Evaluating quality consistency of Mingmu Dihuang Pill by 3 kinds of quantum fingerprint combined with anti-oxidation profiling

A new method to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Tianma Toutong tablets by multiple fingerprints combined with quantitative analysis and prescription analysis

Tianma Toutong Tablets (TMTTTs) are composed of six traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), and there is currently no comprehensive method to evaluate the quality of TMTTT. To ensure its quality, it is necessary to propose methods for evaluation and control. To address the issue, we established an HPLC and electrochemical fingerprint of TMTTT and quantify eight components-Gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, chlorogenic acid, parishin A, ferulic acid, hesperidin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin. We used the Sub-quantified profiling method (SQPM) to calculate the actual contribution value of each individual herb and evaluated and predicted the quality of the compound medication. In addition, electrochemical fingerprinting (ECFP) was established using a Belousov-Zhabotinsky (B-Z) oscillation system in which six characteristic electrochemical parameters were recorded to compare the differences between batches. Finally, a compound synthesizing fingerprint (CSF) of TMTTT was developed by fitting the compounds of the six herbs, the contribution of individual herbs to the prescription was evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to downscale the data of different fingerprint profiles to assist the analysis process. The rational combination of multidimensional fingerprinting and PCA provided a comprehensive and reliable method for the evaluation of TMTTT and other TCM compound preparations, SQPM could effectively link single herbs to compound preparations, avoiding the use of non-compliant TCMs at source and improving the quality of compound preparations.

Quality Consistency Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicines: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Quality consistency evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is a crucial factor that determines the safe and effective application in clinical settings. However, TCMs exhibit diverse, heterogeneous, complex, and flexible chemical compositions, as well as variability in preparation processes. These characteristics pose greater challenges in researching the consistency of TCMs compared to chemically synthesized and biological drugs. Therefore, it is paramount to develop effective strategies for evaluating the quality consistency of TCMs. From the starting point of quality properties, this review explores the strategy used to evaluate quality consistency in terms of chemistry-based strategy (chemical consistency) and the biology-based strategy (bioequivalence). Among them, the chemistry-based strategy is the mainstream, and biology-based strategy complements the chemistry-based strategy each other. Furthermore, the emerging chemistry-biology strategies (overall evaluation) is discussed, including individually combining strategy and integration strategy. Finally, this review provides insights into the challenges and future perspectives in this field. By highlighting current status and trends in TCMs quality consistency, this review aims to contribute to establishment of generally applicable chemistry-biology integrated evaluation strategy for TCMs. This will facilitate the advancement toward a higher stage of overall quality evaluation.

Evaluating quality consistency of cigarette by 3 kinds of quantum fingerprints

Cigarette has a history of more than 40 years and once sold well all over the country. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the quality consistency of 30 batches of cigarettes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra and terahertz time-domain spectra of 30 batches of cigarettes were collected. In this paper, a new quality evaluation method was explored, the obtained fingerprints were quantized, the t-test was used to analyze the correlation between the original fingerprint and the quantum fingerprint. The quantized fingerprints were evaluated by the systematically quantitative fingerprint method (SQFM), the macro qualitative similarity and the macro quantitative similarity were used to reflect the internal differences of the samples. Finally, the antioxidant activities of 30 batches of samples were investigated, and the correlation between quantum fingerprints and IC₅₀ values were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient (r).The result shows that there was no significant difference between the quantum fingerprint and the original fingerprint; SQFM can effectively calculate the similarity of sample curves and classify samples into different grades; the FT-IR fingerprints had a good correlation with the IC₅₀ value. 30 samples performed a good quality consistency within an acceptable grades range. In addition, quantum fingerprints have broad application prospects in spectral analysis.

Identification of Potential Molecular Targets and Active Ingredients of Mingmu Dihuang Pill for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective. Mingmu Dihuang Pill (MMDHP) is a traditional Chinese formula that has shown remarkable improvements of dry eyes, tearing, and blurry vision; however, the mechanisms underlying MMDHP treatment for diabetic retinopathy have not been fully understood. This study is aimed at identifying the molecular targets and active ingredients of MMDHP for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy based on network pharmacology. Methods. All active ingredients of MMDHP were retrieved from TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases, and the targets of active ingredients of MMDHP were predicted on the SwissTargetPrediction website. Diabetic retinopathy-related target sets were retrieved from GeneCards and OMIM databases, and the intersecting targets between targets of active ingredients of MMDHP and potential therapeutic targets of diabetic retinopathy were collected to generate the traditional Chinese medicine-ingredient-target-diabetic retinopathy network and to create the protein-protein interaction network. In addition, GO terms and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to identify the potential pathways, and molecular docking was employed to verify the binding of active ingredients of MMDHP to key targets of diabetic retinopathy. Results. Network pharmacology predicted 183 active ingredients and 904 targets from MMDHP, and 203 targets were intersected with the therapeutic targets of diabetic retinopathy. The top 10 hub targets included PIK3RA, TP53, SRC, JUN, HRAS, AKT1, VEGFA, EGFR, ESR1, and PI3KCA. GO terms and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses identified AGE-RAGE, PI3K-AKT, and Rap1 signaling pathways as major pathways involved in MMDHP treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Molecular docking confirmed a good binding affinity of active ingredients of MMDHP, including luteolin, acacetin, naringenin, and alisol B, with AKT1, SRC, and VEGFA as the three key targets of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion. MMDHP may be effective for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy through active ingredients luteolin, acacetin, naringenin, and alisol B via AKT1, SRC, and VEGFA in AGE-RAGE, PI3K-AKT, and Rap1 signaling pathways.

A trinity fingerprint evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine

This study focused on developing a set of quality evaluation methods that can reflect the multi-levels and multi-characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Taking licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) as the method development sample, the feasibility of multi-markers assay by monolinear method (MAML) was explored through the standard curve relationship among active components for the first time. Using glycyrrhizic acid as measurement marker, MAML can simultaneously quantify five components of licorice, including isoliquiritigenin, isoliquiritin apioside, liquiritigenin, liquiritin and liquiritin apioside. Comparing MAML and quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) to the external standard method (ESM) respectively, it was found that there was no significant difference in the content of components that were calculated by MAML and ESM (the relative error (RE) was generally less than 2.00%). However, the RE of the component content calculated by QAMS fluctuated greatly, indicating that the MAML was more accurate than QAMS. In addition, UV and THz quantum fingerprints were initiated by the interval erasure method. Taking the systematically quantified fingerprint method as the core, a "Trinity" fingerprint quality evaluation system based on HPLC, UV and THz was developed. The system successfully distinguished the quality differences of licorice samples from 13 producing areas and two ecological models by the comprehensive evaluation results. Simultaneously, the quality information of licorice at different technical levels was revealed. Finally, bivariate correlation analysis was used to examine the linkage between UV/HPLC and antioxidant spectrum efficacy, and the two-dimensional activity spectrum of licorice was provided. It may furnish a more thorough and objective analytical technique for licorice and even other TCMs in chemical fingerprint features, chemical bond vibration characteristics and biological activity information.

Multiple fingerprints and quantitative analysis for comprehensive quality evaluation of Citri reticulatae pericarpium within different storage years

The multi-wavelength fused HPLC fingerprint, and UV and DSC quantum fingerprints were used for quality evaluation of CRP by QRFM.