A Discovery-Based Metabolomic Approach Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Reveals Potential Antimalarial Compounds Present in Artemisia annua L

Exploring the chemical compositions of Fufang Yinhua Jiedu granules based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with multistage intelligent data annotation strategy

Fufang Yinhua Jiedu granules (FYJG) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compound formulae preparation comprising ten herbal drugs, which has been widely used for the treatment of influenza with wind-heat type and upper respiratory tract infections. However, the phytochemical constituents of FYJG have rarely been reported, and its constituent composition still needs to be elucidated. The complexity of the natural ingredients of TCMs and the diversity of preparations are the major obstacles to fully characterizing their constituents. In this study, an innovative and intelligent analysis strategy was built to comprehensively characterize the constituents of FYJG and assign source attribution to all components. Firstly, a simple and highly efficient ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MSE) method was established to analyze the FYJG and ten single herbs. High-accuracy MS/MS data were acquired under two collision energies using high-definition MSE in the negative and positive modes. Secondly, a multistage intelligent data annotation strategy was developed and used to rapidly screen out and identify the compounds of FYJG, which was integrated with various online software and data processing platforms. The in-house chemical library of 2949 compounds was created and operated in the UNIFI software to enable automatic peak annotation of the MSE data. Then, the acquired MS data were processed by MS-DIAL, and a feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) was constructed on the Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) to infer potential compositions of FYJG by rapidly classifying and visualizing. It was simultaneously using the MZmine software to recognize the source attribution of ingredients. On this basis, the unique chemical categories and characteristics of herbaceous plant species are utilized further to verify the accuracy of the source attribution of multi-components. This comprehensive analysis successfully identified or tentatively characterized 279 compounds in FYJG, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, lignans, and phenylethanoids. Notably, twelve indole alkaloids and four organic acids from Isatidis Folium were characterized in this formula for the first time. This study demonstrates a potential superiority to identify compounds in complex TCM formulas using high-definition MSE and computer software-assisted structural analysis tools, which can obtain high-quality MS/MS spectra, effectively distinguish isomers, and improve the coverage of trace components. This study elucidates the various components and sources of FYJG and provides a theoretical basis for its further clinical development and application.

Can artemisinin and its derivatives treat malaria in a host-directed manner?

Malaria is caused by an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, Plasmodium, and is transmitted through vectors. It remains a substantial health burden, especially in developing countries, leading to significant socioeconomic losses. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved various antimalarial medications in the past two decades, the increasing resistance to these medications has worsened the situation. The development of drug resistance stems from genetic diversity among Plasmodium strains, impeding eradication efforts. Consequently, exploring innovative technologies and strategies for developing effective medications based on the host is crucial. Artemisinin and its derivatives (artemisinins) have been recommended by the WHO for treating malaria owing to their known effectiveness in killing the parasite. However, their potential to target the host for malaria treatment has not been investigated. This article concisely reviews the application of host-directed therapeutics, potential drug candidates targeting the host for treating malaria, and usage of artemisinins in numerous diseases. It underscores the importance of host-directed interventions for individuals susceptible to malaria, suggests the potential utility of artemisinins in host-directed malaria treatments, and posits that the modulation of host proteins with artemisinins may offer a means of intervening in host-parasite interactions. Further studies focusing on the host-targeting perspective of artemisinins can provide new insights into the mechanisms of artemisinin resistance and offer a unique opportunity for new antimalarial drug discovery.

Enhanced Antimalarial Activity of Extracts of Artemisia annua L. Achieved with Aqueous Solutions of Salicylate Salts and Ionic Liquids

Artemisinin, a drug used to treat malaria, can be chemically synthesized or extracted from Artemisia annua L. However, the extraction method for artemisinin from biomass needs to be more sustainable while maintaining or enhancing its bioactivity. This work investigates the use of aqueous solutions of salts and ionic liquids with hydrotropic properties as alternative solvents for artemisinin extraction from Artemisia annua L. Among the investigated solvents, aqueous solutions of cholinium salicylate and sodium salicylate were found to be the most promising. To optimize the extraction process, a response surface method was further applied, in which the extraction time, hydrotrope concentration, and temperature were optimized. The optimized conditions resulted in extraction yields of up to 6.50 and 6.44 mg·g-1, obtained with aqueous solutions of sodium salicylate and cholinium salicylate, respectively. The extracts obtained were tested for their antimalarial activity, showing a higher efficacy against the Plasmodium falciparum strain compared with pure (synthetic) artemisinin or extracts obtained with conventional organic solvents. Characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of artemisinin together with other compounds, such as artemitin, chrysosplenol D, arteannuin B, and arteannuin J. These compounds act synergistically with artemisinin and enhance the antimalarial activity of the obtained extracts. Given the growing concern about artemisinin resistance, the results here obtained pave the way for the development of sustainable and biobased antimalarial drugs.

Five Different Artemisia L. Species Ethanol Extracts' Phytochemical Composition and Their Antimicrobial and Nematocide Activity

Among the plants that exhibit significant or established pharmacological activity, the genus Artemisia L. deserves special attention. This genus comprises over 500 species belonging to the largest Asteraceae family. Our study aimed at providing a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition of the ethanol extracts of five different Artemisia L. species (collected from the southwest of the Russian Federation) and their antimicrobial and nematocide activity as follows: A. annua cv. Novichok., A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, A. santonica cv. Citral, A. abrotanum cv. Euxin, and A. scoparia cv. Tavrida. The study of the ethanol extracts of the five different Artemisia L. species using the methods of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) allowed establishing their phytochemical profile. The obtained data on the of five different Artemisia L. species ethanol extracts' phytochemical composition were used to predict the antibacterial and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic microorganisms and nematocidal activity against the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The major compounds found in the composition of the Artemisia L. ethanol extracts were monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, coumarins, and phenolic acids. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the extracts began to manifest at a concentration of 150 µg/mL. The A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd extract had a selective effect against Gram-positive R. iranicus and B. subtilis bacteria, whereas the A. scoparia cv. Tavrida extract had a selective effect against Gram-negative A. tumefaciens and X. arboricola bacteria and A. solani, R. solani and F. graminearum fungi. The A. annua cv. Novichok, A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, and A. santonica cv. Citral extracts in the concentration range of 31.3-1000 µg/mL caused the death of nematodes. It was established that A. annua cv. Novichok affects the UNC-63 protein, the molecular target of which is the nicotine receptor of the N-subtype.

Artemisinin as a therapeutic vs. its more complex Artemisia source material

Covering: up to 2017-2022Many small molecule drugs are first discovered in nature, commonly the result of long ethnopharmacological use by people, and then characterized and purified from their biological sources. Traditional medicines are often more sustainable, but issues related to source consistency and efficacy present challenges. Modern medicine has focused solely on purified molecules, but evidence is mounting to support some of the more traditional uses of medicinal biologics. When is a more traditional delivery of a therapeutic appropriate and warranted? What studies are required to establish validity of a traditional medicine approach? Artemisia annua and A. afra are two related but unique medicinal plant species with long histories of ethnopharmacological use. A. annua produces the sesquiterpene lactone antimalarial drug, artemisinin, while A. afra produces at most, trace amounts of the compound. Both species also have an increasing repertoire of modern scientific and pharmacological data that make them ideal candidates for a case study. Here accumulated recent data on A. annua and A. afra are reviewed as a basis for establishing a decision tree for querying their therapeutic use, as well as that of other medicinal plant species.