Comprehensive evaluation of NAODESHENG by combining UPLC quantitative fingerprint and antioxidant activity

Discovery of potential Q-marker of traditional Chinese medicine based on chemical profiling, chemometrics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking: Centipeda minima as an example

INTRODUCTION

The characteristics of chemical components or groups of chemical components in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) determine their clinical efficacy. Quality markers (Q-markers) is of great significance for standardizing the quality control system of TCM.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to develop a new strategy to discover potential Q-markers of TCM by integrating chemometrics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, using Centipeda minima (also known as ebushicao [EBSC]) as an example.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, fingerprints of different batches of EBSC and its counterfeit Arenaria oreophila (also known as zaozhui [ZZ]) were established. Second, chemometric analysis was conducted to determine the influence of varying authenticity/batches of herbs on quality and the chemical markers were screened out. Third, network pharmacology and molecular docking simulations were used to verify the relationship between active ingredients and targets. Lastly, potential Q-markers were selected based on TCM theory.

RESULTS

The chemical profiles of EBSC and ZZ were investigated. It was found that different batches of EBSC have differences in chemical composition. Based on our chemometric analysis, chlorogenic acid, rutin, isochlorogenic acid A, quercetin, arnicolide D, and brevilin A were selected as candidate active ingredients. ATIL6, EGFR, CASP3, MYC, HIF1A, and VEGFA were the main targets. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability. Based on the concept of Q-marker, arnicolide D and brevilin A were identified as potential Q-markers for EBSC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our strategy could be used as a practical approach to discover Q-markers of TCM to evaluate overall chemical consistency.

Quality Evaluation of Market Acacia catechu by Fingerprint-Chemical Pattern Recognition

Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd, a leguminous plant, is included in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and is mainly used to treat eczema, mouth ulcers, diarrhea, bruising, and traumatic hemorrhage. However, there are imported and domestic Acacia catechu samples available in China, and their quality and price are very different, which seriously affects the safety and stability of their clinical application. Importantly, there is no simple and effective method for identifying or classifying grades of Acacia catechu. In this study, 47 batches of commercial Acacia catechu were used for identifying or classifying grades of Acacia catechu using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with chemometric analysis. Firstly, gradient elution was adopted with 0.05% phosphoric acid water (A)-methanol (B) as the mobile phase to establish chromatographic conditions. The HPLC chromatograms of 47 batches of Acacia catechu samples were analyzed by the “Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM” software (version 2012A). The common peaks of Acacia catechu were identified to evaluate the similarity. Based on the determination results of fingerprint chromatographic peak area, the quality of the collected Acacia catechu was evaluated by chemometric methods such as CA, PCA, and OPLS-DA. The results showed that the collected Acacia catechu samples were significantly divided into three categories. The first-class samples were all imported Acacia catechu except S9 sample, which was domestic Acacia catechu; the second-class samples were partly domestic Acacia catechu and partly imported Acacia catechu; and the third-class samples were all domestic Acacia catechu. Moreover, OPLS-DA of 47 batches of samples showed that the contents of catechin and the total contents of catechin and epicatechin could be used as key indicators for assessing the quality of Acacia catechu. The developed HPLC fingerprint and quantitative analysis method of multi-indicator components can be used for classification and quality evaluation of market Acacia catechu, which has a significant reference value for developing Acacia catechu grade quality standards.

Spectrum-Effect Relationship Between Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction: An Identification Method of Active Substances With Endothelial Cell Protective Effect

Banxia Baizhu Tianma decoction (BBTD), a six-herb Chinese medicine formula first described approximately 1732 AD, is commonly prescribed for Hypertension with Phlegm-dampness Stagnation (HPDS) as an adjuvant therapy in China. Obesity is an important risk factor for the increasing prevalence of hypertension year by year in China. In Traditional Chinese medicine, obesity is often differentiated as the syndrome of excessive phlegm-dampness.Vascular endothelial cell injury plays an important role in the development and occurrence of HPDS. In this study, the protective effects of 18 batches of BBTD samples from different origins on HUVEC cells were evaluated, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to establish fingerprints, and combined with pharmacodynamic indexes, the protective components of BBTD on endothelial cells were analyzed. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by ROS and Hs-CRP models, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Bivariate correlation analysis (BCA) were used to investigate the potential correlation between chemical components and endothelial cell protection. The results indicated that BBTD could reduce ROS and hs-CRP levels in HUVEC cells, and the pharmacological activities in 18 batches of BBTD samples were significantly different. The results of BCA indicated that Gastrodin, Liquiritin, Hesperidin, Isoliquiritin, Hesperetin, and Isoliquiritigenin might be the active constituents to activate ROS and suppress hs-CRP as determined by spectrum-effect relationships. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the 6 components at different concentration were verified, and the results showed that all of them had good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in a concentration-dependent manner. This study showed that activity determination and spectral correlation can be used to search for active substances in Chinese medicine formula and provide data support for quality control of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

A multi-evaluating strategy for Weikangling capsules: Chemical profiling, fingerprinting combined with quantitative analysis, quantity transfer, and dissolution curve

Weikangling capsules (WKLCs), a Chinese patent medicine consisting of 8 Chinese drugs, have been widely used in clinic to treat gastrointestinal diseases for more than 30 years. The current "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" (2020 Edition, ChP2020) uses paeoniflorin content (≥ 1.0 mg per capsule) as the standard of quality control, but it is insufficient to evaluate the overall quality of WKLCs. An efficient and economic method for quality control is urgently needed to ensure the quality consistency and clinical effects of WKLCs. Herein, a systematic and reliable method for the rapid analysis of chemical components in WKLCs was established for the first time based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). A total of 115 components covering 7 herbs in WKLCs were preliminarily identified by comparison with standard substances or literature. To evaluate the quality of 26 batches of WKLCs, a new method of fingerprinting combined with quantitative analysis was established, and 16 common peaks were selected to establish the fingerprint similarity model (similarity>0.90). Simultaneously, the contents of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, dactylorhin A, militarine, and glycyrrhizic acid were determined to be 0.82 ± 0.22, 2.09 ± 0.24, 1.15 ± 0.40, 3.73 ± 0.76 and 0.99 ± 0.20 mg/capsule, respectively. The transfer rates and dissolution curves of the five compounds were successfully detected in WKLCs, and the average transfer rates were 67.2%, 33.0%, 68.3%, 54.7%, and 33.7%, respectively. Notably, the dissolution profiles of different manufacturers presented remarkable differences in pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution. This method not only qualitatively identified the chemical components of Chinese patent medicines at the microlevel but also evaluated the quality consistency between batches at the macrolevel, which provided a comprehensive reference for the quality consistency of Chinese patent medicines between batches.

Effects of Naodesheng tablets on amyloid beta-induced dysfunction: A traditional Chinese herbal formula with novel therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease revealed by systems pharmacology

Naodesheng (NDS) tablets have been widely used to treat ischemic stroke clinically. NDS relieves neurological function impairment and improve learning and memory in rats with focal cerebral ischemia, suggesting that NDS has potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. However, there are no studies about its effective material basis and possible mechanisms. In this study, a systems pharmacology method was applied to reveal the potential molecular mechanism of NDS in the treatment of AD. First, we obtained 360 NDS candidate constituents through ADMET filter analysis. Then, 115 AD-related targets were uncovered by pharmacophore model prediction via mapping the predicted targets against AD-related proteins. In addition, compound-target and target-function networks were established to suggest potential synergistic effects among the candidate constituents. Furthermore, potential targets regulated by NDS were integrated into AD-related pathways to demonstrate the therapeutic mechanism of NDS in AD treatment. Subsequently, a validation experiment proved the therapeutic effect of NDS on cognitive dysfunction in rats with intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ. We found that administration of NDS tablets regulates β-amyloid metabolism, improves synaptic plasticity, inhibits neuroinflammation and improves learning and memory function. In conclusion, this is the first study to provide a comprehensive systems pharmacology approach to elucidate the potential therapeutic mechanism of NDS tablets for AD treatment. We suggest that the protective effects of NDS in neurodegenerative conditions could be partly attributed to its role in improving synaptic plasticity and inhibiting neuroinflammation via NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition and cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway activation.