A strategy for quality control of ginkgo biloba preparations based on UPLC fingerprint analysis and multi-component separation combined with quantitative analysis

Evaluation of the key ingredient from the main production areas of Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry

Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex (PAC) is a medicinal herb that has been generally used to treat diarrhea and jaundice. In order to comprehensively evaluate the PAC in the main production areas quality, a qualitative and quantitative method with highly effective, sensitive, and reliable was developed. The chemical compositions of PAC were analyzed, and fingerprints were established by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Then, the determination of berberine, canthin-6-one, dictamnine, γ-fagarine, and magnoflorine from PAC samples was simultaneously performed using UPLC-QQQ-MS. Furthermore, the chemical components of PAC from different regions were compared and analyzed by combining hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. A total of 58 compounds were identified, including 36 alkaloids, four phenylpropanoids, seven terpenoids, four flavonoids and their glycosides, an organic acid compound, and six other components. The fingerprint results show that samples have good similarity. Meanwhile, the content of the five ingredients in different habitats is quite different. By multivariate statistical analysis, 18 batches of PAC could be divided into three categories, and 20 components were identified as differential markers of various origins. A comprehensive method of PAC quality evaluation and chemical composition difference analysis was established, which provided the scientific basis for quality evaluation and further pharmacological mechanism research.

A strategy for quality evaluation of complex herbal preparations based on multi-color scale and efficacy-oriented high-performance thin-layer chromatography characteristic fingerprint combined with chemometric method: Sanwujiao Pills as an example

To rapidly evaluate the quality of complex herbal preparations, a new strategy was proposed based on multi-color scale and efficacy-oriented high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) characteristic fingerprint combined with chemometric method. Firstly, effective components were screened through high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and evaporative light-scattering (HPLC-UV-ELSD), using multi-wavelength fusion combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Subsequently, guided by the effective components, the targeted HPTLC characteristic fingerprint was established by multi-color scale scanning. Finally, combined with the chemometric method, the consistency of the preparation quality was evaluated, the marker components leading to quality differences were screened, and the quality control limit was established. Sanwujiao Pills (SWJPs) is a herbal preparation composed of six herbs for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Through this strategy, four HPTLC characteristic fingerprints were established, they were derived from five herbs and guided by eight effective components in SWJPs. Through similarity, clustering heatmap, principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), the quality distinctions among the 12 batches of SWJPs were determined. These batches were categorized into two groups based on their production time, and eight components affecting the quality of the preparation were identified. Meanwhile, the quality control threshold for SWJPs was determined based on Hotelling's T2 and DModX methods. This strategy aims to rapidly evaluate the quality of complex herbal preparations by HPTLC and extends the application of HPTLC fingerprint chromatography for identifying herbal medicine species and activity-related quality detection. The proposed strategy is also helpful for the quality control of other complex herbal preparations.

The Potential of Ginkgo biloba as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds-A Review of the Recent Literature and Patents

Ginkgo biloba is a relict tree species showing high resistance to adverse biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Its fruits and leaves have high medicinal value due to the presence of flavonoids, terpene trilactones and phenolic compounds. However, ginkgo seeds contain toxic and allergenic alkylphenols. The publication revises the latest research results (mainly from 2018-2022) regarding the chemical composition of extracts obtained from this plant and provides information on the use of extracts or their selected ingredients in medicine and food production. A very important section of the publication is the part in which the results of the review of patents concerning the use of Ginkgo biloba and its selected ingredients in food production are presented. Despite the constantly growing number of studies on its toxicity and interactions with synthetic drugs, its health-promoting properties are the reason for the interest of scientists and motivation to create new food products.