Analysis of quality evaluation and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus from different sources using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

INTRODUCTION

The active constituents in Aurantii Fructus sourced from different regions within Hunan Province exhibit variations, with certain samples demonstrating substandard quality.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical composition and quality of Aurantii Fructus from various sources, establish a robust methodology for quality evaluation, and determine the optimal harvesting period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The components of Aurantii Fructus were qualitatively analyzed using a non-targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to identify potential markers, enabling qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the quality and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus.

RESULTS

Overall, 155 compounds were identified in Aurantii Fructus, with Huangpi exhibiting the highest number of components. Eleven potential markers were selected to assess the quality of Aurantii Fructus. The average content of Huangpi was the highest, indicating a high level of similarity. The samples' overall scores were ordered as follows: Huangpi > Xiangcheng > Choucheng > Daidai. Anren and Changde's Huangpi exhibited high contents, being rich in chemical components, resulting in favorable scores. Similarly, Changde's Xiangcheng displayed significant medicinal value. As the harvest time was delayed, there was an increase in fruit size, accompanied by thinner peels and a continuous decrease in the contents of potential markers. The best harvest period of Aurantii Fructus was within 1 week before and after the Lesser Heat.

CONCLUSION

The present study establishes a precise and efficient method for evaluating the quality of Aurantii Fructus, thereby providing more comprehensive insights into its composition. This research lays the foundation for subsequent development and utilization of Aurantii Fructus.

Chemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bacterial community, and metabolite composition of mulberry silage ensiling with lactic acid bacteria

Mulberry has high crude protein and biologically active compounds but is difficult to be ensiled due to the lack of adequate epiphytic LAB. This study aimed to investigate the effects of inoculation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus isolated from mulberry with higher antioxidant capacity alone or in combination with Streptococcus bovis on chemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bacterial community, and metabolite composition of mulberry silage. The results showed that all inoculation groups had higher dry matter and lower pH than the control group, particularly in LP (dry matter, DM, 32.03% and pH = 4.44) and LP_PP_SB (DM, 31.68% and pH = 4.26) after 60 days of ensiling. Ammonia nitrogen (AN) content was the lowest in both LP_SB and LP_PP_SB groups, which were 1.86 g/kg FM and 1.05 g/kg FM, respectively, (P < 0.05). Only the LP_PP_SB group showed increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 1.2851 g/kg DM, P < 0.05) than the control group. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values were increased in all inoculation-treated groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH), 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and FRAP exhibited the highest levels in the LP_PP- and LP_PP_SB-treated groups. Enterobacter was dominant in both the control and SB-treated groups, and the relative abundance was 41.18% and 32.35%, respectively (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus was higher in the LP-, LP_PP-, and LP_SB-treated groups (81.84%-82.69%). Relative abundance of Pediococcus was higher in the PP-, PP_SB-, and LP_PP_SB-treated groups (74.27%-85.27%). Untargeted metabolomics analysis results showed that five flavonoids (apigenin, eriodictyol, quercetin-3-glucoside, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside)were upregulated in all inoculation groups (except for the SB-treated groups). Among them, eriodictyol was both positively correlated with ABTS and FRAP and also showed the highest relative abundance in the LP_PP- and LP_PP_SB-treated groups. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first to investigate the relationship between inoculants of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria and antioxidant capacity by 16s rRNA Illumina sequencing technology and untargeted metabolomics analysis, respectively. Consequently, inoculated L. plantarum, P. pentosaceus alone, respectively, or in combination with S. bovis increased the relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and Pediococcus and decreased the relative abundance of Enterobacter, particularly in the LP_PP_SB-treated group. In addition, inoculants could increase the relative abundance of five flavonoids (apigenin, eriodictyol, quercetin-3-glucoside, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside), especially eriodictyol to improve the antioxidant capacity of mulberry silage.

Potential herb‒drug interactions between anti-COVID-19 drugs and traditional Chinese medicine

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. Effective treatments against COVID-19 remain urgently in need although vaccination significantly reduces the incidence, hospitalization, and mortality. At present, antiviral drugs including Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid^TM), Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir have been authorized to treat COVID-19 and become more globally available. On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of epidemic diseases for a long history. Currently, various TCM formulae against COVID-19 such as Qingfei Paidu decoction, Xuanfei Baidu granule, Huashi Baidu granule, Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule, and Xuebijing injection have been widely used in clinical practice in China, which may cause potential herb-drug interactions (HDIs) in patients under treatment with antiviral drugs and affect the efficacy and safety of medicines. However, information on potential HDIs between the above anti-COVID-19 drugs and TCM formulae is lacking, and thus this work seeks to summarize and highlight potential HDIs between antiviral drugs and TCM formulae against COVID-19, and especially pharmacokinetic HDIs mediated by metabolizing enzymes and/or transporters. These well-characterized HDIs could provide useful information on clinical concomitant medicine use to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize adverse and toxic effects.

The Wu-Shi-Cha formula protects against ulcerative colitis by orchestrating immunity and microbiota homeostasis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a healthy burden worldwide due to its insidious onset and repetitive relapse, with a rather complex etiology, including inappropriate immune response, dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and unhealthy diets. The Wu-Shi-Cha (WSC) formula is a widely utilized drug to protect against gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aspired to dissect the pertinent mechanisms of the WSC to treat UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were performed to predict the targets of WSC in the context of UC and colorectal cancer. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used to construct murine models of experimental colitis, and the WSC was given to colitis mice for 14 days. Feces and colon samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and biochemical experiments, respectively.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis predicted that the WSC formula could orchestrate inflammation, infection, and tumorigenesis, and WGCNA based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed a potent anti-neoplastic effect of the WSC therapy for colorectal cancer. The WSC therapy rescued bursts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and colonic epithelial collapse in DSS-induced colitis mice. Moreover, the high dose of WSC treatment facilitated the alternative activation of peritoneal macrophages (Mφs) and these Mφs were conducive to the survival of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and the disturbed homeostasis of gut microbiota was re-established after WSC treatment, as evidenced by the decreased colonization of pathological taxa in the fecal samples.

CONCLUSION

The WSC formula suppresses inflammation and re-establishes the homeostasis of gut microbiota, thereby ameliorating colitis progression.

Aurantii Fructus Immaturus enhances natural killer cytolytic activity and anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo

Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI), extensively used in traditional herbal medicine, is known to have diverse physiological effects against various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of AFI on the immune system, especially natural killer (NK) cells, remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of AFI on NK cell activity in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Further, we verified the anticancer efficacy of AFI in a mouse lung metastasis model, underscoring the therapeutic potential of AFI in cancer therapy. Our results revealed that AFI significantly enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK cells in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by an increase in the expression of NK cell-activating receptors, especially NKp30 and NKp46. AFI treatment also increased the expression of cytolytic granules, including granzyme B and perforin. Furthermore, the expression of CD107a, a degranulation marker, was increased upon treatment with AFI. A signaling study using western blot analysis demonstrated that the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was involved in increasing the NK cell activity following AFI treatment. In the in vivo study performed in mice, oral administration of AFI markedly enhanced the cytotoxic activity of spleen mononuclear cells against YAC-1 cells, which was accompanied by NKp46 upregulation. In addition, we confirmed that cancer metastasis was inhibited in a mouse cancer metastasis model, established using the mouse melanoma B16F10 cell line, by the administration of AFI in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that AFI enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo via activation of the ERK signaling pathway and suggest that AFI could be a potential supplement for cancer immunotherapy.

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of 10 bioactive flavonoids in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi) by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry combined with chemometric methods

INTRODUCTION

Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi in Chinese) is the dried young fruit of Citrus aurantium L. (CA) and its cultivated varieties or Citrus sinensis Osbeck (CS). The content of flavonoids in different varieties of Zhishi may be significantly different. However, there is confusion about the botanical origin of Zhishi, and there is no reliable and systematic method to control Zhishi quality.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to establish an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with diode-array detection and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS) for the quantitative analysis of 10 flavonoids in Zhishi that could be used for quality control and botanical origin identification.

METHODOLOGY

A UPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS method was established for simultaneous identification and quantification of 10 flavonoids. Separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase under gradient elution. MS was performed in positive and negative ionisation modes. The flavonoids in 41 batches were isolated and quantified. Zhishi of different botanical origins were identified by chemometrics.

RESULTS

The results showed that the established method for the determination of 10 components was reliable and accurate. Chemometrics could be used to distinguish Zhishi of different botanical origins. There were significant differences in the contents of 10 flavonoids in samples of different botanical origins.

CONCLUSIONS

The quantitative analysis method in this study can be used to accurately determine the content of 10 flavonoids and provide a chemical basis for quality control and botanical origin identification of Zhishi.

LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS detection of food flavonoids: principle, methodology, and applications

Flavonoids have been attracting increasing research interest because of their multiple health promoting effects. However, many flavonoids with similar structures are present in foods, often at low concentrations, which increases the difficulty of their separation and identification. Liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) has become one of the most widely used techniques for flavonoid detection. LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS can achieve highly efficient separation by LC; it also provides structural information regarding flavonoids by Q-TOF-MS/MS. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the scientific principles and detailed methodologies (e.g., qualitative determination, quantitative determination, and data processing) of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS specifically for food flavonoids. It also discusses the recent applications of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS in determination of flavonoid types and contents in agricultural products, changes in their structures and contents during food processing, and metabolism in vivo after consumption. Moreover, it proposes necessary technological improvements and potential applications. This review would facilitate the scientific understanding of theory and technique of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS for flavonoid detection, and promote its applications in food and health industry.

Nutrients and bioactives in citrus fruits: Different citrus varieties, fruit parts, and growth stages

Citrus fruits are consumed in large quantities worldwide due to their attractive aromas and taste, as well as their high nutritional values and various health-promoting effects, which are due to their abundance of nutrients and bioactives. In addition to water, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers are important nutrients in citrus, providing them with high nutritional values. Citrus fruits are also rich in various bioactives such as flavonoids, essential oils, carotenoids, limonoids, and synephrines, which protect from various ailments, including cancer and inflammatory, digestive, and cardiovascular diseases. The composition and content of nutrients and bioactives differ significantly among citrus varieties, fruit parts, and growth stages. To better understand the nutrient and bioactive profiles of citrus fruits and provide guidance for the utilization of high-value citrus resources, this review systematically summarizes the nutrients and bioactives in citrus fruit, including their contents, structural characteristics, and potential health benefits. We also explore the composition variation in different citrus varieties, fruits parts, and growth stages, as well as their health-promoting effects and applications.

Metabolite profiling of Shuganzhi tablets in rats and pharmacokinetics study of four bioactive compounds with liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Shuganzhi Tablets (SGZT) is developed on the basis of a clinical empirical formula as a hospital preparation for the treatment of fatty liver. In this study, a rapid and highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method was established and validated for simultaneous determination of ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, notoginsenoside R1, naringin, specnuezhenide, emodin, polydatin, hesperidin and saikosaponin A in rat plasma. Multiple reaction monitoring mode played an important role in simultaneous quantitative analysis of multiple components. The analytes were separated by the action of an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) in five minutes. The validated LC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic analysis of hesperidin, emodin, polydatin and naringin of SGZT in rat plasma after administration. A UHPLC system couple with a quadrupole combined with time of flight mass spectrometer was used for qualitatively analyzing of the composition of SGZT and its metabolites in serum, urine, bile and feces of rats. The results showed that a total of 65 components were detected in rat biological samples, including 10 prototype components and 55 metabolites. It was speculated that the ingredients of SGZT experienced mainly the following reactions in rats: phase I reaction such as hydrolysis, oxidation, hydroxylation, carboxylation and dehydroxylation and phase Ⅱ reaction such as glucuronidation and sulfation. These results provide useful information for the further study of its active ingredients.

Homogenate-Ultrasound-Assisted Ionic Liquid Extraction of Total Flavonoids from Selaginella involven: Process Optimization, Composition Identification, and Antioxidant Activity

In this paper, an efficient approach to extract total flavonoids (TFs) from Selaginella involvens (Sw.) Spring using homogenate-ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid (IL) extraction (HUA-ILE) was first developed. The results indicated that EPyBF4 was selected as the suitable extractant. According to the single factor experiment and response surface methodology, the IL concentration of 0.10 mol/L, the extraction time of 160 s, the liquid/solid ratio of 13:1 mL/g, and the extraction power of 300 W were concluded as the best conditions. A yield of 8.48 ± 0.27 mg/g TF content was obtained. Compared with HUA ethanol extraction, ultrasound-assisted IL extraction, and percolation extraction, the TF content obtained by the HUA-ILE method could be increased by 2 to 4 times, and the extraction time could be reduced by 100 times. Furthermore, 16 compounds of the TF extract were finally identified through ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, among which 11 compounds were first discovered in S. involven. The contents of six biflavonoids in S. involven were determined simultaneously adopting high-performance liquid chromatography, including amentoflavone, hinokiflavone, bilobetin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and heveaflavone. The TF extract in S. involven was proved to have potent antioxidant activity through the four antioxidant experiments. In conclusion, HUA-ILE was applied for the first time to exploit a green, efficient, and novel approach to extract TFs, and the research also provided promising prospects for applications of S. involven.

The levels of bioactive ingredients in Citrus aurantium L. at different harvest periods and antioxidant effects on H2 O2 -induced RIN-m5F cells

BACKGROUND

Citrus aurantium L. (Aurantii fructus) is a multi-purpose citrus fruit with high medicinal and nutritional value, but currently there are no data that can be used to investigate the appropriate harvest time to obtain high-quality citrus bioactive ingredients from it.

RESULTS

Phytochemicals and the levels of the main bioactive ingredients were investigated by ultra high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS). The flavanone, polymethoxyflavone, coumarin, synephrine, and limonin content in the citrus fruit was analyzed at different harvest periods, and significant differences, ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 116.26 ± 40.20 g kg^-1 (DW), were shown. These compounds were present in higher amounts in June and then decreased gradually, while the biomass accumulation of most of them showed an increasing tendency around harvest time. The H₂ O₂ -induced RIN-m5F cells model was employed to evaluate their antioxidant capacity. Citrus fruit harvested from June 11 to July 7 possessed an excellent antioxidant capacity by inhibiting the intensity of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P < 0.01) and improving superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) activity (P < 0.01). The chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of citrus leaves, stems, and roots were also evaluated, and these showed great variation compared with other citrus fruits. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that harvesting time was related closely to the phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacity.

CONCLUSION

Citrus fruit can be appropriately harvested from June to early July when the levels of bioactive ingredients and antioxidant activity reach higher values. This research provides practical information for producing high-quality citrus products. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Urinary Biomarkers for Orange Juice Consumption

SCOPE

As orange juice belongs to one of the most consumed juices worldwide, a human study is performed to identify urinary biomarkers for the consumption of orange juice in order to differentiate between low, medium, and high intake.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The 32 study participants abstained from citrus fruits, juices and products thereof, except for one portion of orange juice, for eight days. Throughout the study, spot urine samples are collected and quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) regarding their content of several potential biomarkers for orange juice intake after enzymatic treatment with β-glucuronidase. Proline betaine is determined as a long-term biomarker: based on its urinary excretion, orange juice consumption is traceable for at least 72 h after intake. Naringenin and hesperetin are identified as qualitative short-term biomarkers. Synephrine sulfate also showed a fast increase and decrease in a semi-quantitative approach. In the case of phloretin, no correlation between orange juice consumption and the urinary concentration is observed.

CONCLUSION

Proline betaine is the most promising biomarker for orange juice consumption and allows to differentiate between low, medium, and high intake. Hesperetin and naringenin (as well as synephrine) are applicable as supporting biomarkers, whereas phloretin does not represent a reliable biomarker for orange juice consumption.

Network Pharmacology Analysis to Identify Phytochemicals in Traditional Chinese Medicines That May Regulate ACE2 for the Treatment of COVID-19

“Three formulas and three medicines,” which include Jinhua Qinggan granule, Lianhua Qingwen capsule/granule, Xuebijing injection, Qingfei Paidu decoction, HuaShiBaiDu formula, and XuanFeiBaiDu granule, have been proven to be effective in curbing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The aims of this study were to identify the active components of “Three formulas and three medicines” that can be used to treat COVID-19, determine their mechanism of action via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by integrating network pharmacological approaches, and confirm the most effective components for COVID-19 treatment or prevention. We investigated all the compounds present in the aforementioned herbal ingredients. Compounds that could downregulate the transcription factors (TFs) of ACE2 and upregulate miRNAs of ACE2 were screened via a network pharmacology approach. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), hsa-miR-2113, and hsa-miR-421 were found to regulate ACE2. Several compounds, such as quercetin, decreased ACE2 expression by regulating the aforementioned TFs or miRNAs. After comparison with the compounds present in Glycyrrhiza Radix et Rhizoma, quercetin, glabridin, and gallic acid present in the herbal formulas and medicines were found to alter ACE2 expression. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were used to search for possible molecular mechanisms of these compounds. In conclusion, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Quercetin, glabridin, and gallic acid, the active components of recommended TCM formulas and medicines, can inhibit COVID-19 by downregulating ACE2.

Evaluation of Anti-Tumorigenic Effects of Diosmetin against Human Colon Cancer Xenografts in Athymic Nude Mice

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world. Diosmetin (Dis), a natural O-methylated flavone, has been reported to have anti-cancer effects against different types of cancer. Although the mechanisms of action of Dis against several cancer cell lines are well reported, in vivo anti-tumorigenesis properties of this compound are still obscure. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-tumorigenesis properties of Dis against HCT-116 colon cancer xenografts in nude mice. HCT-116 colon cancer cells were injected in NCr nu/nu nude mice and treatment with Dis was initiated after the tumor volumes reached 100 mm³ and continued for four weeks. On the sacrificing date nude mice treated with 100 mg/kg of Dis showed significant lower tumor volume (264 ± 238.3 mm³) as compared to the untreated group (1428.8 ± 459.6 mm³). Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was significantly downregulated, while apoptotic protein (Bax) was significantly overexpressed in nude mice treated with 100 mg/kg Dis as compared to untreated mice. In conclusion, our in vivo results indicate that Dis significantly reduces tumor growth rate of HCT-116 colon cancer cells in nude mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and has no toxic effects in ICR mice up to 2000 mg/kg.

Systematically Characterizing Chemical Profile and Potential Mechanisms of Qingre Lidan Decoction Acting on Cholelithiasis by Integrating UHPLC-QTOF-MS and Network Target Analysis

Qingre Lidan Decoction (QRLDD), a classic precompounded prescription, is widely used as an effective treatment for cholelithiasis clinically. However, its chemical profile and mechanism have not been characterized and elucidated. In the present study, a rapid, sensitive, and reliable ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was established for comprehensively identifying the major constituents in QRLDD. Furthermore, a network pharmacology strategy based on the chemical profile was applied to clarify the synergetic mechanism. A total of 72 compounds containing flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acid, anthraquinones, phenethylalchohol glycosides, and other miscellaneous compounds were identified, respectively. 410 disease genes, 432 compound targets, and 71 related pathways based on cholelithiasis-related and compound-related targets databases as well as related pathways predicted by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database were achieved. Among these pathways and genes, pathway in cancer and MAPK signaling pathway may play an important role in the development of cholelithiasis. EGFR may be a crucial target in the conversion of gallstones to gallbladder carcinoma. Regulation of PRKCB/RAF1/MAP2K1/MAPK1 is associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the fingerprint coupled with network pharmacology analysis could contribute to simplifying the complex system and providing directions for further research of QRLDD.

Multiresponse Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction for Aurantii Fructus to Obtain High Yield of Antioxidant Flavonoids Using a Response Surface Methodology

Aurantii fructus (zhiqiao, ZQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and raw material of TCM healthcare food (TCM-HF), mainly focused on the regulation of gastrointestinal disorders and the abundant application of antioxidants. Pharmacological investigations of ZQ flavonoids have identified them as the main bioactive components in recent years, but little has been reported on the extraction processes of antioxidant flavonoids (AFs). The aim of this study was to establish an efficient ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method for the extraction of AFs from ZQ using a response surface methodology (RSM), analyze the composition of AFs, and develop a qualitative evaluation method for ZQ. Flavonoid yield and antioxidant ability were selected as the responses to optimize the extraction of AFs, and the multiple effects of independent variables were investigated. The optimized conditions for the extraction of AFs based on the Box-Behnken design (BBD) were as follows: ethanol concentration, 58%; extraction temperature, 70 °C; and extraction time, 17 min. The flavonoid yield and antioxidant activity reached 241.70 mg/g and 59.42%, respectively, which matched the predicted values. Furthermore, optimized UAE processes were first established for the efficient and fast extraction of AFs. Flavanones and polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) were identified as potential AFs using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, the quality of ZQ was evaluated using the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) method for the first time, and Yuanjiang ZQ was considered as an excellent raw material of TCM-HF.

Rapid discrimination and quantification of isomeric flavonoid-O-diglycosides in Citrus paradisi cv. changshanhuyou by online extraction-quadrupole time-of flight tandem mass spectrometry

Rapid differentiation, characterization and quantification of isomers from complex mixtures by direct mass spectrometry (MS) remained an analytical challenge due to their similar or identical MS/MS spectra and matrix interferences. Here, we reported a novel online extraction-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (OLE-QTOF-MS/MS) system to rapid, efficient and sensitive analysis of interglycosidic linkage isomers (hesperidin and neohesperidin) in Citrus paradisi cv. Changshanhuyou (Changshanhuyou). OLE system packed with solid Changshanhuyou (0.02 mg) could be firstly used to online remove interferences with large polarities, and then online extract and enrich hesperidin and neohesperidin, which shows great potential to diminish the analysis time of sample pretreatment, as well as to reduce matrix effects and instrument consumption. Detailed fragmentation analysis found that, under positive ion mode, relative abundance of specific fragment ions m/z 449 to m/z 303 showed linear correlation to the mass content of hesperidin (0% to 100%) with good correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9958). Utilizing this method, the mass ratio of hesperidin to neohesperidin in Changshanhuyou was relatively quantified as 3.7:96.3 with RSD at 2.9%. Finally, using internal standard method, the absolute quantitative analysis was performed with acceptable reproducibility (RSD 1.3 and 4.5% for intra- and inter-day variations) and recoveries (from 95.9% to 108.9%), acceptable limit of detection (0.33 ng). In general, OLE-QTOF-MS/MS represented a promising and practical method for simple, rapid and effective analysis of isomeric compounds in complex matrices.

Identification of active compound combination contributing to anti-inflammatory activity of Xiao-Cheng-Qi Decoction via human intestinal bacterial metabolism

Human intestinal bacteria play an important role in the metabolism of herbal medicines, leading to the variations in their pharmacological profile. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolism of Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction (XCQD) by human intestinal bacteria and to discover active component combination (ACC) contributing to the anti-inflammatory activity of XCQD. The water extract of XCQD was anaerobically incubated with human intestinal bacteria suspensions for 48 h at 37 °C. A liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS) method was performed for identification of the metabolites. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of XCQD and biotransformed XCQD (XCQD-BT) were evaluated in vitro with cytokines in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 51 compounds were identified in XCQD and XCQD-BT. Among them, 20 metabolites were proven to be transformed by human intestinal bacteria. Significantly, a combination of 14 compounds was identified as ACC from XCQD-BT, which was as effective as XCQD in cell models of inflammation. In conclusion, this study provided an applicable method, based on intestinal bacterial metabolism, for identifying combinatory compounds responsible for a certain pharmacological activity of herbal medicines.

Chemical Profiles and Simultaneous Quantification of Aurantii fructus by Use of HPLC-Q-TOF-MS Combined with GC-MS and HPLC Methods

Aurantii fructus (AF) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to improve gastrointestinal motility disorders for over a thousand years, but there is no exhaustive identification of the basic chemical components and comprehensive quality control of this herb. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to identify the basic chemical compounds, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed to determine the major biochemical markers from AF extract. There were 104 compounds belonging to eight structure types, including 13 amino acids or peptides, seven alkaloids, 18 flavanones, 14 flavones, 15 polymethoxyflavonoids, six triterpenoids, nine coumarins, and 18 volatile oils, as well as four other compounds that were systematically identified as the basic components from AF, and among them, 41 compounds were reported for the first time. Twelve bioactive ingredients were chosen as the benchmark markers to evaluate the quality of AF. The analysis was completed with a gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min within 55 min. This efficient method was validated showing good linearity, precision, stability, repeatability and recovery. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of 12 chemical markers in different samples of AF. This study could be applied to the identification of multiple bioactive substances and improve the quality control of AF.

Metabolic profile elucidation of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction in rat intestinal bacteria using high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with multiple analytical perspectives

1. Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction (ZZDHD) has been widely used for the treatment of alcoholic jaundice, alcoholic liver disease, and acute hepatitis in China for thousands of years. Conventionally decoctions are administered orally, after which the metabolism caused by the enzymes in intestinal bacteria may influence significantly on the curative effects or toxicity. 2. In this work, the comprehensive metabolic process of ZZDHD in intestinal bacteria was investigated reliably using high-resolution HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF/MS. Besides, a novel strategy for major-to-trace metabolites identification which integrated information derived from diagnostic fragment ions, mass spectral similarity filter strategy, dynamic metabolic change of target compounds and relevant behavior in LC-MS was adopted. 3. As a result, 45 compounds, including 26 bio-converted prototypes and 19 newly generated metabolites were detected and tentatively identified. The metabolic profile of ZZDHD in gastro-intestinal was subsequently elucidated. Deglycosylation, oxidation, reduction, acetylation, and ring cleavage were all observed in the biotransformation of the decoction. Among the rest, deglycosylation was found to be the predominant metabolic pathway. 4. The results obtained herein provided a practical strategy for metabolic profile elucidation of traditional herbal medicines. Moreover, it would be helpful to unravel how the oral decoctions play the therapeutic role in vivo.