Simultaneous Profiling and Holistic Comparison of the Metabolomes among the Flower Buds of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and Panax notoginseng by UHPLC/IM-QTOF-HDMSE-Based Metabolomics Analysis

Comparative pharmacognosy and secondary metabolite analysis of Balanophorae herbs from different sources

The Balanophorae are not only traditional Chinese herbal medicines but also functional foods with diverse sources. This study aimed to distinguish pharmacognostic characteristics and secondary metabolites among different species of Balanophorae. Eight species of Balanophorae herbs were harvested, including 21 batches with 209 samples. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze secondary metabolites of Balanophorae from 21 sources. Targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to compare differences among the groups. Rhopalocnemis phalloide and B. indica can be identified by their pharmacognostic characteristics. Then, 41 secondary metabolites were identified or characterized in the mixed extracts of the 209 samples, mainly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and their derivatives. The distribution of these secondary metabolites revealed apparent differences among different species. In addition, targeted metabolomic analysis suggested that the secondary metabolite profiles of seven species of Balanophorae showed noticeable differences, and differences were also observed among different growing regions. Finally, five important metabolic markers were screened to successfully distinguish B. laxiflora, B. harlandii, and B. polyandra, including three phenolic acids and two flavonoids. This is the first study to systematically compare both the morphology and secondary metabolites among different sources of Balanophorae, which could provide effective information for identifying diverse species.

Multi-level chemical characterization and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of the polysaccharides from Prunella vulgaris

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a medicine and food homologous plant, but its quality evaluation seldom relies on the polysaccharides (PVPs). In this work, we established the multi-level fingerprinting and in vitro anti-inflammatory evaluation approaches to characterize and compare the polysaccharides of P. vulgaris collected from the major production regions in China. PVPs prepared from 22 batches of samples gave the content variation of 5.76-24.524 mg/g, but displayed high similarity in the molecular weight distribution. Hydrolyzed oligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization 2-14 were characterized with different numbers of pentose and hexose by HILIC-MS. The tested 22 batches of oligosaccharides exhibited visible differences in peak abundance, which failed to corelate to their production regions. All the PVPs contained Gal, Xyl, and Ara, as the main monosaccharides. Eleven batches among the tested PVPs showed the significant inhibitory effects on NO production on LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells at 10 μg/mL, but the exerted efficacy did not exhibit correlation with the production regions. Conclusively, we, for the first time, investigated the chemical features of PVPs at three levels, and assessed the chemical and anti-inflammatory variations among the different regions of P. vulgaris samples.

ASAP-MS combined with mass spectrum similarity and binary code for rapid and intelligent authentication of 78 edible flowers

This is the first report to use Atmospheric Pressure Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) for rapid and intelligent authentication of 78 edible flowers. Mass spectra of 451 batches were collected, with each run for 1-2 min. Experimental raw data was automatically extracted and aligned to create a MS database, based on which flowers were identified by MS similarity scores and rankings. To avoid background interference, top 25 ions of each flower were screened and gathered into an m/z pool containing 292 ions (+) and 399 ions (-). Binary sequence IDs were then generated by automatically assigning "1″ for presence and "0″ for absence, resulting in 78 binary codes. Binary code similarity with 78 IDs was used for authentication. Above two approaches were automatically performed by MATLAB, and compared to k-nearest neighbor model, and samples were all successfully identified (100 %). The proposed method provides a high-throughput authentication approach for large-scale food samples.

Mass spectrometry-based ginsenoside profiling: Recent applications, limitations, and perspectives

Ginseng, the roots of Panax species, is an important medicinal herb used as a tonic. As ginsenosides are key bioactive components of ginseng, holistic chemical profiling of them has provided many insights into understanding ginseng. Mass spectrometry has been a major methodology for profiling, which has been applied to realize numerous goals in ginseng research, such as the discrimination of different species, geographical origins, and ages, and the monitoring of processing and biotransformation. This review summarizes the various applications of ginsenoside profiling in ginseng research over the last three decades that have contributed to expanding our understanding of ginseng. However, we also note that most of the studies overlooked a crucial factor that influences the levels of ginsenosides: genetic variation. To highlight the effects of genetic variation on the chemical contents, we present our results of untargeted and targeted ginsenoside profiling of different genotypes cultivated under identical conditions, in addition to data regarding genome-level genetic diversity. Additionally, we analyze the other limitations of previous studies, such as imperfect variable control, deficient metadata, and lack of additional effort to validate causation. We conclude that the values of ginsenoside profiling studies can be enhanced by overcoming such limitations, as well as by integrating with other -omics techniques.

Chemical profiling of Shengmai injection, tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic characteristics of ginsenosides after intravenous dosing Shengmai injection in rats with cerebral ischemia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shengmai injection (SMI), consisting of Panax ginseng, Fructus schisandrae, and Radix ophiopogonis, has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to uncover the chemical profile of SMI, tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the main compounds after administration by combing UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS method was firstly established for the chemical profiling analysis of SMI. Then UPLC-QQQ-MS method was used to quantitatively analyze the contents of the main identified compounds in SMI and in the different tissues after intravenous dosing SMI in rats with cerebral ischemia. Finally, a new method was developed for the pharmacokinetic study of ginsenosides with considerable exposure.

RESULTS

A total of 59 compounds were identified in SMI, including 25 ginsenosides, 25 lignans, four ophiopogon saponins, and five flavonoids. Among them, 26 compounds were confirmed by the standard substance. By UPLC-QQQ-MS, 23 chemical compounds were then quantitatively identified with their contents in SMI. Ginsenosides, as the main active compounds from Panax ginseng, showed the highest contents in SMI. Fifteen compounds including ginsenosides and Schisandrol were further found to have considerable exposure in different tissues. A rapid, sensitive, and specified method was then developed for simultaneously detecting the seven ginsenosides in the plasma and had good method validation. Pharmacokinetic evaluation showed that PPD type ginsenosides (Rd, Rb1, Rc) were all exhibited at higher levels of exposure in the plasma and had a much slower elimination rate, whereas PPT type ginsenosides (Re, Rg1, Rf, Rg2) underwent fast elimination.

CONCLUSION

This study systematically revealed the ingredients of SMI and their tissue distribution. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of ginsenosides were also discovered. The findings provide a helpful reference for the pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical research on SMI.

Characterization and comparison of cardiomyocyte protection activities of non-starch polysaccharides from six ginseng root herbal medicines

Ginseng is rich of polysaccharides, however, the evidence supporting polysaccharides to distinguish various ginseng species is rarely reported. Focusing on six root ginseng (e.g., Panax ginseng-PG, P. quinquefolius-PQ, P. notoginseng-PN, red ginseng-RG, P. japonicus-PJ, and P. japonicus var. major-PJM), the contained non-starch polysaccharides (NPs) were structurally characterized and compared by both the chemical and biological evaluation. Holistic fingerprinting at three levels (the NPs and the acid hydrolysates involving oligosaccharides and monosaccharides) utilized various chromatography methods, and the treatment of H9c2 cells with the NPs by OGD and H2O2-induced injury models was used to assess the protective effect. NPs from six Panax herbal medicines occupied about 20 % of the total polysaccharides, which were of the highest content in RG and the lowest in PN. NPs from six ginseng exhibited weak differentiations in the molecular weight distribution, while marker oligosaccharides were found to distinguish PN and RG from the others. Glc and GalA were more abundant in the NPs for PG and RG, respectively. NPs from PQ (100/200 μg/mL) showed significant cardiomyocyte protection effect by regulating the mitochondrial functions. This work further testifies the role of polysaccharides in quality control of herbal medicine, with new markers discovered beneficial to distinguish the ginseng.

Prediction of molecular mechanism of processed ginseng in the treatment of heart failure based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is the most common cardiovascular disease in clinics. Processed Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. Products have significant therapeutic effects on HF. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the mechanism of action of Processed Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. Products in the treatment of HF.

METHODS

The saponin-like constituents of 3 different ginseng preparations were characterized by UPLC/QE-MS and the identified saponin constituents were subjected to network pharmacological analysis. Protein-protein interaction analyses of the targets of different ginseng preparations for the treatment of heart failure (HF) were performed using the STRING database, Gene Ontology enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the DAVID database, and the results of the network pharmacological analyses were validated using the Autodock software. Finally, the relative quantitative content of 5 major ginsenosides in 3 processed ginseng products was evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 40 saponin compounds were identified based on mass spectrometry data. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were used to predict the major targets of these sapions compounds and the key pathways mediating their anti-HF effects. After conducting a thorough screening, the study identified 5 primary ingredients of ginseng products ginsenoside Rh4, ginsenoside Rk3, ginsenoside Rk1, ginsenoside Rg5, and ginsenoside CK that can potentially target 22 essential proteins: EGFR, AKT1, ERBB2, STAT3, TNF, ESR1, MTOR, HRAS, MMP9, and PIK3CA, etc. Additionally, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that ginseng products can be beneficial in treating HF by interacting with pathways such as the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, the mTOR signaling pathway, and others.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed that the treatment of HF with different processed ginseng products may be related to the regulation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, apoptosis pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, etc, and that the key active ingredients may be concentrated in black ginseng, which provides a theoretical basis and direction for the further study of the mechanism of action of ginseng. This provides a theoretical basis and research direction for further in-depth study of its mechanism of action.

Discovery of effective combination from Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair against heart failure by spectrum-effect relationship analysis and zebrafish models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional herbal pair Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (roots and rhizomes of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, Renshen in Chinese) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux, Fuzi in Chinese), composition of two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine formula, in which Shenfu decoction has been used clinically in China for the treatment of heart failure at present.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Although the ginsenosides and aconite alkaloids have been proven as the essential bioactive components in Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair, the exact composition of effective components to combat heart failure are still unclear. Therefore, spectrum-effect relationship analysis was performed to reveal its effective combination for anti-heart failure effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the chemical constituents of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair were identified using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). The 39 major compounds in Renshen-Fuzi with five different compatibility ratios were simultaneously quantified using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QQQ MS/MS). Subsequently, zebrafish models induced by verapamil hydrochloride were constructed and four heart failure-related indexes were selected for pharmacodynamic evaluation of Renshen-Fuzi. To analyze the spectrum-effect relationships, partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were established among the contents of 39 compounds in Renshen-Fuzi with each pharmacodynamic index. According to the contribution of each compound to the whole efficacy, 12 compounds were finally screened out as the effective combination.

RESULTS

A total of 157 chemical compounds of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair were identified, in which 39 components were simultaneously determined. The pharmacological effects indicated that Renshen-Fuzi with 1:2 ratio exhibited the best effect based on zebrafish model, which could improve cardiac output and blood flow velocity and inhibit pericardial enlargement and venous blood stasis significantly. A combination of 9 ginsenosides and 3 aconite alkaloids based on a component-efficacy modeling by PLSR was screened, and exerted approximately equivalent pharmacological effects compared with Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings elucidated the effective combination of Renshen-Fuzi herbal pair that has been used in clinic for the treatment of heart failure, which could also promote the pharmacological research and quality control of their formula such as Shenfu decoction.

Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Creamy Yellow and Purple Colored Panax notoginseng Roots

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a species of the Araliaceae family that inhabits southwestern China, Burma, and Nepal. It is cultivated on a commercial scale in Yunnan province, China, owing to its significance in traditional Chinese medicine. Panax notoginseng roots are usually yellow-white (HS); however, purple roots (ZS) have also been reported. The majority of P. notoginseng research has concentrated on the identification and production of natural chemicals in HS; however, there is little to no information about the composition of ZS. Using UPLC-MS/MS, we investigated the global metabolome profile of both ZS- and HS-type roots and discovered 834 metabolites from 11 chemical groups. There were 123 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAM) in the HS and ZS roots, which were classified as lipids and lipid-like molecules, polyketides, organoheterocyclic chemicals, and organooxygen compounds. We investigated the associated compounds in the DAMs because of the importance of anthocyanins in color and saponins and ginsenosides in health benefits. In general, we discovered that pigment compounds such as petunidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-O-beta-galactoside were more abundant in ZS. The saponin (eight compounds) and ginsenoside (26 compounds) content of the two varieties of roots differed as well. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that flavonoid and anthocyanin production genes were more abundant in ZS than in HS. Similarly, we found differences in gene expression in genes involved in terpenoid production and related pathways. Overall, these findings suggest that the purple roots of P. notoginseng contain varying amounts of ginsenosides and anthocyanins compared to roots with a creamy yellow color.

Effects of ginseng consumption on the biomarkers of oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Oxidative stress (OS) is a key factor involved in the initiation and development of chronic diseases. Despite its widespread acceptance as an antioxidant, the effects of ginseng on OS in human clinical trials have not been comprehensively analyzed. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize the results of previous randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining the impact of ginseng consumption on OS indicators. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles on the effects of ginseng consumption on oxidative stress markers up to March 20, 2023. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess effect sizes. Twelve RCTs with 15 effect sizes revealed that the effects of ginseng lowered serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: -0.87, -0.08; p = 0.03) and significantly increased the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.45; p = 0.04), oxidative dismutase (SOD) (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.57; p < 0.0001), glutathione (GSH) (SMD = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.61; p = 0.005), and glutathione reductase (GR) (SMD = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.81; p < 0.0001) levels compared to the effects of placebo. However, the effects on serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were not significant. Moreover, subgroup analysis based on intervention duration showed that ginseng consumption increased GPx (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.05, 1.78; p = 0.039) and CAT (SMD = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.27, 1.21; p = 0.002) levels after more than 4 weeks of intervention. According to the results of this meta-analysis, ginseng supplementation dramatically reduced MDA levels and increased TAC, SOD, GSH, and GR levels. Our results open up a new line of defense against oxidative stress-induced diseases.

Three-dimensional characteristic chromatogram by online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography: Application to the identification and differentiation of ginseng from herbal medicines to various Chinese patent medicines

One bottleneck problem in the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the accurate identification of easily confused herbal medicines from Chinese patent medicine (CPM). Ginseng products derived from the multiple parts (e.g., root/rhizome, leaf, and flower bud) of multiple Panax species (P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, and P. japonicus var. major) are globally popular; however, their authentication is very challenging. Using online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC), we propose the concept of a three-dimensional characteristic chromatogram (3D CC) by integrating enhanced LC × LC separation and a contour plot that visualizes the stereoscopic chromatographic peaks and examine its performance in authenticating various ginseng products. Targeted at the resolution of 17 ginsenoside markers, an online LC × LC/UV system with a 56 min analysis time was constructed: a CORTECS UPLC Shield RP 18 column running at 0.1 mL/min for the first-dimensional chromatography and a Poroshell SB-Aq column at 2.0 mL/min in shift gradient mode in the second dimension of separation. In particular, ginsenosides Rg1/Re and Rc/Ra1 were well resolved. According to the presence/absence of stereo peaks consistent with the main ginsenoside markers in the 3D CC and the depth of shade (depending on peak volume), it was feasible to use a single method to identify and distinguish among 12 different ginseng species as the drug materials and the use of ginseng simultaneously from 21 CPMs. Conclusively, a practical solution enabling the accurate identification of easily confused TCMs was provided, covering both the drug materials and the compound preparations.

Differentiation of Mountain- and Garden-Cultivated Ginseng with Different Growth Years Using HS-SPME-GC-MS Coupled with Chemometrics

Although there are differences in the appearance of Mountain-Cultivated Ginseng (MCG) and Garden-Cultivated Ginseng (GCG), it is very difficult to distinguish them when the samples are processed to slices or powder. Moreover, there is significant price difference between them, which leads to the widespread adulteration or falsification in the market. Thus, the authentication of MCG and GCG is crucial for the effectiveness, safety, and quality stability of ginseng. In the present study, a headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) coupled with chemometrics approach was developed to characterize the volatile component profiles in MCG and GCG with 5-,10-,15-growth years, and subsequently to discover differentiating chemical markers. As a result, we characterized, for the first time, 46 volatile components from all the samples by using the NIST database and the Wiley library. The base peak intensity chromatograms were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis to comprehensively compare the chemical differences among the above samples. MCG_{5-,10-,15-years} and GCG_{5-,10-,15-years} samples were mainly divided into two groups by unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA), and 5 potential cultivation-dependent markers were discovered based on orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Moreover, MCG_{5-,10-,15-years} samples were divided into three blocks, and 12 potential growth-year-dependent markers enabled differentiation. Similarly, GCG_{5-,10-,15-years} samples were also separated into three groups, and six potential growth-year-dependent markers were determined. The proposed approach could be applied to directly distinguish MCG and GCG with different growth years and to identify the differentiation chemo-markers, which is an important criterion for evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and quality stability of ginseng.

Multicomponent Characterization of the Flower Bud of Panax notoginseng and Its Metabolites in Rat Plasma by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Ion Mobility Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

The flower bud of Panax notoginseng (PNF) consumed as a tonic shows potential in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. To identify the contained multi-components and, in particular, to clarify which components can be absorbed and what metabolites are transformed, unveiling the effective substances of PNF is of vital significance. A unique ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS) profiling approach and efficient data processing by the UNIFI^TM bioinformatics platform were employed to comprehensively identify the multi-components of PNF and the related metabolites in the plasma of rats after oral administration (at a dose of 3.6 g/kg). Two MS² data acquisition modes operating in the negative electrospray ionization mode, involving high-definition MS^E (HDMS^E) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA), were utilized aimed to extend the coverage and simultaneously ensure the quality of the MS² spectra. As a result, 219 components from PNF were identified or tentatively characterized, and 40 thereof could be absorbed. Moreover, 11 metabolites were characterized from the rat plasma. The metabolic pathways mainly included the phase I (deglycosylation and oxidation). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that systematically studies the in vivo metabolites of PNF, which can assist in better understanding its tonifying effects and benefit its further development.

Research progress on metabolomics in the quality evaluation and clinical study of Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng, an essential component of traditional medicine and often referred to as the king of herbs, has played a pivotal role in medicine globally for several millennia. Previously, traditional phytochemical methods were mainly used for quality evaluation and pharmacological mechanism studies of ginseng, resulting in the lack of systematicness and innovation and hindering the development and utilization of ginseng resources. Since the beginning of the new century, systems biology technology represented by metabolomics has shown unique advantages in the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine, establishing a bridge for communication between traditional medicine and modern medicine. P. ginseng, a special herb used in medicine and food, is one of the main research objects for qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolomics and has gradually become the focus of researchers globally. Here, we conducted a comprehensive summary and analysis of numerous studies published in ginseng metabolomics. This review aims to provide more novel ideas for the quality evaluation, development, and clinical application of ginseng in the future and offer more useful technical references for the modernization and internationalization of herbal medicine based on metabolomics.

Integrating Enhanced Profiling and Chemometrics to Unveil the Potential Markers for Differentiating among the Leaves of Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Ion Mobility-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

The leaves of Panax species (e.g., Panax ginseng-PGL, P. quinquefolius-PQL, and P. notoginseng-PNL) can serve as a source for healthcare products. Comprehensive characterization and unveiling of the metabolomic difference among PGL, PQL, and PNL are critical to ensure their correct use. For this purpose, enhanced profiling and chemometrics were integrated to probe into the ginsenoside markers for PGL/PQL/PNL by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS). A hybrid scan approach (HDMS^E-HDDDA) was established achieving the dimension-enhanced metabolic profiling, with 342 saponins identified or tentatively characterized from PGL/PQL/PNL. Multivariate statistical analysis (33 batches of leaf samples) could unveil 42 marker saponins, and the characteristic ginsenosides diagnostic for differentiating among PGL/PQL/PNL were primarily established. Compared with the single DDA or DIA, the HDMS^E-HDDDA hybrid scan approach could balance between the metabolome coverage and spectral reliability, leading to high-definition MS spectra and the additional collision-cross section (CCS) useful to differentiate isomers.

Recent advances in proteomics and metabolomics in plants

Over the past decade, systems biology and plant-omics have increasingly become the main stream in plant biology research. New developments in mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools, and methodological schema to integrate multi-omics data have leveraged recent advances in proteomics and metabolomics. These progresses are driving a rapid evolution in the field of plant research, greatly facilitating our understanding of the mechanistic aspects of plant metabolisms and the interactions of plants with their external environment. Here, we review the recent progresses in MS-based proteomics and metabolomics tools and workflows with a special focus on their applications to plant biology research using several case studies related to mechanistic understanding of stress response, gene/protein function characterization, metabolic and signaling pathways exploration, and natural product discovery. We also present a projection concerning future perspectives in MS-based proteomics and metabolomics development including their applications to and challenges for system biology. This review is intended to provide readers with an overview of how advanced MS technology, and integrated application of proteomics and metabolomics can be used to advance plant system biology research.

An off-line three-dimensional liquid chromatography/Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry approach enabling the discovery of 1561 potentially unknown ginsenosides from the flower buds of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng

To comprehensively elucidate the herbal metabolites is crucial in natural products research to discover new lead compounds. Ginsenosides are an important class of bioactive components from the Panax plants exerting the significant tonifying effects. However, to identify new ginsenosides by the conventional strategies trends to be more and more difficult because of the large spans of acid-base property (the neutral and acidic saponins), molecular mass (400-1400 Da), and rather low content. Herein, an off-line multidimensional chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry approach was presented: ion exchange chromatography (IEC) as the first dimension of separation, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) in the second dimension, and reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) for the third dimension which was hyphenated to a Q Exactive Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. By applying to the flower buds of P. ginseng (PGF), P. quinquefolius (PQF), and P. notoginseng (PNF), IEC using a PhenoSphere^TM SAX column could fractionate the total extracts into the neutral (unretained) and acidic (retained) fractions, while HILIC (an XBridge Amide column) and RPC (BEH Shield RP18 column) achieved the hydrophilic interaction and hydrophobic interaction separations, respectively. Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry offered rich structural information and complementary resolution to the co-eluting components, particular to those minor ones by including precursor ion lists in data-dependent acquisition. We could characterize 803 ginsenosides from PGF, 795 from PQF, and 833 from PNF, and 1561 thereof are potentially unknown. These results can indicate the great potential of this multidimensional approach in the ultra-deep characterization of complex herbal samples supporting the efficient discovery of potentially novel natural compounds.

Systematic Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Wenxin Granule via Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Ion Mobility Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry and Triple Quadrupole–Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Wenxin granule (WXG) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for the treatment of arrhythmia disease. Potent analytical technologies are needed to elucidate its chemical composition and assess the quality differences among multibatch samples. In this work, both a multicomponent characterization and quantitative assay of WXG were conducted using two liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approaches. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS) approach combined with intelligent peak annotation workflows was developed to characterize the multicomponents of WXG. A hybrid scan approach enabling alternative data-independent and data-dependent acquisitions was established. We characterized 205 components, including 92 ginsenosides, 53 steroidal saponins, 14 alkaloids, and 46 others. Moreover, an optimized scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (sMRM) method was elaborated, targeting 24 compounds of WXG via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTrap-MS), which was validated based on its selectivity, precision, stability, repeatability, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, and matrix effect. By applying this method to 27 batches of WXG samples, the content variations of multiple markers from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (21) and Codonopsis Radix (3) were depicted. Conclusively, we achieved the comprehensive multicomponent characterization and holistic quality assessment of WXG by targeting the non-volatile components.

Application of Large-Scale Molecular Prediction for Creating the Preferred Precursor Ions List to Enhance the Identification of Ginsenosides from the Flower Buds of Panax ginseng

This work was designed to evaluate the coverage of data-dependent acquisition (DDA) extensively utilized in the untargeted metabolite/component identification in the food sciences and pharmaceutical analysis. Using saponins from the flower buds of Panax ginseng (PGF) as an example, precursor ions list (PIL)-including DDA on a Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometer could enable higher coverage than the other four MS² acquisition approaches in characterizing PGF ginsenosides. A "Virtual Library of Ginsenoside" containing 13,536 ginsenoside molecules was established by C-language-programmed large-scale molecular prediction, which in combination with mass defect filtering could create a new PIL involving 1859 PGF saponin precursors. We could newly obtain the MS² spectra of at least 17 components and characterize 36 ginsenosides with unknown masses, among the 164 compounds identified from PGF. Conclusively, a molecular-prediction-oriented PIL in DDA can assist to discover more potentially novel molecules benefiting to the development of functional foods and new drugs.

Integrated Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics Analysis to Reveal the Potential Mechanism of Siwu Paste on Aplastic Anemia Induced by Chemotherapy Drugs

Purpose

This study aimed to reveal the multicomponent synergy mechanisms of SWP based on network pharmacology and metabolomics for exploring the relationships of active ingredients, biological targets, and crucial metabolic pathways.

Materials

Network pharmacology, including TRRUST, GO, and KEGG, enrichment was used to discover the active ingredients and potential regulation mechanisms of SWP. LC-MS and multivariate data analysis method were further applied to analyze serum metabolomics profiling for discovering the potential metabolic mechanisms of SWP on AA induced by Cyclophosphamide (CTX) and 1-Acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine (APH).

Results

A total of 27 important bioactive ingredients meeting the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) screening criteria from SWP were selected. Interaction networks were constructed and validated based on the 10 associated ingredients with the relevant targets. A total of 125 biomarkers were found by Metabolomics approach, which associated with the development of AA, mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. While SWP can reverse the above 12 metabolites changed by AA. Network analysis revealed the synergistic effects of SWP through the 43 crucial pathways, including Sphingolipid signaling pathway, Sphingolipid metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism, VEGF signaling pathway, Estrogen signaling pathway.

Conclusion

The study suggested that SWP is a useful alternative for the treatment of AA induced by CTX + APH. Its potential mechanisms are to improve hematopoietic microenvironment and promote bone marrow hematopoiesis therapies.

Rapid HILIC-Z ion mobility mass spectrometry (RHIMMS) method for untargeted metabolomics of complex biological samples

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in high-throughput methodologies in the 'omics' and synthetic biology fields call for rapid and sensitive workflows in the metabolic phenotyping of complex biological samples.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research was to evaluate a straightforward to implement LC-MS metabolomics method using a commercially available chromatography column that provides increased throughput. Reducing run time can potentially impact chromatography and therefore the effects of ion mobility spectrometry to expand peak capacity were also evaluated. Additional confidence provided via collision cross section measurements for detected features was also explored.

METHODS

A rapid untargeted metabolomics workflow was developed with broad metabolome coverage, combining zwitterionic-phase hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC-Z) with drift tube ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight (DTIM-qTOF) mass spectrometry. The analytical performance of our method was explored using extracts from complex biological samples, including a reproducibility study on chicken serum and a simple comparative study on a bacterial metabolome.

RESULTS

The method is acronymised RHIMMS for rapid HILIC-Z ion mobility mass spectrometry. We present the RHIMMS workflow starting with data acquisition, followed by data processing and analysis. RHIMMS demonstrates improved chromatographic separation for a selection of metabolites with wide physicochemical properties while maintaining reproducibility at better than 20% over 200 injections at 3.5 min per sample for the selected metabolites, and a mean of 13.9% for the top 50 metabolites by intensity. Additionally, the combination of rapid chromatographic separation with ion mobility allows improved annotation and the ability to distinguish isobaric compounds.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate RHIMMS to be a rapid, reproducible, sensitive and high-resolution analytical platform that is highly applicable to the untargeted metabolomics analysis of complex samples.

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

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

Multi-level fingerprinting and cardiomyocyte protection evaluation for comparing polysaccharides from six Panax herbal medicines

The role of polysaccharides in quality control of ginseng is underestimated. Large-scale comparison on the polysaccharides of Panax ginseng (PG), P. quinquefolius (PQ), P. notoginseng (PN), Red ginseng (RG), P. japonicus (ZJS), and P. japonicus var. major (ZZS), was performed by both chemical and biological approaches. Holistic fingerprinting at polysaccharide and the hydrolyzed oligosaccharide and monosaccharide levels utilized various chromatography methods, while OGD and OGD/R models on H9c2 cells were introduced to evaluate the protective effects on cell viability and mitochondrial function. Polysaccharides from six ginseng species exhibited remarkable content difference (RG > PG/ZZS/ZJS/PQ > PN), but weak differentiations in molecular weight distribution and oligosaccharide profiles, while Glc and GalA were richer for monosaccharide compositions of PG and RG polysaccharides, respectively. RG polysaccharides (25/50/100 μg/mL) showed significant cardiomyocyte protection by regulating mitochondrial functions. These new evidences may provide support for the supplementary role of polysaccharides in quality control of ginseng.

Region-Specific Biomarkers and Their Mechanisms in the Treatment of Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Study of Panax quinquefolius from Wendeng, China

Panax quinquefolius, a popular medicinal herb, has been cultivated in China for many years. In this work, the region-specific profiles of metabolites in P. quinquefolius from Wendeng was investigated using liquid-chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-(LC-Q-TOF)-based metabolomics analysis. The three most abundant biomarkers, identified as ginsenoside Rb₃, notoginsenoside R₁, and ginsenoside Rc, were the representative chemical components employed in the network pharmacology analysis. In addition, molecular docking and western blotting analyses revealed that the three compounds were effective binding ligands with Hsp90α, resulting in the inactivation of SRC and PI3K kinase, which eventually led to the inactivation of the Akt and ERK pathways and lung cancer suppression. The outcomes obtained herein demonstrated the intriguing chemical characteristics and potential functional activities of P. quinquefolius from Wendeng.

Metabolomics analysis of dandelions from different geographical regions in China

INTRODUCTION

Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.) is a perennial herb with diverse pharmacological effects. The development and utilization of dandelion have attracted much attention.

OBJECTIVES

Our aims were to provide a reference basis for the identification of the origin of dandelions and to study the influence of their origin on their quality. Methods High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze metabolites from dandelions from four different geographical regions in China, namely Gansu, Henan, Shanxi, and Jiangsu. Metabolite analysis was performed using orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis, and to identify potential metabolic pathways, MBRole was used to perform Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

Principal component analysis revealed that the chemical components of dandelions sampled from the four regions showed noticeable differences. Twenty-six, six, six, eight, eight, and fifteen differentially produced metabolites were identified upon comparison between Gansu and Jiangsu, Gansu and Shanxi, Gansu and Henan, Henan and Shanxi, Henan and Jiangsu, and Shanxi and Jiangsu, respectively. These differentially produced metabolites were mainly phenolic compounds. Further, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the main metabolic pathways involved were biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids.

CONCLUSION

The methods reported herein can be used to identify the origin of dandelions; moreover, our results can serve as a reference basis for future studies.

Effects of Radix Scrophulariae on Hyperthyroidism Assessed by Metabonomics and Network Pharmacology

Radix Scrophulariae (Chinese name: Xuanshen), a traditional Chinese herb, is used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, and in this study, its mechanisms were evaluated by metabonomics and system pharmacology. To study the anti-hyperthyroidism effects of R. Scrophulariae, a male SD rat (180–220 g) model of hyperthyroidism induced by Euthyrox was used. Thirty rats were randomly distributed into three groups: the Model group, the R. Scrophulariae treatment group (RS group) and the healthy Control group. Using the UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS metabolomics approach, 44 metabolites were found to be profoundly altered in the model group, and the levels of these biomarkers were significantly decreased after treatment with R. Scrophulariae. Forty-four metabolites and 13 signaling pathways related to R. Scrophulariae, including the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, primary bile acid biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism, were explored, and linoleic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism were identified as the most relevant metabolic pathways. In addition, the system pharmacology paradigm revealed that R. Scrophulariae contains 83 active ingredients and is related to 795 genes, and 804 disease genes are related to hyperthyroidism. The construction of the R. Scrophulariaceae-chemical composition-target-hyperthyroidism network identified a total of 112 intersection genes. The enriched gene targets were analyzed, and five pathways were found to be enriched. Among them pathways, the HIF signaling pathway had the highest enrichment score, which indicated that this pathway might be the main signaling pathway related to the treatment of hyperthyroidism by R. Scrophulariae.The integrated approach involving metabolomics and network pharmacology revealed that R. Scrophulariae might play a role in the treatment of hyperthyroidism by regulating the “IL6-APOA1-cholesterol” pathway and disturbing the HIF signaling pathway. The results demonstrate that the combination of metabolomics and network pharmacology could be used to reflect the effects of R. Scrophulariae on the biological network and metabolic state of hyperthyroidism and to evaluate the drug efficacy of R. Scrophulariaceae and its related mechanisms.

Simultaneous quantitative assays of 15 ginsenosides from 119 batches of ginseng samples representing 12 traditional Chinese medicines by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with charged aerosol detector

Despite the extensive consumption of ginseng, precise quality control of different ginseng products is highly challenging due to the containing of ginsenosides in common for different Panax species or different parts (e.g. root, leaf, and flower) of a same species. Herein we performed a comparative investigation of diverse ginseng products by simultaneously assaying 15 saponins (notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, -Re, -Rf, -Ra2, -Rb1, -Rc, -Ro, -Rb2, -Rb3, -Rd, 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3, 24(R)-pseudoginsenoside F11, chikusetsusaponins IV, and -IVa) using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/charged aerosol detector (UHPLC-CAD) approach. Twelve Panax-derived ginseng products (involving P. ginseng root, P. quinquefolius root, P. notoginseng root, Red ginseng, P. ginseng leaf, P. quinquefolius leaf, P. notoginseng leaf, P. ginseng flower, P. quinquefolius flower, P. notoginseng flower, P. japonicus root, and P. japonicus var. major root) were considered. Benefiting from the condition optimization, the baseline resolution of 15 ginsenosides was achieved on a CORTECS UPLC Shield RP18 column. This method was validated as specific, precise (0.81-1.94% intra-day variation; 0.86-2.35% inter-day variation), and accurate (recovery: 90.73-107.5%), with good linearity (R² > 0.999), high sensitivity (limit of detection: 0.02-0.21 μg; limit of quantitation: 0.04-0.42 μg) and sample stability (1.49-4.74%). Its application to 119 batches of ginseng samples unveiled vital information enabling the authentication of these different ginseng products. Detection of ginsenosides by CAD exhibited superiority over UV in sensitivity and the ability to monitor chromophore-free structures. Large-scale comparative studies by quantifying multiple markers provide methodological reference to the precise quality control of herbal medicine.

Ginseng Omics for Ginsenoside Biosynthesis

Ginseng, also known as the king of herbs, has been regarded as an important traditional medicine for several millennia. Ginsenosides, a group of triterpenoid saponins, have been characterized as bioactive compounds of ginseng. The complexity of ginsenosides hindered ginseng research and development both in cultivation and clinical research. Therefore, deciphering the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway has been a focus of interest for researchers worldwide. The new emergence of biological research tools consisting of omics and bioinformatic tools or computational biology tools are the research trend in the new century. Ginseng is one of the main subjects analyzed using these new quantification tools, including tools of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Here, we review the current progress of ginseng omics research and provide results for the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway. Organization and expression of the entire pathway, including the upstream MVA pathway, the cyclization of ginsenoside precursors, and the glycosylation process, are illustrated. Regulatory gene families such as transcriptional factors and transporters are also discussed in this review.

Characterization of the Components and Pharmacological Effects of Mountain-Cultivated Ginseng and Garden Ginseng Based on the Integrative Pharmacology Strategy

Panax ginseng C. A. Mey (PGCAM) is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Araliaceae family, mainly including Mountain-Cultivated Ginseng (MCG) and Garden Ginseng (GG) on the market. We aimed to establish a rapid, accurate and effective method to distinguish 15-year-old MCG and GG using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), and also explored the pharmacological mechanisms of the main components using the Integrative Pharmacology-based Network Computational Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCMIP V2.0; http://www.tcmip.cn/). Altogether, 23 potential quality markers were characterized to distinguish 15-year-old MCG and GG, including ginsenosides Ra2, Rg1, and Ra1, and malonyl-ginsenoside Ra3, etc. The contents of 19 constituents (mainly protopanaxadiol-type) were higher in MCG compared with that in GG, and four constituents (mainly carbohydrate compounds) were higher in GG. The 105 putative targets corresponding to 23 potential quality markers were mainly involved in 30 pathways, which could be divided into 10 models, such as immune regulation, systems (metabolic, nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive), blood-pressure regulation, as well as antitumor, antiaging, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the potential quality markers of MCG and GG could inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer by regulating the mRNA expression of PSA, S6K, MDM2, and P53 genes by acting on AR, MTOR, PI3K and other targets. The Integrative Pharmacology Strategy may provide an efficient way to identify chemical constituents and explore the pharmacological actions of TCM formulations.

Ginseng for erectile dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Dietary supplements with ginseng, or ginseng alone, are widely used for a broad range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is particularly popular in Asian countries. Individual studies assessing its effects are mostly small, of uneven methodological quality and have unclear results.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction.

SEARCH METHODS

We conducted systematic searches on multiple electronic databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, and loco-regional databases of east Asia, from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions on language and publication status. Handsearches included conference proceedings.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently classified studies and three authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included nine studies with 587 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, aged from 20 to 70 years old. The studies all compared ginseng to placebo. We found only short-term follow-up data (up to 12 weeks).  Primary outcomes Ginseng appears to have a trivial effect on erectile dysfunction when compared to placebo based on the Erectile Function Domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 instrument (scale: 1 to 30, higher scores imply better function; mean difference [MD] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 5.25; I² = 0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) assuming a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 4.  Ginseng probably also has a trivial effect on erectile function when compared to placebo based on the IIEF-5 instrument (scale: 1 to 25, higher scores imply better function; MD 2.39, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.88; I² = 0%; 3 studies; moderate certainty evidence) assuming a MCID of 5. Ginseng may have little to no effect on adverse events compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 1.45, 95% CI 0.69 to 3.03; I² = 0%; 7 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 86 adverse events per 1000 men in the placebo group, this would correspond to 39 more adverse events per 1000 (95% CI 27 fewer to 174 more). Secondary outcomes Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.69; I² = 23%; 6 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 207 per 1000 men self-reporting the ability to have intercourse in the placebo group, this would correspond to 321 more men (95% CI 158 more to 558 more) per 1000 self-reporting the ability to have intercourse. Ginseng may have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on the Intercourse Satisfaction Domain of the IIEF-15 (scale: 0 to 15, higher scores imply greater satisfaction; MD 1.19, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.97; I²=0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. It may also have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on item 5 of the IIEF-5 (scale: 0 to 5, higher scores imply more satisfaction; MD 0.60, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.18; 1 study; low certainty evidence) based on a MCID of 25% improvement from baseline. No study reported quality of life as an outcome. We found no trial evidence to inform comparisons to other treatments for erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. We were unable to conduct any predefined subgroup analyses.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Based on mostly low certainty evidence, ginseng may only have trivial effects on erectile function or satisfaction with intercourse compared to placebo when assessed using validated instruments. Ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse. It may have little to no effect on adverse events. We found no trial evidence comparing ginseng to other agents with a more established role in treating erectile dysfunction, such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.

The chromosome-level reference genome assembly for Panax notoginseng and insights into ginsenoside biosynthesis

Panax notoginseng, a perennial herb of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae, has played an important role in clinical treatment in China for thousands of years because of its extensive pharmacological effects. Here, we report a high-quality reference genome of P. notoginseng, with a genome size up to 2.66 Gb and a contig N50 of 1.12 Mb, produced with third-generation PacBio sequencing technology. This is the first chromosome-level genome assembly for the genus Panax. Through genome evolution analysis, we explored phylogenetic and whole-genome duplication events and examined their impact on saponin biosynthesis. We performed a detailed transcriptional analysis of P. notoginseng and explored gene-level mechanisms that regulate the formation of characteristic tubercles. Next, we studied the biosynthesis and regulation of saponins at temporal and spatial levels. We combined multi-omics data to identify genes that encode key enzymes in the P. notoginseng terpenoid biosynthetic pathway. Finally, we identified five glycosyltransferase genes whose products catalyzed the formation of different ginsenosides in P. notoginseng. The genetic information obtained in this study provides a resource for further exploration of the growth characteristics, cultivation, breeding, and saponin biosynthesis of P. notoginseng.

Recent applications of ion mobility spectrometry in natural product research

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a rapid separation technique capable of extracting complementary structural information to chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS). IMS, especially in combination with MS, has experienced inordinate growth in recent years as an analytical technique, and elicited intense interest in many research fields. In natural product analysis, IMS shows promise as an additional tool to enhance the performance of analytical methods used to identify promising drug candidates. Potential benefits of the incorporation of IMS into analytical workflows currently used in natural product analysis include the discrimination of structurally similar secondary metabolites, improving the quality of mass spectral data, and the use of mobility-derived collision cross-section (CCS) values as an additional identification criterion in targeted and untargeted analyses. This review aims to provide an overview of the application of IMS to natural product analysis over the last six years. Instrumental aspects and the fundamental background of IMS will be briefly covered, and recent applications of the technique for natural product analysis will be discussed to demonstrate the utility of the technique in this field.

Offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry enabling four-dimensional separation and characterization of the multicomponents from white ginseng and red ginseng

Inherent complexity of plant metabolites necessitates the use of multi-dimensional information to accomplish comprehensive profiling and confirmative identification. A dimension-enhanced strategy, by offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography/ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D-LC/IM-QTOF-MS) enabling four-dimensional separations (2D-LC, IM, and MS), is proposed. In combination with in-house database-driven automated peak annotation, this strategy was utilized to characterize ginsenosides simultaneously from white ginseng (WG) and red ginseng (RG). An offline 2D-LC system configuring an Xbridge Amide column and an HSS T3 column showed orthogonality 0.76 in the resolution of ginsenosides. Ginsenoside analysis was performed by data-independent high-definition MSE (HDMSE) in the negative ESI mode on a Vion™ IMS-QTOF hybrid high-resolution mass spectrometer, which could better resolve ginsenosides than MSE and directly give the CCS information. An in-house ginsenoside database recording 504 known ginsenosides and 58 reference compounds, was established to assist the identification of ginsenosides. Streamlined workflows, by applying UNIFI™ to automatedly annotate the HDMSE data, were proposed. We could separate and characterize 323 ginsenosides (including 286 from WG and 306 from RG), and 125 thereof may have not been isolated from the Panax genus. The established 2D-LC/IM-QTOF-HDMSE approach could also act as a magnifier to probe differentiated components between WG and RG. Compared with conventional approaches, this dimension-enhanced strategy could better resolve coeluting herbal components and more efficiently, more reliably identify the multicomponents, which, we believe, offers more possibilities for the systematic exposure and confirmative identification of plant metabolites.

Application of Identification and Evaluation Techniques for Ethnobotanical Medicinal Plant of Genus Panax: A Review

Genus Panax, as worldwide medicinal plants, has a medical history for thousands of years. Most of the entire genus are traditional ethnobotanical medicine in China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, which have given rise to international attention and use. This paper reviewed more than 210 articles and related books on the research of Panax medicinal plants and their Chinese patent medicines published in the last 30 years. The purpose was to review and summarize the species classification, geographical distribution, and ethnic minorities medicinal records of the genus Panax, and further to review the analytical tools and data analysis methods for the authentication and quality assessment of Panax medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines. Five main technologies applied in the identification and evaluation of Panax have been introduced and summarized. Chromatography was the most widely used one. Further research and development of molecular identification technology had the potential to become a mainstream identification technology. In addition, some novel, controversial, and worthy methods including electronic noses, electronic eyes, and DNA barcoding were also introduced. At the same time, more than 80% of the researches were carried out by a combination of chemometric pattern-recognition technologies and multi-analysis technologies. All the technologies and methods applied can provide strong support and guarantee for the identification and evaluation of genus Panax, and also conduce to excellent reference value for the development and in-depth research of new technologies in Panax.

Data-Dependent Acquisition and Database-Driven Efficient Peak Annotation for the Comprehensive Profiling and Characterization of the Multicomponents from Compound Xueshuantong Capsule by UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS

The state of the art ion mobility quadrupole time of flight (IM-QTOF) mass spectrometer coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) can offer four-dimensional information supporting the comprehensive multicomponent characterization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compound Xueshuantong Capsule (CXC) is a four-component Chinese patent medicine prescribed to treat ophthalmic disease and angina. However, research systematically elucidating its chemical composition is not available. An approach was established by integrating reversed-phase UHPLC separation, IM-QTOF-MS operating in both the negative and positive electrospray ionization modes, and a “Component Knockout” strategy. An in-house ginsenoside library and the incorporated TCM library of UNIFI^TM drove automated peak annotation. With the aid of 85 reference compounds, we could separate and characterize 230 components from CXC, including 155 ginsenosides, six astragalosides, 16 phenolic acids, 16 tanshinones, 13 flavonoids, six iridoids, ten phenylpropanoid, and eight others. Major components of CXC were from the monarch drug, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma. This study first clarifies the chemical complexity of CXC and the results obtained can assist to unveil the bioactive components and improve its quality control.

Integration of Data-Dependent Acquisition (DDA) and Data-Independent High-Definition MSE (HDMSE) for the Comprehensive Profiling and Characterization of Multicomponents from Panax japonicus by UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS

The complexity of herbal matrix necessitates the development of powerful analytical strategies to enable comprehensive multicomponent characterization. In this work, targeting the multicomponents from Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer, both data dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent high-definition MSE (HDMSE) in the negative electrospray ionization mode were used to extend the coverage of untargeted metabolites characterization by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a VionTM IM-QTOF (ion-mobility/quadrupole time-of-flight) high-resolution mass spectrometer. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved by using a BEH Shield RP18 column. Optimized mass-dependent ramp collision energy of DDA enabled more balanced MS/MS fragmentation for mono- to penta-glycosidic ginsenosides. An in-house ginsenoside database containing 504 known ginsenosides and 60 reference compounds was established and incorporated into UNIFITM, by which efficient and automated peak annotation was accomplished. By streamlined data processing workflows, we could identify or tentatively characterize 178 saponins from P. japonicus, of which 75 may have not been isolated from the Panax genus. Amongst them, 168 ginsenosides were characterized based on the DDA data, while 10 ones were newly identified from the HDMSE data, which indicated their complementary role. Conclusively, the in-depth deconvolution and characterization of multicomponents from P. japonicus were achieved, and the approaches we developed can be an example for comprehensive chemical basis elucidation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).