Global identification of chemical constituents and rat metabolites of Si-Miao-Wan by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Chemical Characterization and Metabolic Profiling of the Compounds in the Chinese Herbal Formula Li Chang Decoction by UPLC-QTOF/MS

Background

Li Chang decoction (LCD), a Chinese medicine formula, is commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinics.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the major components in LCD and its prototype and metabolic components in rat biological samples.

Methods

The chemical constituents in LCD were identified by establishing a reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method. Afterwards, the rats were orally administered with LCD, and the biological samples (plasma, urine, and feces) were collected for further analyzing the effective compounds in the treatment of UC.

Result

A total of 104 compounds were discriminated in LCD, including 26 flavonoids, 20 organic acids, 20 saponins, 8 amino acids, 5 oligosaccharides, 5 tannins, 3 lignans, 2 alkaloids, and 15 others (nucleosides, glycosides, esters, etc.). About 50 prototype and 94 metabolic components of LCD were identified in biological samples. In total, 29 prototype components and 22 metabolic types were detected in plasma. About 27 prototypes and 96 metabolites were discriminated in urine, and 34 prototypes and 18 metabolites were identified in feces.

Conclusion

The flavonoids, organic acids, and saponins were the major compounds of LCD, and this study promotes the further pharmacokinetic and pharmacological evaluation of LCD.

Modified Si-Miao Pill for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to assess the effects and safety of modified Si-Miao pill (mSMP) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

DESIGN

A systematic literature search was carried out in eight databases from their available dates of inception to April 2020. After screening, fifteen randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects and safety of mSMP in combination with western medicine (including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)) in treating rheumatoid arthritis patients were included after screening.

RESULTS

In comparison with DMARDs, or coadministration of DMARDs and NSAIDs, mSMP in combination with western medicine significantly lowered erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mean difference (MD) = -10.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-12.19, -9.03]), C-reactive protein (MD = -6.50, 95% CI [-8.43, -4.56]), rheumatoid factors (MD = -17.31, 95% CI [-24.34, -10.27]), swollen joint count (MD = -1.63, 95% CI [-2.29, -0.97]), tender joint count (MD = -1.98, 95% CI [-2.34, -1.62]), and morning stiffness time (MD = -24.37, 95% CI [-29.41, 19.33]) and ameliorated the condition of patients (odds ratio (OR) = 3.69, 95% CI [2.64, 5.14]). Additionally, mSMP in combination with western medicine seemed safer (OR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.30, 0.81]).

CONCLUSION

The results of the meta-analysis study have shown that mSMP in combination with western medicine therapies appears to be more effective and safer than western medicine alone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis including reducing inflammatory markers and adverse events and improving symptoms. Howbeit, more high-grade, large-scale RCTs of mSMP in various countries and regions are still needed.

Phellodendri Cortex: A Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Pharmacokinetic Review

Background

Phellodendri Cortex (PC) or Huang Bai. According to the scientific database of China Plant Species and Chinese pharmacopeia 2015 edition, PC has two main species which are Phellodendron amurense Rupr (PAR) or “Guan Huang bai” in Chinese and Phellodendron chinense Schneid (PCS) or “Chuan Huang bai” in Chinese. The crude drugs of PAR and PCS are also called Phellodendri amurensis cortex (PAC) and Phellodendri chinense cortex (PCC), respectively. The medicinal part of the plant is the dried trunk bark. PC has comprehensive therapeutic effects which include anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypotensive, antiarrhythmic, antioxidant, and antipyretic agents. The exact ingredients in PC and its species are not fully summarised.

Aim of the Study

This study was designed to review and evaluate the pharmacological actions of compounds and to explore the pharmacokinetic knowledge of PC and its species and to also identify the chemical compound(s) with a potential therapeutic effect on atopic dermatitis.

Methods

“Huang Bai” and its English, botanical, and pharmaceutical names were used as keywords to perform database search in Encyclopaedia of traditional Chinese Medicines, PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and China Network Knowledge Infrastructure. The data selection criteria included all the studies that were related to the phytochemical, pharmacological, and pharmacokinetic perspectives of PC and its species or their active constituents. More importantly, the voucher number has been provided to ensure the genuine bark of PC used as the medicinal part in the studies.

Results

140 compounds were summarized from PC and its species: specifically, 18 compounds from PCC, 44 compounds from PCS, 34 compounds from PAC, and 84 compounds from PAR. Obacunone and obaculactone are probably responsible for antiatopic dermatitis effect. PC and its species possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological actions including anti-inflammatory effect, antibacterial effect, antiviral effect, antitumor effect, antigout effect, antiulcer effect, neuroprotective effect, and antiatopic dermatitis effect. PC could widely distribute in plasma, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain. Berberine may be responsible for the toxic effect on the susceptible users with hemolytic disease or in the peripartum and neonatal period.

Conclusions

The compounds of the crude bark of PC and its subspecies have showcased a wide range of pharmacological effects. Pharmacological efficacies of PC are supported by its diverse class of alkaloid, limonoid, phenolic acid, quinic acid, lignan, and flavonoid. Obacunone and obaculactone could be the bioactive compounds for atopic dermatitis management. PC and its subspecies are generally safe to use but extra care is required for certain conditions and group of people.

Multi-component profiles through the blood-brain barrier in rat after oral administration of over-the-counter drug Keke capsule by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole- time-of-flight MSE method

Keke capsule as a traditional Chinese medicine formulation is used to relieve cough, for analgesia and to reduce bronchial asthma. The multi-components are absorbed into the blood and brain after oral administration of Keke capsule, with no systematic investigation so far. A reliable and rapid UPLC-QTOF-MS^E combined with a data processing software platform was used to characterize the components of Keke capsule and simultaneously identify bioactive components in blood and brain tissues in rat after oral administration. Consequently, a total of 41 components of Keke capsule, including alkaloids, flavone, flavonols, triterpene, lignanoid, organic acids, glycosides and coumarin were identified. Twenty-one components were found in plasma, including 18 prototypes and three metabolites; 15 components were found in brain tissues, including 10 prototypes and five metabolites. Alkaloids and flavonoids in Keke capsule were the main components which were absorbed into blood. The main alkaloids of Keke capsule can pass through the blood-brain barrier and show different distribution tendencies in brain tissues. The main components of keke capsule was simultaneously analyzed by throughput analysis, and the corresponding bioactive components were examined by blood-brain barrier in the rat after oral administration of the capsule.