foods: extraction, chemical characterization and incorporation of free and microencapsulated forms in cottage cheese

Consumers search for food with functional characteristics beyond its nutritional properties. Thus, the concept of functional food has become a hot topic, allowing us to obtain additional health benefits, including disease prevention. In this context, plants are recognized as sources of a wide range of bioactives, including phenolic compounds. Herein, rosemary aqueous extract was used as a functional ingredient for cottage cheese, after proving that it possesses both higher content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, comparatively with the corresponding hydroethanolic extract. However, a decrease of bioactivity was observed for the cheese samples enriched with the extracts in free form after seven days under storage. Therefore, in order to preserve the antioxidant activity, the rosemary aqueous extract was efficiently microencapsulated by using an atomization/coagulation technique. Overall, the introduction of both free and microencapsulated extracts provided bioactivity that was better preserved with microencapsulated extracts without changing the nutritional value of cottage cheese.

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of two aromatic plants: Calendula officinalis L. (flowers) and Mentha cervina L. (leaves)

The chemical composition and bioactive properties of two plants (Calendula officinalis L. and Mentha cervina L.) were studied. Their nutritional value revealed a high content of carbohydrates and low fat levels, and very similar energy values. However, they presented different profiles in phenolic compounds and fatty acids; C. officinalis presented mainly glycosylated flavonols and saturated fatty acids, while M. cervina presented mainly caffeoyl derivatives and polyunsaturated fatty acids. M. cervina showed the highest concentration of phenolic compounds while C. officinalis presented higher amounts of sugars, organic acids and tocopherols. The highest antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were obtained for the hydromethanolic extract of M. cervina, which presented the lowest values of EC50 and exhibited cytotoxicity against the four tumor cell lines tested. Infusions showed no cytotoxicity for the tumor cell lines, and none of the extracts showed toxicity against non-tumor cells. This study contributes to expand the knowledge on both natural sources and therefore their use.

Basil as functional and preserving ingredient in "Serra da Estrela" cheese

Antitumor, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of basil were studied, along with its characterization in phenolic compounds, organic acids and soluble sugars. The results placed basil as a valuable candidate for functionalization and conservation of food products, maintaining their nutritional properties, while increasing their shelf life and potential health effects. The basil leaves were then incorporated in "Serra da Estrela Cheese", either in its dehydrated form or as a decoction. The cheeses were then subject to a nutritional evaluation, being characterized for their fatty acids, minerals and CIE color parameters. To assess the combined effects of plant incorporation and storage time, a 2-way ANOVA was used to process the results, further analysed through a linear discriminant analysis. Overall, basil leaves provided antioxidant activity to the cheeses, reduced the moisture, and preserved the unsaturated fatty acids and proteins. Comparing both incorporation types, the decoctions had a higher functionalizing and conservative effect.

Simultaneous determination of 14 constituents of Radix polygoni multiflori from different geographical areas by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Radix polygoni multiflori (RPM) has antioxidative, anti-aging, liver-protective and antihuman cytomegalovirus activity. It has been proved to be hepatotoxic. Considering multiple ingredients to control RPM quality is essential. The aim of this study was to establish a simple, rapid method using resolution liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadruple mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the major bioactive constituents in RPM. The method was applied to analyze 14 marker batches from manufacturers from the same province. The ultrasonic extracts of all samples were determined by LC-MS/MS, and assessed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The proposed method was applied to analyze 21 batches of samples with acceptable linearity (R(2) , 0.9930-0.9998), precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, 0.45-4.73%) repeatability (RSD, 1.14-9.41%), stability (RSD, 1.29-12.88%) and recovery (RSD, 1.80-12.15%) of the 14 compounds. Furthermore, the hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to classify 21 samples on the basis of characteristics of the 14 compound markers. The developed method was demonstrated to be simple, sensitive and reproducible, and has significant importance and comprehensive evaluation for quality control of RPM and related preparations. Hierarchical cluster analysis clearly indicated that the RPM from the same province was similar, whereas samples of RPM from different provinces were significantly different.

Influence of seasonal variation on Thymus longicaulis C. Presl chemical composition and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Thymus longicaulis C. Presl. (Lamiaceae) is a small aromatic perennial herb typical of the Illyric-Mediterranean flora, traditionally used as remedy for cold, flu, cough, nephritis and abdominal pain. In order to carry out a thorough chemical and biological screening of the plant and to explore phenophases influence on its polyphenol content, samples of the plant were collected at different phases during its life cycle (July/October 2012 and January/April 2013). Each sample, previously extracted using a hydroalcoholic solution, was phytochemically analyzed for its metabolic constitution applying LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS techniques. Although identified metabolites were differently concentrated at the various collection times, T. longicaulis leaf extracts were mainly constituted by low molecular weight phenols, and flavonoids. Rosmarinic acid was found as the main metabolite in Oct12 sample. Chemopreventive efficacy of the investigated extracts, by means of their anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, was assessed. To this purpose, each extract underwent an extensive screening towards five human cell lines: CCRF-CEM (leukemia); U251 (glioblastoma); MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer); HCT-116 (colon cancer) and MRC-5 (lung fibroblasts) through XTT [2,3bis(2-metoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H tetrazolium hydroxide] test. The ability of the extracts to counteract cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was also evaluated by COX-2 expression assay in human THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages. COX-2 inhibition could represent a valuable anticancer strategy as it is associated with carcinogenesis and over-expressed in a variety of human malignancies. Oct12 extract, which was particularly rich in rosmarinic acid and methylapigenin, exhibited a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effectiveness.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major constituents in traditional Chinese medicine Danmu injection using LC-ESI-MS(n) and LC-DAD

Background:

Danmu injection, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation made from Nauclea officinalis, has been commonly used for the treatment of cold, fever, swelling of throat in China. However, the chemical constituents in Danmu injection have not been clarified yet.

Objective:

a HPLC/DAD/ESI-MSⁿ method was developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the components in Danmu injection.

Materials and Methods:

The chromatographic separation was performed on a Welch Material XB-C18 (4.6mm × 250mm, 5μm) using gradient elution with acetonitrile (A) and water containing 0.1% formic acid (B) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min.

Results:

Twenty-five compounds, including phenolic acid and phenol glycoside, iridous glycoside and glycoalkaloid were identified or tentatively deduced on the base of their retention behaviors, UV absorption, MS and MSⁿ data with those elucidated references or literature. In addition, eleven compounds were simultaneously determined by HPLC–DAD, which was validated and successfully applied for determination of major components in Danmu injection.

Conclusion:

The results suggested that the established qualitative and quantitative method would be a powerful and reliable analytical tool for the characterization of multi-constituent in complex chemical system and quality control of Danmu injection.

Decoction, infusion and hydroalcoholic extract of Origanum vulgare L.: different performances regarding bioactivity and phenolic compounds

Bioactivity of oregano methanolic extracts and essential oils is well known. Nonetheless, reports using aqueous extracts are scarce, mainly decoction or infusion preparations used for therapeutic applications. Herein, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and phenolic compounds of the infusion, decoction and hydroalcoholic extract of oregano were evaluated and compared. The antioxidant activity is related with phenolic compounds, mostly flavonoids, since decoction presented the highest concentration of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds, followed by infusion and hydroalcoholic extract. The samples were effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. It is important to address that the hydroalcoholic extract showed the highest efficacy against Escherichia coli. This study demonstrates that the decoction could be used for antioxidant purposes, while the hydroalcoholic extract could be incorporated in formulations for antimicrobial features. Moreover, the use of infusion/decoction can avoid the toxic effects showed by oregano essential oil, widely reported for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.