Revealing the sedative-hypnotic effect of the extracts of herb pair Semen Ziziphi spinosae and Radix Polygalae and related mechanisms through experiments and metabolomics approach

The therapeutic potential of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Polygalae Radix in insomnia management: Insights from gut microbiota and serum metabolomics techniques

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and Polygalae Radix (ZSS-PR) constitute a traditional Chinese herbal combination with notable applications in clinical and experimental settings due to their evident sedative and calming effects. Aligned with traditional Chinese medicine principles, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen supports cardiovascular health, nourishes the liver, and induces mental tranquillity. Simultaneously, Polygalae Radix elicits calming effects, fosters clear thinking, and reinstates proper coordination between the heart and kidneys. ZSS-PR is commonly employed as a therapeutic intervention for various insomnia types, demonstrating distinct clinical efficacy. Our previous study findings provide evidence that ZSS-PR administration significantly reduces sleep onset latency, increases overall sleep duration, and improves abnormal neurotransmitter levels in a murine insomnia model.

AIM OF STUDY

This investigation aimed to scrutinize the intrinsic regulatory mechanism of ZSS-PR in managing insomnia using gut microbiota and serum metabolomics techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were given DL-4-Chlorophenylalanine to induce insomnia and then treated with ZSS-PR. The open-field test assessed the animals' spontaneous activity. Concentrations of neurotransmitters, endocrine hormones, and cytokines in the duodenum were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and brain histopathology was evaluated with H&E staining. The impact of ZSS-PR on the metabolic profile was examined by liquid chromatography couped to high resolution mass spectrometry, and 16S rDNA sequencing was used to study the influence of ZSS-PR on the gut microbiota. Additionally, the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was analyzed by GC-MS. Finally, correlation analysis investigated relationships between biochemical markers, metabolites, SCFAs, and gut microbiota.

RESULTS

ZSS-PR treatment significantly increased movement time and distance in mice with insomnia and improved pathological impairments in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. It also restored abnormal levels of biochemical markers in the gut of insomnia-afflicted mice, including 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, gastrin, melatonin, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β. Metabolomics findings showed that ZSS-PR had a significant restorative effect on 15 endogenous metabolites in mice with insomnia. Furthermore, ZSS-PR primarily influenced five metabolic pathways, such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, glutamine, and glutamate metabolism. Additionally, gut microbiota analysis revealed notable alterations in both diversity and microbial composition after ZSS-PR treatment. These changes were primarily attributed to the relative abundances of microbiota, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Muribaculaceae_unclassified, and Ligilactobacillus. The results of SCFAs analysis demonstrated that ZSS-PR effectively restored abnormal levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid in insomniac mice. Subsequent correlation analysis revealed that microbiota show obvious correlations with both biochemical markers and metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide compelling evidence that ZSS-PR effectively mitigates abnormal activity, reduces cerebral pathological changes, and restores abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, endocrine hormones, and cytokines in mice with insomnia. The underlying mechanism is intricately linked to the modulation of gut microbiota and endogenous metabolic pathways.

Integration of Gut Microbiota, Serum Metabolomic, and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Anti Insomnia Mechanism of Mongolian Medicine Sugemule-4 Decoction on Insomnia Model Rats

Objective

To explored the potential molecular mechanism of Sugemule-4 decoction (MMS-4D) in treating insomnia.

Methods

DL-4-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) + chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation (CUMS) was used to induce an insomnia model in rats. After the model was successfully established, MMS-4D was intervened at low, medium, and high doses for 7 days. The open-field test (OFT) was used to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy. The potential mechanism of MMS-4D in treating insomnia was investigated using gut microbiota, serum metabolomics, and network pharmacology (NP). Experimental validation of the main components of the key pathways was carried out using ELISA and Western blot.

Results

The weights of the insomnia-model rats were significantly raised (p ≤ 0.05), the total exercise distance in the OFT increased (p ≤ 0.05), the rest time shortened, and the number of standing times increased (p ≤ 0.05), after treatment with MMS-4D. Moreover, there was a substantial recovery in the 5-HT, DA, GABA, and Glu levels in the hypothalamus tissue and the 5-HT and GABA levels in the colon tissue of rats. The expression of DAT and DRD1 proteins in the hippocampus of insomnia rats reduced after drug treatment. MMS-4D may treat insomnia by regulating different crucial pathways including 5-HT -, DA -, GABA -, and Glu-mediated neuroactive light receiver interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, serotonergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic synapses.

Conclusion

This study revealed that MMS-4D can improve the general state and behavioral changes of insomnia model rats. Its mechanism may be related to the reversal of abnormal pathways mediated by 5-HT, DA, GABA, and Glu, such as Serotonergic synapse, Dopaminergic synapse, Glutamatergic synapse, and GABAergic synapse.

Sedative and hypnotic effects of the saponins from a traditional edible plant Liriope spicata Lour. in PCPA-induced insomnia mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Liriope spicata Lour., a species listed in the catalogue of 'Medicinal and Edible Homologous Species', is traditionally used for the treatment of fatigue, restlessness, insomnia and constipation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed to evaluate the sedative and hypnotic effect of the saponins from a natural plant L. spicata Lour. in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total saponin (LSTS) and purified saponin (LSPS) were extracted from L. spicata, followed by a thorough analysis of their major components using the HPLC-MS. Subsequently, the therapeutic efficacy of LSTS and LSPS was evaluated by the improvement of anxiety and depression behaviors of the PCPA-induced mice.

RESULTS

LSTS and LSPS exhibited similar saponin compositions but differ in their composition ratios, with liriopesides-type saponins accounting for a larger proportion in LSTS. Studies demonstrated that both LSTS and LSPS can extend sleep duration and immobility time, while reducing sleep latency in PCPA-induced mice. However, there was no significant difference in weight change among the various mice groups. Elisa results indicated that the LSTS and LSPS could decrease levels of NE, DA, IL-6, and elevate the levels of 5-HT, NO, PGD2 and TNF-α in mice plasma. LSTS enhanced the expression of neurotransmitter receptors, while LSPS exhibited a more pronounced effect in regulating the expression of inflammatory factors. In conclusion, the saponins derived from L. spicata might hold promise as ingredients for developing health foods with sedative and hypnotic effects, potentially related to the modulation of serotonergic and GABAAergic neuron expression, as well as immunomodulatory process.

Herbal medicines for insomnia through regulating 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors: a systematic review

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder without effective therapy and can affect a person's life. The mechanism of the disease is not completely understood. Hence, there is a need to understand the targets related to insomnia, in order to develop innovative therapies and new compounds. Recently, increasing interest has been focused on complementary and alternative medicines for treating or preventing insomnia. Research into their molecular components has revealed that their sedative and sleep-promoting properties rely on the interactions with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain. In this review, the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in insomnia development is summarized, while a systematic analysis of studies is conducted to assess the mechanisms of herbal medicines on different 5-HT receptors subtypes, in order to provide reference for subsequent research.

Integrative analysis and identification of key elements and pathways regulated by Traditional Chinese Medicine (Yiqi Sanjie formula) in colorectal cancer

Introduction: The clinical efficacy of Yiqi Sanjie (YQSJ) formula in the treatment of stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) has been demonstrated. However, the underlying antitumor mechanisms remain poorly understood. Materials and methods: The aim of the present study was to comprehensively characterize the molecular and microbiota changes in colon tissues and fecal samples from CRC mice and in CRC cell lines treated with YQSJ or its main active component, peiminine. Integrative tandem mass tag-based proteomics and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics were used to analyze azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced CRC mouse colon tissues. Results: The results showed that 0.8% (57/7568) of all detected tissue proteins and 3.2% (37/1141) of all detected tissue metabolites were significantly changed by YQSJ treatment, with enrichment in ten and six pathways associated with colon proteins and metabolites, respectively. The enriched pathways were related to inflammation, sphingolipid metabolism, and cholesterol metabolism. Metabolomics analysis of fecal samples from YQSJ-treated mice identified 121 altered fecal metabolites and seven enriched pathways including protein digestion and absorption pathway. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of fecal samples indicated that YQSJ restored the CRC mouse microbiota structure by increasing the levels of beneficial bacteria such as Ruminococcus_1 and Prevotellaceae_UCG_001. In HCT-116 cells treated with peiminine, data-independent acquisition-based proteomics analysis showed that 1073 of the 7152 identified proteins were significantly altered and involved in 33 pathways including DNA damage repair, ferroptosis, and TGF-β signaling. Conclusion: The present study identified key regulatory elements (proteins/metabolites/bacteria) and pathways involved in the antitumor mechanisms of YQSJ, suggesting new potential therapeutic targets in CRC.

A Combination of Rosa Multiflora and Zizyphus Jujuba Enhance Sleep Quality in Anesthesia-Induced Mice

Sleep is an essential component of quality of life. The majority of people experience sleep problems that impact their quality of life. Melatonin is currently a representative sleep aid. However, it is classified as a prescription drug in most countries, and consumers cannot purchase it to improve their sleep. This sleep induction experiment in mice aimed to identify a natural combination product (NCP) that can create synergistic sleep-promoting effects. Based on the mechanism of action of sleep, we investigated whether phenomenological indicators of sleep quality change according to the intake of NCP. The sleep onset and sleep time of the mice that consumed the NCP found by this study were improved compared to the existing sleep aids. The mean melatonin level in the blood increased by 197% compared to the control. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that Rosa multiflora Thunb. (Yeongsil) can promote sleep similarly to Zizyphus jujuba Miller (Sanjoin). The results indicate a preclinical study of NCPs containing Rosa multiflora Thunb and Zizyphus jujuba Miller developed by us showed significant differences in sleep incubation and duration depending on melatonin concentrations. Our results also suggest that increased melatonin concentrations in the blood are likely to improve sleep quality, especially regarding incubation periods.

EuRBG10 involved in indole alkaloids biosynthesis in Eucommia ulmoides induced by drought and salt stresses

Alkaloids are natural products with many important medicinal activities. To explore the mechanism of abiotic stress promoting alkaloid biosynthesis in Eucommia ulmoides, transcriptomic analysis and metabonomic analysis were used, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) lines of target gene were constructed. The results showed that drought and salt stress caused wilting and blackening of leaves, decreased chlorophyll level, and significantly induced MDA and relative conductivity. To resist the damage of stress to cells, the level of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids increased significantly with the extension of stress time. Transcriptomic results showed that, were. Six alkaloid related genes (AWGs) were gathered in five modules positively correlated with either salt stress or alkaloid contents by WGCNA. Results of GO and KEGG enrichment revealed that biosynthesis of alkaloid, especially indole alkaloid was induced, and degradation of alkaloid was inhibited under salt stress. Combining the results of transcriptome and metabolomics, it was suggested that EuRBG10 promotes the production of indole alkaloids and EuAMO5 inhibits the degradation of alkaloids, which may be the core mechanism of the indole alkaloid biosynthesis pathway (map00901) induced by salt stress. The results of these hub proteins were also consistent with the chordal graph of KEGG enrichment. Hub roles of EuRGB10 was checked in E. ulmoides by VIGS. Our findings provide a preliminary understanding of abiotic stress regulating secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, and propose hub genes that can be used to improve the level of bioactive components in medicinal plant.

East Asian Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental illness that can place a significant burden on individuals, their families, and society. East Asian Herbal Medicine (EAHM) has long been used in East Asian nations to treat mental illness in children. Nevertheless, the evidence for the effectiveness of EAHM for the treatment of ADHD is insufficient. A systematic review was performed to examine the effectiveness and safety. In addition, research on core herbal combinations was also conducted to help clinicians in their prescription selection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis were prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The following databases were searched: 4 English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE), 4 Korean databases (Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Service System (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Korea Citation Index (KCI)), 2 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Data), and 1 Japanese database (CiNii) database. The publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. GRADE pro was used to evaluate the evidence of the study. The core herb combination of EAHM used in this study was revealed using apriori algorithm-based association rule mining.

RESULTS

This review assessed 42 studies that evaluated 3484 children and adolescents. In meta-analysis, EAHM monotherapy had a similar clinical efficacy rate to conventional medicine (CM) (n = 2166; random effects RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.13; heterogeneity χ2= 25.08, df = 23, p = 0.35, I²=8%). EAHM-combined therapy showed a better clinical efficacy rate than when conventional therapy was used alone (n = 746; fixed effects RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.26; heterogeneity χ2= 11.80, df = 9, p = 0.22, I²=24%). For adverse events, EAHM had a lower incidence than conventional therapy. In GRADE pro, each outcome varied from moderate to very low quality. The constituents of the herb combinations with consistent association rules were Fossilia Ossis Mastodi, Polygalae Radix, and Acori Graminei Rhizoma.

CONCLUSION

EAHM monotherapy has similar effects to CM but with fewer side effects. Hence, it will be helpful for children with ADHD suffering from the side effects of CM. EAHM-combined therapy has a better effect than conventional therapy. Accordingly, it will be useful for children with ADHD who do not respond to treatment with conventional therapy. Nevertheless, more well-designed studies will be needed to confirm this in the future.

Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves

Chinese traditional herbs are used widely as feed supplements to improve the immune response and antioxidant capacity of livestock. Twenty early-weaned 4-month-old yak calves (72.3 ± 3.65 kg) were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5 per group); three groups were provided with supplementary 80 mL/kg DMI of the root water extracts of either Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula or Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and one group (control) was not provided with a supplement. Compared to control calves, calves consuming the three herbal extracts increased serum concentrations of albumin (ALB) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but decreased serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Calves consuming A. sinensis decreased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), and increased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total proteins (TP). Serum FFA concentrations increased (p = 0.004) linearly with time in the control group, but not in the groups consuming herbs. Serum metabolomic data demonstrated that A. sinensis and C. pilosula regulate mainly amino acid metabolism, while G. uralensis regulates mainly carbon and amino acid metabolism. It was concluded that the three herbal root extracts, as dietary supplements, improved energy and nitrogen metabolism, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of yak calves.

Wild Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa): A Review of Its Phytonutrients, Health Benefits, Metabolism, and Applications

Wild jujube, Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou, as a food and health supplement worldwide, has rich nutritional value. It contains nutrients such as nucleosides, amino acids, polysaccharides, and fatty oils. The fruits, seeds, and leaves of wild jujube can all be used for food, medicine, or health care purposes. Among these, the fruits play many roles, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory functions, and can be used as a natural nutritional supplement to prevent aging. Simultaneously, the mature seed of wild jujube exhibits beneficial effects on central nervous system diseases and is often used for the treatment of insomnia and as a functional food for improving sleep quality and enhancing learning and memory. This review presents an overview of research progress relevant to the phytonutrients, biological functions, metabolism of bioactive compounds, and applications of wild jujube and aims to provide a scientific reference for the development and utilization of this plant.

Zizyphi Spinosae Semen: a natural herb resource for treating neurological disorders

Neurological disorders generally have the characteristics of occult onset and progressive development, which can do some serious damage to human body in the aging process. It is worth noting that traditional medicine can potentially prevent and treat such diseases. Zizyphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS), the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa it has a long clinical history for sleep regulation. In recent years, ZSS has been proved to exhibit various types of neuroprotective activity, such as sleep improvement, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, memory improvement and etc. It has become a popular natural product due to its many inherently available compounds that demonstrate medicinal and pharmacological importance. This paper reviews the main components and their metabolic transformation processes, highlights the various neurofunctional regulation activities and their mechanisms of ZSS, providing a theoretical basis for further research and clinical application of this natural medicine.

Traditional East Asian Herbal Medicine for Post-Stroke Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Post-stroke insomnia (PSI) is a highly prevalent complication after stroke. Current evidence of psychotropic drug use for PSI management is scarce and indicates harmful adverse events (AEs). Traditional East Asian herbal medicine is a widely used traditional remedy for insomnia. However, so far, no study has systematically reviewed the efficacy and safety of traditional east asian herbal medicine (HM) for PSI. Therefore, we perform meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of HM for PSI. After a comprehensive electronic search of 15 databases, we review the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of HM use as monotherapy for PSI. Our outcomes were the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and total effective rate. In total, 24 RCTs were conducted with 1942 participants. HM showed statistically significant benefits in sleep quality. It also appeared to be safer than psychotropic drugs in terms of AEs, except when the treatment period was two weeks. The methods used for RCTs were poor, and the quality of evidence assessed was graded “low” or “moderate.” The findings of this review indicate that the use of HM as a monotherapy may have potential benefits in PSI treatment when administered as an alternative to conventional medications. However, considering the methodological quality of the included RCTs, we were uncertain of the clinical evidence. Further, well-designed RCTs are required to confirm these findings.

3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose attenuates Aβ1-42 - induced neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans by enhancing antioxidation and regulating autophagy

The aggregation of β‐amyloid (Aβ) has the neurotoxicity, which is thought to play critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibiting Aβ deposition and neurotoxicity has been considered as an important strategy for AD treatment. 3,6'‐Disinapoyl sucrose (DISS), one of the oligosaccharide esters derived from traditional Chinese medicine Polygalae Radix, possesses antioxidative activity, neuroprotective effect and anti‐depressive activity. This study was to explore whether DISS could attenuate the pathological changes of Aβ_1‐42 transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The results showed that DISS (5 and 50 μM) treatment significantly prolonged the life span, increased the number of egg‐laying, reduced paralysis rate, decreased the levels of lipofuscin and ROS and attenuated Aβ deposition in Aβ_1‐42 transgenic C. elegans. Gene analysis showed that DISS could up‐regulate the mRNA expression of sod‐3, gst‐4, daf‐16, bec‐1 and lgg‐1, while down‐regulate the mRNA expression of daf‐2 and daf‐15 in Aβ_1‐42 transgenic C. elegans. These results suggested that DISS has the protective effect against Aβ_1‐42‐induced pathological damages and prolongs the life span of C. elegans, which may be related to the reduction of Aβ deposition and neurotoxicity by regulating expression of genes related to antioxidation and autophagy.

Efficacy of Jianpiyangxue granule on gastrointestinal autonomic nerve dysfunction and its impact on adverse reactions

OBJECTIVE

To explore the efficacy of Jianpiyangxue granules on gastrointestinal autonomic nerve dysfunction and their impact on adverse reactions.

METHODS

From September 2016 to September 2020, 120 patients with gastrointestinal autonomic nerve dysfunction treated in our hospital were retrospectively selected and randomly assigned to a treatment group (TG) which was administered Jianpiyangxue granules prepared by our hospital and a control group (CG) which was administered routine Western medicine treatment (B vitamins + oryzanol). There were 60 patients in each group. The clinical efficacy and incidences of adverse effects were compared between the groups. The gastrointestinal hormone indexes, the inflammatory cytokines, and the immune indexes were analyzed before and after the therapy. The gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) levels were measured using the motilin stimulating method, and the somatostatin (SS) levels were measured using ELISA for comparison. The autonomic nerve dysfunction symptoms were used for the evaluation. The degree of neurological functional defects scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the neurological functional defect levels. The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores were used to assess the patients' psychological statuses.

RESULTS

After the therapy, the GAS, MTL, and SS expressions in the TG were remarkably higher than they were in the CG. The CRP and IL-6 expressions in the TG were significantly lower than they were in the CG. The TG had higher IgG, IgM, and IgA levels as compared with the CG, higher grade 0 and grade 1 scores on the gastrointestinal autonomic nerve dysfunction, but lower grade 2 and 3 scores were observed compared to the CG. Significantly lower NIHSS, SAS, and SDS scores were recorded in the TG compared with the CG. The TG yielded more promising outcomes in terms of the total effective rate and the incidences of adverse reactions than the CG.

CONCLUSION

Jianpiyangxue granules contribute to enhancing the clinical efficacy, reducing the incidence of adverse reactions, and improving the gastrin, somatostatin, and other indicators in treating gastrointestinal autonomic nerve dysfunction.

Efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of poststroke insomnia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Western medicine has played an essential role in treating poststroke insomnia (PSI) in China, and traditional Chinese medicine therapy based on Chinese characteristics is also effective. Combined with China's national conditions, we plan to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (INTEGRATED TCM and WM) therapy and Western medicine alone for PSI.

METHODS

We will search the following 5 electronic databases: PubMed, Wanfang, Chinese biomedical literature database, the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical, and China national knowledge infrastructure. Randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of INTEGRATED TCM and WM with Western medicine alone in the treatment of PSI will be considered. Primary outcomes have Treatment effectiveness rate, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Secondary outcomes include traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, Athens insomnia scale, the incidence of adverse reactions, and outcome follow-up. Based on the eligibility criteria, we will conduct literature screening and data extraction. The quality of the included literature will be evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tools. We will use Review Manager software (Version 5.3) for data synthesis and statistical analyses. If sources of heterogeneity exist, we will perform a subgroup analysis or sensitivity analysis. A funnel plot will be used to analyze publication bias.

RESULTS

This study will provide evidence-based medicine evidence for treatment of PSI with INTEGRATED TCM and WM in terms of its efficacy.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review aims to provide new options for INTEGRATED TCM and WM treatment of PSI in terms of its efficacy.

Separation and purification of magnoflorine, spinosin, and 6‴-feruloyspinosin from Ziziphi Spinosae Semen by high-speed counter-current chromatography

In the study, high-speed counter-current chromatography was used for separation and purification of magnoflorine, spinosin, and 6‴-feruloyspinosin from Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. With n-butanol-ethyl acetate-water (2:3:5, v/v) as the optimum solvent system, about 75 mg of magnoflorine, 110 mg of spinosin, and 40 mg of 6‴-feruloyspinosin were isolated from 0.5 g of crude extract of Z. Spinosae Semen, with the purity of 95.7, 97.2, and 96.4%, respectively. The chemical structures were identified by MS and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the antidepressant activity of the isolated components was evaluated by PC12 cells injury model and chronic unpredictable mild stress depression mouse model. The results showed that high-speed counter-current chromatography could be used to realize the one-time rapid preparation and separation of magnoflorine, spinosin, and 6‴-feruloyspinosin from Z. Spinosae Semen and compatibility of these isolated components has certain antidepressant activity.