SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF 5 SAPONINS FROM Panax Notoginseng BY PREPARATIVE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

An online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography system with enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins

In this study, an online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) system based on the combination of the enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) was achieved. Five separation columns were used for the first and second separation of target components, eighteen trap columns were used to capture the effluents from the first separation or loading the trapped sample effluents, and a two-position eight-port valve was used to switch between the first and second separations. The conditions for the first and second separation of PNS were simulated and optimized with the online prep-HPLC system. Then, the PNS were separated using optimized chromatographic conditions. Notably, 14 monomer compounds with >90% purity (11 compounds with purity >97%) were simultaneously isolated from PNS using the above self-developed device, and their chemical structures were identified. Moreover, the separation time was less than 33.0 h. After 6 repeated enrichment and purification, the weight of each compound obtained was more than 5.0 mg, with compound 2 weighing over 900 mg. In brief, the self-developed prep-HPLC system, which integrated enrichment and purification, is suitable for the efficient and systematic separation of PNS and has broad application prospects, especially for the separation of complex chemical components in natural products.

Antifatigue Effect of Panax Notoginseng Leaves Fermented With Microorganisms: In-vitro and In-vivo Evaluation

Fatigue is a common physiological phenomenon caused by many complicated factors. Excessive fatigue will lead to a series of uncomfortable reactions and damage body health. Panax notoginseng leaves (PNL) is a new resource food that good for soothing nerves, nourishing the heart, and strengthening the spleen. Microbial fermentation could increase the content of bio-ingredients and produce new active ingredients. However, the effect of fermented P. notoginseng leaves (FPNL) on antifatigue and the molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the antifatigue effect of co-fermented P. notoginseng leaves by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis in-vitro and in-vivo, and its mechanism was further elucidated. The results showed that FPNL exhibited higher saponins, organic phenolic acids content, and antioxidant activity than PNL. FPNL improved ISO-induced H9c2 myocardial cell damage by alleviating apoptosis (modulating Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression) and reducing antioxidant activity in-vitro. Moreover, in-vivo experiment showed that FPNL significantly prolonged the weight-loading swimming time of mice. After gavaged FPNL, the levels of liver glycogen (LG) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were increased in mice. In contrast, the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactate acid, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased. In summary, our results indicated that FPNL showed a good antifatigue effect in-vivo and in-vitro.

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis

Covering: 2011 to the end of 2020Panax species (Araliaceae), particularly P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng, have a long history of medicinal use because of their remarkable tonifying effects, and currently serve as crucial sources for various healthcare products, functional foods, and cosmetics, aside from their vast clinical preparations. The huge market demand on a global scale prompts the continuous prosperity in ginseng research concerning the discovery of new compounds, precise quality control, ADME (absorption/disposition/metabolism/excretion), and biosynthesis pathways. Benefitting from the ongoing rapid development of analytical technologies, e.g. multi-dimensional chromatography (MDC), personalized mass spectrometry (MS) scan strategies, and multi-omics, highly recognized progress has been made in driving ginseng analysis towards "systematicness, integrity, personalization, and intelligentization". Herein, we review the advances in the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis pathway of ginseng over the past decade (2011-2020), with 410 citations. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of new compounds isolated (saponins and polysaccharides), and the emerging novel analytical technologies and analytical strategies that favor ginseng's authentic use and global consumption. Perspectives on the challenges and future trends in ginseng analysis are also presented.

Saponin fraction from Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn as a novel cosmetic additive: Extraction, biological evaluation, analysis of anti-acne mechanism and toxicity prediction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. (S. mukorossi), known as 'mu huan zi' in Chinese folklore, belongs to the family Sapindaceae and it has been traditionally used for treating coughing and excessive salivation, removing freckle, whitening skin, etc. Evidence-based medicine also verified the antimicrobial, anti-tyrosinase and anti-acne activity of S. mukorossi extract, suggesting that it has the potential to be a pharmaceutical and cosmetic additive.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was intended to evaluate the freckle-removing and skin-whitening activities of S. mukorossi extracts, and further analyzing the potential anti-acne mechanism.

METHODS

Saponin fractions were purified by using the semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and their antibacterial activity was detected against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which was the leading cause of inflamed lesions in acne vulgaris. The anti-lipase and anti-tyrosinase activities were assayed using a commercial kit, while the potential anti-acne mechanism was predicted on the basis of the network pharmacology. Active components of saponin fraction were identified by HPLC-MS analysis. Furthermore, the different toxicity level of compounds was predicted according to the quantitative structure-activity relationship, and the first application of crude extract and saponin fraction to facial masks was analyzed based on the comprehensive evaluation method.

RESULTS

The saponin fraction (F4) purified from the fermentation liquid-based water extract (SWF) showed the best antibacterial activity against P. acnes ATCC 6919 with the MIC of 0.06 mg/mL, which was 33-fold of its parent SWF (with the MIC of 2.0 mg/mL). Compared with SWF, the application of F4 caused greater inhibition rates on lipase and tyrosinase. Chemical constituents of F4 were evaluated, from which four oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins were detected to contribute to the above biological activities of F4. The mechanism of the four compounds on anti-acne was predicted, and seven targets such as PTGS2 and F2RL1 were obtained to be important for the treatment of acne. The four compounds were also predicted to have different levels of toxicity to various species, and they were not harmful to rats. Besides, F4 and SWF were applied to facial masks and there was no significant influence on the physicochemical properties including pH, stability, and sensory characteristics.

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrated that oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins were speculated to contribute to the skin-whitening, freckle-removing, and anti-acne activities of F4. These findings will facilitate the development of the S. mukorossi extract and the allied products as the new and natural anti-acne agent and cosmetic additives.

The Application of Simulated Moving-Bed Chromatography for the Separation of Ginsenosides in Sanchi Ginseng and American Ginseng

In this study, the separation of ginsenosides from the crude extract of Sanchi ginseng and American ginseng, obtained by aqueous ethanol extraction, was conducted in a simulated moving bed (SMB) with cleaning in place (CIP) design. Concentrated products with 86.2%, w/w, and 91.5%, w/w, of ginsenosides were obtained by the utilization of CIP-SMB for Sanchi and American ginseng, respectively. This study reveals that CIP-SMB could enrich ginsenosides by removing the retained impurities, which were initially extracted by aqueous ethanol and not removed by either the antisolvent precipitation for Sanchi ginseng or the ethyl acetate extraction for American ginseng. Although the ginsenosides in both ginsengs are similar, the difficulty in applying chromatography to the crude extract differs. A natural crude extract normally contains compounds with significant difference in retention. A traditional SMB with 4 sections will be, consequently, unable to continuously separate the natural products. This study develops methods for pretreating the crude extract and demonstrates the feasibility of continuously separating ginsenosides by using SMB. SMB is an effective technology for large-scale chromatography and can generally resolve solvent and energy consumption problems. This is expected to promote the industrial use of SMB for the production of concentrated ginsenosides as active pharmaceutical ingredients.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol Saponins Mainly Contribute to the Anti-Atherogenic Effects of Panax notoginseng in ApoE Deficient Mice

Atherosclerosis mainly contributes to cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are proved to therapeutically attenuate the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. According to different sapogenin, PNS are generally classified into 20(S)-protopanaxadiol saponins (PDS) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol saponins (PTS). It was reported that PDS and PTS might exert diverse or even antagonistic bioactivities. In this study, the probable effects of PTS and PDS on atherosclerotic development were investigated and compared in ApoE-deficient mice (ApoE^-/-). Male mice were gavaged daily by PNS (200 mg/kg/d), PTS (100 mg/kg/d), or PDS (100 mg/kg/d), respectively for eight weeks. The treatments of PNS and PDS, but not PTS, showed decreased atherosclerotic lesions in the entire aorta by 45.6% and 41.3%, respectively, as evaluated by an en-face method. Both PNS and PDS can improve the plaque vulnerability, as evidenced by the increased collagen fiber, increased expression of α- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and decreased Cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14). Additionally, PDS also inhibit the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated vascular inflammation in the aorta. In conclusion, PDS, but not PTS, might mainly contribute to the anti-atherosclerosis of P. notoginseng.

Analytical methods and biological activities of Panax notoginseng saponins: Recent trends

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, also called Sanqi, is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, which has long history used as herbal medicines. It is currently an important medicinal material in China, holding the first place in the sale volume of the whole patent medicines market in China, and the market size of the single species has exceeded 10 billion yuan. In addition, P. notoginseng is an important constituent part of many famous Chinese patent medicines, such as Compound Danshen Dripping Pills and Yunnan Baiyao. P. notoginseng saponins (PNSs), which are the major active components of P. notoginseng, are a kind of chemical mixture containing different dammarane-type saponins. Many studies show that PNSs have been extensively used in medical research or applications, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, acute lung injury, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, various PNS preparations, such as injections and capsules, have been made commercially available and are widely applied in clinical practice.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Since the safety and efficacy of compounds are related to their qualitative and quantitative analyses, this review briefly summarizes the analytic approaches for PNSs and their biological effects developed in the last decade.

METHODOLOGY

This review conducted a systematic search in electronic databases, such as Pubmed, Google Scholar, SciFinder, ISI Web of Science, and CNKI, since 2009. The information provided in this review is based on peer-reviewed papers and patents in either English or Chinese.

RESULTS

At present, the chromatographic technique remains the most extensively used approach for the identification or quantitation of PNSs, coupled with different detectors, among which the difference mainly lies in their sensitivity and specificity for analyzing various compounds. It is well-known that PNSs have traditionally strong activity on cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, or brain injury. The recent studies showed that PNSs also responded to osteoporosis, cancers, diabetes, and drug toxicity. However, some other studies also showed that some PNSs injections and special PNS components might lead to some biological toxicity under certain dosages.

CONCLUSION

This review may be used as a basis for further research in the field of quantitative and qualitative analyses, and is expected to provide updated and valuable insights into the potential medicinal applications of PNSs.

Techniques for extraction and isolation of natural products: a comprehensive review

Natural medicines were the only option for the prevention and treatment of human diseases for thousands of years. Natural products are important sources for drug development. The amounts of bioactive natural products in natural medicines are always fairly low. Today, it is very crucial to develop effective and selective methods for the extraction and isolation of those bioactive natural products. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive view of a variety of methods used in the extraction and isolation of natural products. This paper also presents the advantage, disadvantage and practical examples of conventional and modern techniques involved in natural products research.

A Novel Strategy for Quantitative Analysis of Major Ginsenosides in Panacis Japonici Rhizoma with a Standardized Reference Fraction

Panacis Japonici Rhizoma (Zhu-Jie-Shen in Chinese), the root of P. japonicus C.A. Mey., is commonly used in traditional Chinese Medicine. Saponins are the major bioactive compounds in this herb. The similarity of polarity and structure of the natural products in herb caused the difficulty of purification and resulted in the shortage and high cost of the reference compounds, which has greatly hindered efforts toward quantification in quality control. A novel strategy using a standardized reference fraction for qualification of the major saponins in Panacis Japonici Rhizoma was proposed to easily and effectively control the quality of PJR. The strategy is feasible and reliable, and the methodology of the developed approach is also validated. The standardized reference fraction was used for quantification, which might solve the shortage of the pure reference compounds in the quality control of herbal medicines.

Chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester induces G1 cell cycle arrest, triggers apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Panacis Japonici Rhizoma (PJR) is one of the most famous Chinese medical herbs that is known for exhibiting potential anti-cancer effects.

PURPOSE

This study aims to isolate and investigate the anti-cancer potential of saponins from PJR in ovarian cancer cells.

METHODS

The compounds were separated by comprehensive chromatographic methods. By comparison of the 1H- and 13C NMR data, as well as the HR-ESI-MS data, with the corresponding references, the structures of compounds were determined. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell viability, along with flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis. JC-1 staining, Annexin V-PI double staining as well as Hoechst 33; 342 staining were used for detecting cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the relative protein level. Transwell assays were performed to investigate the effect of the saponin on cell migration and invasion and zymography experiments were used to detect the enzymatic activities.

RESULTS

Eleven saponins were isolated from PJR and their anti-proliferative effects were evaluated in human ovarian cancer cells. Chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester (1) exhibited the highest anti-proliferative potential among these isolates with the IC50 values at less than 10 µM in both ovarian cancer A2780 and HEY cell lines. Compound 1 induced G1 cell cycle arrest accompanied with an S phase decrease, and down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1, CDK2, and CDK6. Further study showed that compound 1 effectively decreased the cell mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the annexin V positive cells and nuclear chromatin condensation, as well as enhanced the expression of cleaved PARP, Bax and cleaved-caspase 3 while decreasing that of Bcl-2. Moreover, compound 1 suppressed the migration and invasion of HEY and A2780 cells, down-regulated the expression of Cdc42, Rac, RohA, MMP2 and MMP9, and decreased the enzymatic activities of MMP2 and MMP9.

CONCLUSION

These results provide a comprehensive evaluation of compound 1 as a potential agent for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Chromatographic elution process design space development for the purification of saponins in Panax notoginseng extract using a probability-based approach

A Monte Carlo method was used to develop the design space of a chromatographic elution process for the purification of saponins in Panax notoginseng extract. During this process, saponin recovery ratios, saponin purity, and elution productivity are determined as process critical quality attributes, and ethanol concentration, elution rate, and elution volume are identified as critical process parameters. Quadratic equations between process critical quality attributes and critical process parameters were established using response surface methodology. Then probability-based design space was computed by calculating the prediction errors using Monte Carlo simulations. The influences of calculation parameters on computation results were investigated. The optimized calculation condition was as follows: calculation step length of 0.02, simulation times of 10 000, and a significance level value of 0.15 for adding or removing terms in a stepwise regression. Recommended normal operation region is located in ethanol concentration of 65.0-70.0%, elution rate of 1.7-2.0 bed volumes (BV)/h and elution volume of 3.0-3.6 BV. Verification experiments were carried out and the experimental values were in a good agreement with the predicted values. The application of present method is promising to develop a probability-based design space for other botanical drug manufacturing process.

A novel 12, 23-epoxy dammarane saponin from Panax notoginseng

The present study investigated the chemical constituents of the roots and rhizomes of Panax notoginseng. Compounds were isolated by various column chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated by the extensive analysis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidences. A novel 12, 23-epoxy dammarane-type saponin, named epoxynotoginsenoside A (1), together with four known compounds (2-5), was isolated and characterized.