Characterization and determination of six flavonoids in the ethnomedicine "Dragon's Blood" by UPLC-PAD-MS

Comprehensive metabolome characterization and comparison between two sources of Dragon's blood by integrating liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and chemometrics

Dragon's Blood (DB) serves as a precious Chinese medicine facilitating blood circulation and stasis dispersion. Daemonorops draco (D. draco; Qi-Lin-Jie) and Dracaena cochinchinensis (D. cochinchinenesis; Long-Xue-Jie) are two reputable plant sources for preparing DB. This work was designed to comprehensively characterize and compare the metabolome differences between D. draco and D. cochinchinenesis, by integrating liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and untargeted metabolomics analysis. Offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography/ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D-LC/IM-QTOF-MS), by utilizing a powerful hybrid scan approach, was elaborated for multicomponent characterization. Configuration of an XBridge Amide column and an HSS T3 column in offline mode exhibited high orthogonality (A0 0.80) in separating the complex components in DB. Particularly, the hybrid high-definition MSE-high definition data-dependent acquisition (HDMSE-HDDDA) in both positive and negative ion modes was applied for data acquisition. Streamlined intelligent data processing facilitated by the UNIFI™ (Waters) bioinformatics platform and searching against an in-house chemical library (recording 223 known compounds) enabled efficient structural elucidation. We could characterize 285 components, including 143 from D. draco and 174 from D. cochinchinensis. Holistic comparison of the metabolomes among 21 batches of DB samples by the untargeted metabolomics workflows unveiled 43 significantly differential components. Separately, four and three components were considered as the marker compounds for identifying D. draco and D. cochinchinenesis, respectively. Conclusively, the chemical composition and metabolomic differences of two DB resources were investigated by a dimension-enhanced analytical approach, with the results being beneficial to quality control and the differentiated clinical application of DB.

Structural Similarities and Overlapping Activities among Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase, Flavanone 4-Reductase, and Anthocyanidin Reductase Offer Metabolic Flexibility in the Flavonoid Pathway

Flavonoids are potent antioxidants that play a role in defense against pathogens, UV-radiation, and the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and flavanone 4-reductase (FNR) reduce dihydroflavonols and flavanones, respectively, using NAD(P)H to produce flavan-(3)-4-(di)ols in flavonoid biosynthesis. Anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) reduces anthocyanidins to flavan-3-ols. In addition to their sequences, the 3D structures of recombinant DFR, FNR and ANR from sorghum and switchgrass showed a high level of similarity. The catalytic mechanism, substrate-specificity and key residues of three reductases were deduced from crystal structures, site-directed mutagenesis, molecular docking, kinetics, and thermodynamic ana-lyses. Although DFR displayed its highest activity against dihydroflavonols, it also showed activity against flavanones and anthocyanidins. It was inhibited by the flavonol quercetin and high concentrations of dihydroflavonols/flavonones. SbFNR1 and SbFNR2 did not show any activity against dihydroflavonols. However, SbFNR1 displayed activity against flavanones and ANR activity against two anthocyanidins, cyanidin and pelargonidin. Therefore, SbFNR1 and SbFNR2 could be specific ANR isozymes without delphinidin activity. Sorghum has high concentrations of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in vivo, supporting the observed high activity of SbDFR against flavonols. Mining of expression data indicated substantial induction of these three reductase genes in both switchgrass and sorghum in response to biotic stress. Key signature sequences for proper DFR/ANR classification are proposed and could form the basis for future metabolic engineering of flavonoid metabolism.

An overview of the effect of medicinal herbs on pain

This paper is typically intended to carefully collect and properly review the antinociceptive activities of medicinal plants. In this review article, by searching keywords of medicinal plants, pain, herbal medicine, antinociceptive, phytotherapy in databases of Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Springer, Wiley, Proquest, PubMed, Nature, Magiran, Emerald, SID, ISI, and some other indexing cites, or traditional books, desired articles were obtained until 2021. The title of medicinal plants was searched diligently in Persian and English. Ultimately, 270 articles were studied. The findings possibly indicated that several medicinal plants are among the most valuable plants that have antinociceptive activities. There efficiently are various antinociceptive compounds in medicinal plants. The antinociceptive activity of these specific compounds may be through their peculiar effects on the opioid system, cholinergic pathways, and stimulation of GABA receptors, with the peripheral and central antinociceptive mechanism. Antiinflammatory processes, inhibition of the synthesis, and the release of arachidonic acid, prostaglandins, phospholipase, nitric oxide, and cyclooxygenase-2 have been reported as analgesic mechanisms of some herbs. In a reasonable conclusion, our review thoughtfully provides a comprehensive summary of present data from some scientific studies on the common herbs with antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities.

Study on the Active Constituents and Molecular Mechanism of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction in the Treatment of CHD Based on UPLC-UESI-Q Exactive Focus, Gene Expression Profiling, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation

As one of the most common clinical cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in the world. It has been confirmed that Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi decoction (ZXGD), a classical prescription of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has achieved certain effects in the treatment of CHD; however, the mechanism still remains controversial. In this paper, an integrated approach, including UPLC-UESI-Q Exactive Focus, gene expression profiling, network pharmacology, and experimental validation, was introduced to systematically investigate the mechanism of ZXGD in the treatment of CHD. First, UPLC-UESI-Q Exactive Focus was applied to identify the chemical compounds of ZXGD. Then, the targets of the components for ZXGD were predicted by MedChem Studio software embed in the integrative pharmacology-based research platform of TCM, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of CHD were obtained by gene expression profiling in gene expression omnibus database. The common genes of the above two genes were obtained by Venn analysis as the targets of GXGD in treatment with CHD. Third, the core targets were screened out by protein-protein interaction network analysis, and the kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis was performed by the database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery bioinformatics resources. After that, the formula-herb-compound-target-pathway network was constructed to explore the mechanism of ZXGD in the treatment of CHD. Finally, molecular docking and the vitro experiment were carried out to validate some key targets. As a result, a total of 39 compounds, 12 core targets, and 4 pathways contributed to ZXGD for the treatment of CHD. This study preliminarily provided a foundation for the study on the mechanism against CHD for ZXGD and may be a reference for the compatibility mechanism and the extended application of TCM compound prescription.

Antioxidant Activity, Sun Protection Activity, and Phytochemical Profile of Ethanolic Extracts of Daemonorops acehensis Resin and Its Phytosomes

Daemonorops (Indonesian: jernang) resin is one of Indonesia’s leading non-timber forest products and can be developed as a source of natural antioxidants and sun protection. This study aimed to select promising solvents for extracting a Daemonorops acehensis resin and phytosome formulation with high antioxidant capacities and sun protection factor (SPF) values. Jernang resin was extracted using a water–ethanol mixture in five different ratios. The promising extract was then mixed with soy lecithin in three different formulations. A promising extract and phytosome were then selected based on their antioxidant capacities and sun protection factor (SPF) values. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis was also performed on five extracts to identify the components in the extracts that might be responsible for the biological activity. The results showed that the ethanol solvent variation and phytosome formulation influenced the antioxidant capacity and SPF value. A hundred-percent ethanolic extract and F1 phytosome exhibited the highest antioxidant capacities and SPF values. A qualitative analysis revealed the various classes of compounds in the extract and phytosome. A flavylium chromophore, dracorhodin, dominated the resin extract and was presumed to be the marker compound responsible for their antioxidant capabilities and SPF values. These findings are important for manufacturing sunscreens containing active compounds of bioactive natural resins.

Comprehensive investigation on metabolites of Panax quinquefolium L. in two main producing areas of China based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Jilin Province and Shandong Province are two main American ginseng (AG) producing areas in China. The geographical difference existed in these two provinces. Aiming at evaluating the similarities and differences of the secondary metabolites, the comprehensive metabolite profiling of AG from Jilin Province (AGJ) and Shandong Province (AGS) was performed based on UPLC-QTOF-MS for the first time. In screening analysis, a total of 111 shared compounds, with ginsenosides being major components, were identified or tentatively characterized, which indicated that AGJ and AGS were all rich in phytochemicals and contained similar structural types. Untargeted metabolomics analysis indicated that there were significant differences in the contents of certain constituents in AGJ and AGS. Nineteen (12 for AGJ, 7 for AGS) potential producing area-dependent chemical markers were discovered. Based on the contents and MS responses, ginsenoside Rg1, Re, and pseudoginsenoside F11 could be considered as the characteristical markers of AGJ, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 and Rh2 of AGS. This comprehensive phytochemical profile study could provide valuable chemical evidence for evaluating the characteristics qualities of AG from various producing areas.

Alleviation of isoprenaline hydrochloride induced myocardial ischemia injury by brucine through the inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most extensive manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD), associated with prolonged supply and demand blood oxygen imbalance to the heart muscle. The treatment of MI includes several conventional medicines which are beta-blockers and calcium antagonists. Though, these were reported to be either not efficient or associated with life threatening adverse effects. Brucine, the main alkaloid bioactive compound from Strychnos nux-vomica seeds, offers unique compatibility advantages in inflammatory diseases associated clinical practices. Thus, the present investigation was projected to explore the activity of brucine towards MI provoked by isoprenaline hydrochloride (ISO) in rats. The cardioprotective properties of brucine were evaluated via detecting the infarct size, serum cardiac marker enzymes (CK, CK-MB, cTnT, and cTnI), endogenous antioxidants (CAT, SOD, GPx), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS and LOOH), inflammatory mediators (NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-6) and histopathological analysis. The results demonstrated, brucine effectively restored the infarct size by increasing the endogenous antioxidants and decreasing the status of TBARS and LOOH, marker enzymes and ameliorated the histopathological injuries. Brucine's cardioprotective effect might be associated with TNF-α, IL-6 signaling molecules activation, revealing its pharmacological actions.

Molecular Basis of the Therapeutical Potential of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) and Clues to Its Anti-COVID-19 Utility

The current COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is enormously affecting the worldwide health and economy. In the wait for an effective global immunization, the development of a specific therapeutic protocol to treat COVID-19 patients is clearly necessary as a short-term solution of the problem. Drug repurposing and herbal medicine represent two of the most explored strategies for an anti-COVID-19 drug discovery. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) is a well-known culinary spice that has been used for centuries in folk medicine in many disorders. Interestingly, traditional medicines have used clove since ancient times to treat respiratory ailments, whilst clove ingredients show antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Other interesting features are the clove antithrombotic, immunostimulatory, and antibacterial effects. Thus, in this review, we discuss the potential role of clove in the frame of anti-COVID-19 therapy, focusing on the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic effects of clove and its molecular constituents described in the scientific literature.

Metabolite profiling and evaluation of CYP450 interaction potential of 'Trimada'- an Ayurvedic formulation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Trimada is well-known polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation used in Indian Traditional medicine since ancient times. It consisted of three inebriant herbs including "Chitraka" (Plumbago zeylanica Linn. Family- Plumabaginaceae), "Musta" (Cyperus rotundus Linn. Family- Cyperaceae) and Vidanga (Embelia ribes Burm. F. Family- Myrsinaceae) in equal ratios as mentioned in Ayurveda. Trimada is traditionally used to increase the functioning of the digestive system and metabolism. Along with these, it also assists in the reduction of cholesterol as well as reduces stomach aches and chest pain.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed to identify the metabolites present in this polyherbal formulation. Further, the cytotoxicity and interaction potential of the formulation and individual herbs with Cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP3A4, 2D6, 2C9, 1A2) was evaluated by MTT assay and CYP450 enzyme inhibition. The concentration of heavy metals was also determined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) analysis was performed to detect and identify the phytoconstituents in the formulation. Cytotoxicity of the formulation was evaluated by MTT assay. CYP450 enzyme interaction potential of the individual herbs and the Trimada formulation was carried out through CYP-CO assay and fluorometric high throughput screening (HTS) assay for individual isozymes. The content of heavy metal in the formulation was quantified by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Trimada formulation exhibited lower cytotoxicity to human liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2). CYP-CO assay revealed that the interaction potential of individual herbs and Trimada on the liver microsomes was found to be lesser than the standard inhibitor ketoconazole. Individual herbs and Trimada formulation displayed higher IC₅₀ values than the respective standard inhibitors in the fluorimetric assay. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis showed the presence of a number of active phytoconstituents including sesquiterpenes, phenolic acids, benzoquinones, triterpenes and flavonoids. The heavy metal concentration in the traditional medicinal herbal formulation was found within the approved limit.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the individual herbs and Trimada formulation exhibited low cytotoxicity and contributes insignificant interaction with CYP450 isozymes. So, the formulation is considered to be safe for its therapeutic management without any potential drug interaction involving CYP 450 isozymes.

The immunomodulatory activity of Chenopodium ambrosioides reduces the parasite burden and hepatic granulomatous inflammation in Schistosoma mansoni-infection

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Folk medicine reports have described the use of Chenopodium ambrosioides as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anthelmintic herb. These effects, including its activity against intestinal worms, are already scientifically observed. However, the immunological mechanisms of this species in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection are unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the immunological and anti-Schistosoma mansoni effects of a crude Chenopodium ambrosioides hydro-alcoholic extract (HCE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For the in vitro analysis, cercariae and adult worms were exposed to different concentrations (0 to 10,000 μg/mL) of the HCE. For the in vivo evaluation, Swiss mice were infected with 50 cercariae of S. mansoni and separated into groups according to treatment as follows: a negative control (without treatment), a positive control (treated with Praziquantel®), HCE1 Group (treated with HCE during the cutaneous phase), HCE2 Group (treated with HCE during the lung phase), HCE3 Group (treated with HCE during the young worm phase), and HCE4 Group (treated with HCE during the adult worm phase). The animals treated with HCE received daily doses of 50 mg/kg, by gavage, for seven days, corresponding to the different developmental stages of S. mansoni. For comparison, a clean control group (uninfected and untreated) was also included. All animals were euthanized 60 days post-infection to allow the following assessments to be performed: a complete blood cells count, counts of eggs in the feces and liver, the quantification of cytokines and IgE levels, histopathological evaluations of the livers, and the analysis of inflammatory mediators.

RESULTS

HCE treatment increased the mortality of cercariae and adult worms in vitro. The HCE treatment in vivo reduced the eggs in feces and liver. The number and area of liver granulomas, independent of the phase of treatment, were also reduced. The treatment with HCE reduced the percentage of circulating eosinophils, IgE, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-4. In contrast, the treatment with the HCE, dependent on the phase, increased IL-10 levels and the number of peritoneal and bone marrow cells, mainly of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. This effect could be due to secondary compounds presents in this extract, such as kaempferol, quercetin and derivatives.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that Chenopodium ambrosioides has antiparasitic and immunomodulatory activity against the different phases of schistosomiasis, reducing the granulomatous inflammatory profile caused by the infection and, consequently, improving the disease prognosis.

Fast Isolation of Flavonoids from the Endemic Species Nolana ramosissima I.M. Johnst and Its Endothelium-Independent Relaxation Effect in Rat Aorta

The infusion of the desertic plant Nolana ramosissima I.M. Johnst showed vascular smooth muscle relaxation in rat aorta and the presence of several phenolic compounds, which were detected by high resolution UHPLC-Orbitrap-HESI-MS. In addition, five flavonoids were rapidly isolated from a methanolic extract using high-performance counter-current chromatography (HPCCC). The N. ramosissima extract showed endothelium-independent relaxation effect in rat aorta. Sixty-one compounds were detected in the infusion, mainly glycosylated flavonoids, flavanones and several oxylipins, suggesting that a synergistic effect between the compounds in the extracts could be responsible for the relaxation activity. Vascular activity experiments were done in isolated organ bath. In rat aorta, a nitric oxide inhibitor did not prevent the relaxation effects of the extract; however, a selective guanylyl cyclase inhibitor partially blunted this effect. The compound 5,3′-dihydroxy-4′7-dimethoxyflavone presented higher relaxation effect than 100 μg/mL of N. ramosissima extract. The extract and the isolated metabolites from N. ramosissima can show relaxation effects on rat aorta by a mechanism that is independent of the endothelium.

Phenolic constituents, pharmacological activities, quality control, and metabolism of Dracaena species: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dragon's blood (Chinese name: Xuejie), which comprises red resins obtained from several plants (27 species from 4 families), is drawing worldwide interests in medicinal applications owing to its broad pharmacological spectrum such as promoting blood circulation, regenerating muscle, relieving swelling and pain, maintaining hemostasis, etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aims to evaluate current research progress on phenolic constituents, pharmacological activities, quality control, and metabolism of six Dracaena plants, namely, Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen, D. cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep., D. cinnabari Balf. f., D. draco (L.) L., D. loureiroi Gagnep., and D. schizantha Baker, figure out the shortcomings of existing studies, and provide meaningful guidelines for future investigations.

METHODS

Extensive database retrieval, such as SciFinder, PubMed, CNKI, ChemSpider, etc., was performed by using the keywords "Dracaena," "dragon's blood," as well as the Latin names of the six Dracaena species. In addition, relevant textbooks, patents, reviews, and documents were also employed to ensure sufficient information is collected.

RESULTS

Flavonoids and their oligomers are the primary chemical clusters distributed in Dracaena plants. Pharmacological activities including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cytotoxic effects; bi-directional regulation effects on hemorheology; and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects have been disclosed by modern pharmacological evaluations. The chemical and metabolic profiles after oral administration of dragon's blood extract were preliminarily characterized. However, some of the pharmacological investigations reported only elementary methodologies and unreliable findings, and even worse, some important aspects were questionable or missing in these articles.

CONCLUSIONS

Dragon's blood is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids and their oligomers. Its potential therapeutic effects on different diseases are attractive, such as the notable effect on cardiovascular diseases. In future studies, there is an urgent need to test the effect of this extract on appropriate cell lines and animal models to analyze its ethnopharmacological applications; moreover, "composition-effect correlation" methods and omics technologies are demanded for identifying the effective material basis and therapeutic mechanisms before entering into clinical trials. Moreover, attention should be paid to the chemical profiling and quality evaluation of this precious herbal medicine.

Quality consistency evaluation of Kudiezi Injection based on multivariate statistical analysis of the multidimensional chromatographic fingerprint

Traditional Chinese Medicine Injection (TCMI) was restricted due to the batch-to-batch variability caused by the variable compositions of botanical raw materials and complexities of the current manufacturing process. To evaluate and control the quality of Kudiezi Injection (KDZI), a comprehensive and practical method based on multidimensional chromatographic fingerprint associated with multivariate statistical analysis was proposed. The multidimensional chromatographic fingerprint was established by integrating three kinds of chromatographic fingerprints, including High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet spectrum (HPLC-UV), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) and High performance ion-exchange chromatography (HPIEC), which were used to detect flavones, nucleosides, organic acids, amino acids and saccharides in KDZI. In addition, four main multivariate statistical analyses were compared to assess the batch-to-batch consistency of samples. Results showed that the cosine method, which has been widely used in the quality evaluation of TCM, failed to distinguish the differences among batches based on neither chromatographic peaks' area nor contents information. t-test and Bayes' theorem could reveal the content difference among batches, while hierarchical clustering analysis could differentiate KDZI batches, and Luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside, Tau, Ser, guanine and allose were the main indicators. In conclusion, multidimensional chromatographic fingerprints could reflect the quality information of KDZI comprehensively and hierarchical clustering analysis was suitable to identify the differences among batches. This could provide an integrated method for consistency evaluation of TCMI, process improvement of TCMI and solving similar problems in TCMI.

Simultaneous determination of polyphenols and triterpenes in pomegranate peel based on high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint by solvent extraction and ratio blending method in tandem with wavelength switching

Traditionally, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been consumed as fresh fruit or as pomegranate juice. Pomegranate peel, the dried husk of P· granatum, is an important herbal medicine for treating diarrhea, hemostasis and insect-induced abdominal pain in China. However, the quality control methods for pomegranate peel remain unsatisfactory. In this work, a new HPLC-based qualitative and quantitative method for quality control of pomegranate peel was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of polyphenols and triterpenes (including punicalagins A and B, ellagic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) by solvent extraction and ratio blending method in tandem with wavelength switching. The average recoveries were 98.07-100.61% with relative standard deviation no more than 4.27%. In addition, the fingerprint analysis was conducted to interpret the consistency of the quality test. Thirteen characteristic peaks were selected to evaluate the similarities of 16 batches of pomegranate peel. The similarities of samples were all more than 0.80, indicating that the samples from different areas of China were consistent. The results demonstrated that quantitative analysis and the HPLC fingerprint as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation can be successfully used to assess the quality and to identify the authenticity of pomegranate peel.

Discovery of TAS2R14 Agonists from Platycodon grandiflorum Using Virtual Screening and Affinity Screening Based on a Novel TAS2R14-Functionalized HEMT Sensor Combined with UPLC-MS Analysis

TAS2R14 is of great potential as a therapeutic target against asthma, and the discovery of TAS2R14 agonists can be very valuable for treating this disease. Herein, we developed a strategy using virtual screening and affinity screening based on a fabricated biosensor combined with UPLC-MS analysis to screen TAS2R14 agonists from Platycodon grandiflorum. By ligand-based virtual screening, 16 best-fit candidates were yielded. A novel TAS2R14-functionalized high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) sensor was applied to detect and fish out the potential TAS2R14 agonists from P. grandiflorum extracts. Those components captured by the immobilized TAS2R14 were eluted and characterized on UPLC-QTOF MS. As a result, six potential TAS2R14 agonists were screened out and identified. Among them, platycodin L was confirmed to be a special agonist of TAS2R14 for the first time and had an EC₅₀ of 15.03 ± 1.15 μM via intracellular calcium mobilization assay ( n = 6). The results indicated that the proposed strategy was efficient to discover TAS2R14 agonists from the herb directly.

Bioactive compounds and health benefits of some palm species traditionally used in Africa and the Americas - A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

According to previous ethno-medicinal reviews, Cocos nucifera, Elaeis guineensis and Phoenix dactylifera are among the main palms which are often used on the American and African continents to treat infections, infestations and disorders in the digestive, respiratory, genito-urinary, dermal, endocrine, cardiovascular, muscular-skeletal, mental and neural systems, as well as neoplasms, dental issues and metabolic and nutritional disorders. In addition, one or more species of the wild genera Acrocomia, Areca, Astrocaryum, Attalea, Bactris, Borassus, Calamus, Chamaedorea, Chamaerops, Euterpe, Hyphaene, Mauritia, Oenocarpus and Syagrus have a high number of records of these ethno-medicinal uses. The most used parts of the palm tree are the fruits, followed by roots, seeds, leaves and flower sap.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review discusses the phytochemical composition and the pharmacological properties of these important ethno-medicinal palms, aiming to provide a contribution to future research prospects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Significant information was compiled from an electronic search in widely used international scientific databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, Wiley on line Library, Scielo, ACS Publications), and additional information was obtained from dissertations, theses, books and other relevant websites.

RESULTS

Palms, in general, are rich in oils, terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Fruits of many species are notable for their high content of healthy oils and fat-soluble bioactive compounds, mainly terpenoids, such as pigment carotenoids (and provitamin A), phytosterols, triterpene pentacyclics and tocols (and vitamin E), while other species stood out for their phenolic compounds derived from benzoic and cinnamic acids, along with flavan-3-ol, flavone, flavonol, and stilbene compounds or anthocyanin pigments. In addition to fruits, other parts of the plant such as seeds, leaves, palm heart, flowers and roots are also sources of many bioactive compounds. These compounds are linked to the ethno-medicinal use of many palms that improve human health against infections, infestations and disorders of human systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Palms have provided bioactive samples that validate their effectiveness in traditional medicine. However, the intensive study of all palm species related to ethno-medicinal use is needed, along with selection of the most appropriate palm accessions, ripe stage of the fruit and /or part of the plant. Furthermore, the complete profiles of all phytochemicals, their effects on animal models and human subjects, and toxicological and clinical trials are suggested, which, added to the incorporation of improved technological processes, should represent a significant advance for the implementation of new opportunities with wide benefits for human health.

Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Resina Draconis Reveals Loureirin B as a PAI-1 Inhibitor

Thrombotic diseases have become a global burden due to morbidity, mortality, and disability. Traditional Chinese medicine has been proven effective in removing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a natural inhibitor of tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators. In this study, we screened four fractions of Resina Draconis (a traditional Chinese medicine) extract for PAI-1 inhibitory activity. Bioactivity-guided purification and chromogenic substrate-based assay led to the identification of loureirin B as the major PAI-1 inhibitor, with an IC₅₀ value of 26.10 μM. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that formation of the PAI-1/uPA complex was inhibited by loureirin B, and the inhibitory effect of loureirin B on PAI-1 was also confirmed by clot lysis assay. In vivo studies showed that loureirin B significantly prolonged the tail bleeding time and reduced the weight and size of arterial thrombus, reduced hydroxyproline level, and partly cured liver fibrosis in mice. Taken together, the results revealed loureirin B as a PAI-1 inhibitor, adding a new pharmacological target for loureirin B and uncovering a novel mechanism underlying the antithrombotic property of Resina Draconis, which might be useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as thrombosis and fibrosis.

Fingerprint analysis of Resina Draconis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography

BACKGROUND

Resina Draconis, a bright red resin derived from Dracaena cochinchinensis, is a traditional medicine used in China. To improve its quality control approach, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprint method was developed for rapidly evaluating the quality of Resina Draconis.

METHODS

The precision, repeatability and stability of the proposed UPLC method were validated in the study. Twelve batches of Resina Draconis samples from various sources were analyzed by the present UPLC method. Common peaks in the chromatograms were adopted to calculate their relative retention time and relative peak area. The chromatographic data were processed by Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine software (Version 2004 A) for similarity analysis.

RESULTS

The present UPLC method demonstrated a satisfactory precision, repeatability and stability. The analysis time of the present UPLC method was shortened to 30 min, compared with that of the conventional HPLC method was 50 min. The similarities of the 12 Resina Draconis samples were 0.976, 0.993, 0.955, 0.789, 0.989, 0.995, 0.794, 0.994, 0.847, 0.987, 0.997, 0.986, respectively, which indicated that the samples were certainly regionally different. The similarities of the 12 samples showed more similar pattern except for samples 4, 7 and 9. Such variation in similarity may presumably be attributed to differences in source.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the conventional HPLC method, the present UPLC method showed several advantages including shorter analysis time, higher resolution and better separation performance. The UPLC fingerprinting established in the present paper provides a valuable reference for the quality control of Resina Draconis.

The In Vitro and In Vivo Wound Healing Properties of the Chinese Herbal Medicine "Jinchuang Ointment"

“Jinchuang ointment” is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine complex for treatment of incised wounds. For more than ten years, it has been used at China Medical University Hospital (Taichung, Taiwan) for the treatment of diabetic foot infections and decubitus ulcers. Three different cases are presented in this study. “Jinchuang” ointment is a mixture of natural product complexes from nine different components, making it difficult to analyze its exact chemical compositions. To further characterize the herbal ingredients used in this study, the contents of reference standards present in a subset of the ointment ingredients (dragon's blood, catechu, frankincense, and myrrh) were determined by HPLC. Two in vitro cell based assay platforms, wound healing and tube formation, were used to examine the biological activity of this medicine. Our results show that this herbal medicine possesses strong activities including stimulation of angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and cell migration, which provide the scientific basis for its clinically observed curative effects on nonhealing diabetic wounds.

Quality and safety control of tumor-shrinking decoction (TSD): A Chinese herbal preparation for the treatment of uterine fibroids

Reproducible efficacy assessments of Chinese herbal medicines are largely based on well-established quality control procedures. This study presents a comprehensive quality control procedure for tumor-shrinking decoction (TSD), a 15-herb preparation under study as a potential therapy for uterine fibroids. Morphological, microscopic, and physicochemical authentications were first carried out on individual herbal medicines composing TSD. Contaminant tests on TSD for the presence of heavy metals and pesticide residues were performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Furthermore, batch-to-batch quality monitoring of the decoction was investigated via ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). An aqueous extract of the herbal medicines was prepared and formulated into TSD. The tested contaminants were within the maximum permitted levels of the Hong Kong government in proprietary Chinese medicines. UPLC and HPLC fingerprints for quality tracking on TSD were established. The decoction was quantitatively standardized by UPLC and HPLC, respectively, with five and three chemical compounds serving as references. Collectively, the procedure established in this study will not only serve as a fundamental basis for the investigation and development of TSD as a novel therapy for uterine fibroids, but also as a protocol for studying other polycomponent herbal preparations.

Comparative analysis of diosgenin in Dioscorea species and related medicinal plants by UPLC-DAD-MS

BACKGROUND

Dioscorea is a genus of flowering plants, and some Dioscorea species are known and used as a source for the steroidal sapogenin diosgenin. To screen potential resource from Dioscorea species and related medicinal plants for diosgenin extraction, a rapid method to compare the contents of diosgenin in various plants is crucial.

RESULTS

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method was developed for identification and determination of diosgenin in various plants. A comprehensive validation of the developed method was conducted. Twenty-four batches of plant samples from four Dioscorea species, one Smilax species and two Heterosmilax species were analyzed by using the developed method.The present method presented good sensitivity, precision and accuracy. Diosgenin was found in three Dioscorea species and one Heterosmilax species, namely D. zingiberensis, D. septemloba, D. collettii and H. yunnanensis.

CONCLUSION

The method is suitable for the screening of diosgenin resources from plants. D. zingiberensis is an important resource for diosgenin harvesting.

A systems biology-based approach to uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of dragon's blood tablet in colitis, involving the integration of chemical analysis, ADME prediction, and network pharmacology

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest East Asian medical systems. The present study adopted a systems biology-based approach to provide new insights relating to the active constituents and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of dragon's blood (DB) tablets for the treatment of colitis. This study integrated chemical analysis, prediction of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), and network pharmacology. Firstly, a rapid, reliable, and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method was employed to identify 48 components of DB tablets. In silico prediction of the passive absorption of these compounds, based on Caco-2 cell permeability, and their P450 metabolism enabled the identification of 22 potentially absorbed components and 8 metabolites. Finally, networks were constructed to analyze interactions between these DB components/metabolites absorbed and their putative targets, and between the putative DB targets and known therapeutic targets for colitis. This study provided a great opportunity to deepen the understanding of the complex pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effects of DB in colitis treatment.

A systematic review of the botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Dracaena cochinchinensis, a plant source of the ethnomedicine "dragon's blood"

“Dragon’s blood” is the name given to a deep red resin obtained from a variety of plant sources. The resin extracted from stems of Dracaena cochinchinensis is one such source of “dragon’s blood”. It has a reputation for facilitating blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis. In traditional Chinese medicine, this resinous medicine is commonly prescribed to invigorate blood circulation for the treatment of traumatic injuries, blood stasis and pain. Modern pharmacological studies have found that this resinous medicine has anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-diabetic, and anti-tumor activities, while it is also known to enhance immune function, promote skin repair, stop bleeding and enhance blood circulation. Various compounds have been isolated from the plant, including loureirin A, loureirin B, loureirin C, cochinchinenin, socotrin-4'-ol, 4',7-dihydroxyflavan, 4-methylcholest-7-ene-3-ol, ethylparaben, resveratrol, and hydroxyphenol. The present review summarizes current knowledge concerning the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, toxicology studies and clinical applications of this resinous medicine as derived from D. cochinchinenesis.

Determination of five flavonoids in different parts of Fordia cauliflora by ultra performance liquid chromatography/triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry and chemical comparison with the root of Millettia pulchra var. laxior

BACKGROUND

The root of Fordia cauliflora Hemsl (FC) has long been used in southern China for the treatment of rheumatism, bruises, dementia in children, and valetudinarianism. However, sometimes it is mixed with other parts. And it has always been confused with the root of Millettia pulchra (Benth.) Kurz var. laxior (Dunn) Z. Wei (MP) by the local people. The chemical differences between the two ethnic drugs are not clear until now. The aim of this study is to develop a precise and accurate method to characterize and quantify multiple chemical components of FC, which is helpful for the quality evaluation and identification of FC.

RESULTS

A method coupling ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS) was first developed for simultaneous determination of five flavonoids in different parts of FC and the root of MP, based on a UPLC-diode array detection (DAD) fingerprint method. All calibration curves showed good linearity (R2>0.99) within test ranges. The overall LOD and LOQ were lower than 2.5 ng/mL and 5.0 ng/mL, respectively. The RSDs for intra- and inter-day of five analytes were less than 2.83% and 3.04%, respectively. Recovery studies for the quantified compounds were found to be within the range 93.6-99.8% with RSD less than 5.73%. The results suggest that the root, traditionally used medicinal part, yields the highest flavanoid content in FC. Pachycarin A, 3',4'-dimethoxy(2'',3'':7,8) furanoflavone, karanjachromene and isoderricin A can be used to differentiate between FC and MP samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The present method is specific, precise and reliable, and is suitable for characterizing and quantifying multiple chemical components of FC.

Chemical quantification and antioxidant assay of four active components in Ficus hirta root using UPLC-PAD-MS fingerprinting combined with cluster analysis

Background

Root of Ficus hirta (RFH) is widely consumed in China as a plant-derived popular food. However, contents of the active constituents of RFH are unknown, and the chemical as well as bioactive properties of RFH may be affected by growing area. In order to ensure the standard efficacy of health products made with RFH, its active constituents should firstly be determined and, secondly, a means of assessing samples for their contents of these constituents is needed.

Results

Four active components, including two coumarins, namely psoralen and bergapten, and two flavonoids, namely luteolin and apigenin, in twenty RFH samples were quantified using a new ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector and mass spectrometry (UPLC-PAD-MS) method, and the content level in descending order was psoralen > bergapten > luteolin > apigenin. Chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation and cluster analysis were used to assess geographical origin of RFH, and the results revealed a high level of similarity for the tested RFH samples obtained from Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi provinces and Hong Kong. 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potencies of the four components, and the results clearly demonstrated that luteolin was most effective; apigenin exhibited a moderate potency, whereas psoralen and bergapten possessed little effect against free radical reactions. Structure-activity relationship of the components was elucidated, and the 3′-hydroxyl group of luteolin was found to be directly responsible for its antioxidant activity.

Conclusion

The present UPLC-PAD-MS method and DPPH radical scavenging assay performed well for the purpose of constituent quantification and antioxidant assay. Global profiles were highly similar for RFH samples from different origins. Both the coumarins and flavonoids were involved in the health benefit of RFH.

Quantitative comparison of multiple components in Dioscorea nipponica and D. panthaica by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Dioscorea nipponica (DN) and D. panthaica (DP) have been uniquely prepared as herbal medicinal products for treating coronary heart disease (CHD) in China. However, so far there has been little discussion and no work comparing the qualitative and quantitative differences between the two herbs nor assessing whether they have similarities in chemical composition that would support their common application for treating CHD.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an efficient and reliable method based on UPLC-qTOF-MS for quantitative comparison of saponins in both DN and DP.

METHODS

Using electrospray ionisation and atmospheric-pressure chemical ionisation respectively, six steroidal glycosides and one aglycone were determined in 13 DN samples and 13 DP samples. The comparative analysis of chemical components in DN and DP was carried out by chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation, test of significance (t-test) and principle component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

The UPLC-qTOF-MS method showed limit of detection and quantitation within the range 0.02-0.2 ng and 0.08-0.5 ng, respectively, for the seven saponins studied. The intra- and interday precision (RSD) were below 5%. The recoveries for the quantified compounds were within the range of 72.79-118.31%.

CONCLUSION

This UPLC-qTOF-MS assay provides a suitable method for the identification and determination of major bioactive constituents both in DN and DP. The chemical composition of all DN and DP samples studied exhibited a high level of global similarity. This chemical similarity validates their common application in the pharmaceutical industry as anti-CHD herbal drugs.