Dereplication-guided isolation of novel hepatoprotective triterpenoid saponins from Celosiae Semen by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem quadrupole–time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Response surface methodology optimization of extraction and enrichment conditions of total triterpenoid saponins from Celosiae Semen and evaluation of its lipid-lowering activity

The saponin-enriched extract from Celosiae Semen is a promising resource owing to its lipid-lowering activity. However, triterpenoid saponins are difficult to extract owing to their high molecular weight and strong water solubility. The aim of this paper was to explore an eco-friendly and effective technology of extraction and enrichment of total triterpenoid saponins to obtain high lipid-lowering fractions. Initially, Box-Behnken design experiments were employed to optimize the heat reflux extraction process on the basic of mono-factor experiments. Afterwards, the crude extract was further purified using D-101 resin, and the purification parameters were investigated based on adsorption/desorption experiments and biological activity assay. Under optimal conditions, the purity of the finally obtained total triterpenoid saponins was increased by 7.28-fold. The lipid-lowering activities of the six main triterpenoid saponins were evaluated in HepG2 cells induced by palmitic acid. The results of Oil Red O staining showed that the compounds all exhibited potential lipid-lowering activity. The structure-activity relationship analysis suggested that the oligosaccharide chain at C-28 played an essential role in their lipid-lowering activity and the substituent group at C-23 site also showed important effects. The optimal extraction and purification methods may facilitate the utilization of Celosiae Semen for the industrial production as a functional food and drug.

Acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity: An overview of the promising protective effects of natural products and herbal formulations

BACKGROUND

The liver plays an important role in regulating the metabolic processes and is the most frequently targeted organ by toxic chemicals. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known anti-allergic, anti-pyretic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which upon overdose leads to hepatotoxicity, the major adverse event of this over-the-counter drug.

PURPOSE

APAP overdose induced acute liver injury is the second most common cause that often requires liver transplantation worldwide, for which N-acetyl cysteine is the only synthetic drug clinically approved as an antidote. So, it was felt that there is a need for the novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of liver diseases with less adverse effects. This review provides detailed analysis of the different plant extracts; phytochemicals and herbal formulations for the amelioration of APAP-induced liver injury.

METHOD

The data was collected using different online resources including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer, and Web of Science using keywords given below.

RESULTS

Over the past decades various reports have revealed that plant-based approaches may be a better treatment choice for the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in pre-clinical experimental conditions. Moreover, herbal compounds provide several advantages over the synthetic drugs with fewer side effects, easy availability and less cost for the treatment of life-threatening diseases.

CONCLUSION

The current review summarizes the hepatoprotective effects and therapeutic mechanisms of various plant extracts, active phytoconstituents and herbal formulations with potential application against APAP induced hepatotoxicity as the numbers of hepatoprotective natural products are more without clinical relativity. Further, pre-clinical pharmacological research will contribute to the designing of natural products as medicines with encouraging prospects for clinical application.

Rapid Identification of Common Secondary Metabolites of Medicinal Herbs Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Evaporative Light Scattering Detector in Extracts

The discovery and identification of novel natural products of medicinal importance in the herbal medicine industry becomes a challenge. The complexity of this process can be reduced by dereplication strategies. The current study includes a method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using the evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) to identify the 12 most common secondary metabolites in plant extracts. Twelve compounds including rutin, taxifolin, quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, betulin, lupeol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol were analyzed simultaneously. The polarity of the compounds varied greatly from highly polar (flavonoids) to non-polar (triterpenes and sterols). This method was also tested for HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid could not be separated in HPLC-ELSD analysis but were differentiated using LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis due to different fragment ions. The regression values (R² > 0.996) showed good linearity in the range of 50–1000 µg/mL for all compounds. The range of LOD and LOQ values were 7.76–38.30 µg/mL and 23.52–116.06 µg/mL, respectively. %RSD and % trueness values of inter and intraday studies were mostly <10%. This method was applied on 10 species of medicinal plants. The dereplication strategy has the potential to facilitate and shorten the identification process of common secondary metabolites in complex plant extracts.

Multi-marker scans coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry strategy for global profiling combined with structure recognition of unknown trace chlorogenic acids in Lonicera Flos

Deep investigation, profiling of chemical diversity of constituent compounds and discovery of novel structures is a great challenge. A novel comprehensive and effective approach to mine trace unknown compounds combined with structure recognition in complex matrix is developed, in order to profiling potential Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) in Lonicera Flos (LFs): using multiple neutral loss/precursor ion (NL/PI) markers scans combined with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The workflow included (i) Fragmentation rules deduced by Q-orbitrap and selection of multiple NL/PI markers. (ii) Multiple NL/PI marker scans and grouping of peaks that had responses on two or more channels. (iii) Alignment of peaks in Full-MS scan and multiple NL/PI scans. (iv) The precursor ions list was introduced to mine novel CGAs according to simulated molecular formula. (v) Identification and structure recognition with the aid of HRMS. The procedure proved to be valid to screen and identify 51 CGAs from Lonicera Flos (LFs) with 16 categories, especially dihydroxyphenyl and glucoside for the first time. Its application could also be extended for global profiling of other complicated chemical systems, such as Chinese medicinal formulas.

Chemical compounds with a neuroprotective effect from the seeds of Celosia argentea L

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the common pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Antioxidant therapy has been suggested for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Compounds derived from natural sources may offer the potential for new treatment options. Semen Celosiae is a traditional Chinese edible herbal medicine with a long history in China and exhibits wide-reaching biological activities such as hepatoprotective, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, etc. In this study, nine saponins and two phenylacetonitrile glycosides were isolated from Semen Celosiae and their structures were identified using ESI-MS and NMR techniques. Among them, compounds 1 and 2 have not been previously reported. The total concentrations of the five triterpenoid saponins and the two phenylacetonitrile glycosides were 3.348 mg g^-1 and 0.187 mg g^-1, respectively, suggesting that Semen Celosiae is a novel viable source of the two kinds of compounds. These compounds were observed to significantly attenuate t-BHP-induced neuronal damage by effectively enhancing cell viability and decreasing reactive oxygen species generation and cell apoptosis rate in NSC-34 cells. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 7 reduced the ratios of cleaved caspase-3: caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-7: caspase-7 and the level of cytochrome C, while they increased the levels of SOD1 and Beclin 1. These findings suggest that compounds 1-11 are potent inhibitors of neuron injury elicited by t-BHP, possibly via inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis, and activation of autophagy; therefore they may be valuable leads for future therapeutic development.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Saponins in Panacis Japonici Rhizoma Using Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Triple Quadrupole-Time of Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Triple Quadrupole-Linear Ion Trap Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Panacis Japonici Rhizoma (PJR) contains various kinds of saponins, which possesses extensive pharmacological activities, but studies of comprehensive analysis of its saponins were limited. Thus, ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS) and ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) methods were established for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the saponins in PJR, separately. Fifty three saponins in PJR were identified by UFLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS method, 23 saponins of which were unequivocally identified by reference substances. In addition, fragmentation pathways of different types of saponins were preliminarily deduced by fragmentation behavior of 53 saponins. Furthermore, the simultaneous determination of the contents of 13 saponins in PJR samples harvested at different times were analyzed by UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS method. Furthermore, the quality of the samples was evaluated by grey relational analysis. This study might be beneficial to the quality assessment and control of PJR. Meanwhile, it might provide the basic information for confirming its optimal harvested period.

A rapid and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of celosin A in rat plasma with application to pharmacokinetic study

Celosin A (CA), a natural compound isolated from Celosia argentea L., has been shown significant hepatoprotective effect on AHNP-induced liver injury. This study described a rapid and sensitive ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) assay for determination of CA in rat plasma. Methanol-mediated precipitation was used for sample pretreatment. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a T3 column with gradient elution using water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. Determination was obtained using an electrospray ionization source in negative selected reaction monitoring mode at the transitions of m/z 793.3 → m/z 661.2 and m/z 955.6 → m/z 793.2 for CA and IS, respectively. The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.25-2500 ng/mL (r > 0.995) with a lowest limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.25 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD) were 1.65-9.84 and 2.46-13.49%, respectively, while accuracy (RR) ranged from 96.21 to 99.45%, respectively. The recovery ranged from 95.09 to 102.22% and the matrix effect from 98.29 to 100.13%. The analyte was stable under the tested storage conditions. The method has been successfully applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study in rats after a single intravenous (2 mg/kg) or oral (50 mg/kg) administration. The oral bioavailability of CA was ~1.94%; in addition, there was no difference between male and female rats. This is the first time of the use of an UHPLC-MS/MS method for determination of CA concentration in rat plasma and for evaluation of its pharmacokinetic behavior.

Celosia argentea L. (Amaranthaceae) a vasodilator species from the Brazilian Cerrado - An ethnopharmacological report

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Celosia argentea L. (Amaranthaceae), popularly known as "crista de galo", is used in folk medicine due to its diuretic and hypotensive effects. However, there are no reports in the literature regarding its pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system as well as no data proving the safety of this species.

AIM

To perform a detailed ethnopharmacological investigation of the ethanol soluble fraction from C. argentea (ESCA) using male and female Wistar rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Firstly, a morpho-anatomical characterization was performed to determine the quality control parameters for the identification of the species under investigation. Then, the ethanol extract was obtained and chemically characterized by LC-DAD-MS. Furthermore, an oral acute toxicity study was performed in female Wistar rats. Finally, the possible diuretic and hypotensive effects of three different doses of ESCA (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) were evaluated in male Wistar rats. Besides, the vasodilatory response of ESCA in mesenteric vascular beds (MVBs) and its involvement with nitric oxide/cGMP and prostaglandin/cAMP pathways as well as potassium channels were evaluated.

RESULTS

The main secondary metabolites present in ESCA were phenolic compounds, megastigmanes and triterpenoid saponins. ESCA caused no toxic effects in female rats nor increased urinary excretion in male rats after acute administration. However, ESCA significantly increased the renal elimination of potassium and chloride, especially at the end of 24 h after administration. Intermediary dose (100 mg/kg) of ESCA was able to promote significant acute hypotension and bradycardia. Moreover, its cardiovascular effects appear to be involved with the voltage-dependent K⁺ channels activation in MVBs.

CONCLUSION

This study has brought new scientific evidence of preclinical efficacy of C. argentea as a hypotensive agent in normotensive rats. Apparently, these effects are involved with the activation of the voltage-sensitive K⁺ channels contributing to the reduction of peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output.

6-Bromoindole Derivatives from the Icelandic Marine Sponge Geodia barretti: Isolation and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

An UPLC-qTOF-MS-based dereplication study led to the targeted isolation of seven bromoindole alkaloids from the sub-Arctic sponge Geodia barretti. This includes three new metabolites, namely geobarrettin A–C (1–3) and four known compounds, barettin (4), 8,9-dihydrobarettin (5), 6-bromoconicamin (6), and l-6-bromohypaphorine (7). The chemical structures of compounds 1–7 were elucidated by extensive analysis of the NMR and HRESIMS data. The absolute stereochemistry of geobarrettin A (1) was assigned by ECD analysis and Marfey’s method employing the new reagent l-N^α-(1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl)tryptophanamide (l-FDTA). The isolated compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory activity using human dendritic cells (DCs). Both 2 and 3 reduced DC secretion of IL-12p40, but 3 concomitantly increased IL-10 production. Maturing DCs treated with 2 or 3 before co-culturing with allogeneic CD4⁺ T cells decreased T cell secretion of IFN-γ, indicating a reduction in Th1 differentiation. Although barettin (4) reduced DC secretion of IL-12p40 and IL-10 (IC₅₀ values 11.8 and 21.0 μM for IL-10 and IL-12p40, respectively), maturing DCs in the presence of 4 did not affect the ability of T cells to secrete IFN-γ or IL-17, but reduced their secretion of IL-10. These results indicate that 2 and 3 may be useful for the treatment of inflammation, mainly of the Th1 type.

Dereplication-Guided Isolation of New Phenylpropanoid-Substituted Diglycosides from Cistanche salsa and Their Inhibitory Activity on NO Production in Macrophage

Dereplication allows for a rapid identification of known and unknown compounds in plant extracts. In this study, we performed liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS)- based dereplication using data from ESI⁺ QTOF-MS for the analysis of phenylpropanoid-substituted diglycosides, the major active constituents of Cistanche salsa (C. A. Mey.) Beck. Using TOF-MS alone, the substructures of these compounds could be unambiguously confirmed based on the characteristic fragmentation patterns of various product ions. HPLC-MS based profiling of C. salsa also allowed for the detection of new phenylpropanoid-substituted diglycosides from this plant. Of them, five new phenylpropanoid-substituted diglycosides, named cistansalsides A–E (5, 6, 12, 17 and 18), were isolated. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic methods including NMR and MS analysis. All the isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity against NO production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Of the tested compounds, compounds 5, 11, 13 and 18 showed moderate inhibitory activity on inducible NO synthase. Compounds 11, 13 and 18 also inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB in macrophages. None of the compounds displayed significant cytotoxicity.