Analysis of chemical constituents of Sabia parviflora by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry

Effective and targeted identification of chemical components of the Chinese herbal medicine Sabia parviflora remains a major challenge. Herein, we used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze the chemical composition of S.parviflora. Its chemical components were rapidly identified using the characteristic ion filtration method, which involves these steps: (1) summarize the characteristic ions based on similar skeletons and compounds with substitution patterns, and establish a database; (2) screen and classify different types of compounds in S. parviflora based on the characteristic ions; and (3) identify the compounds based on molecular weight, secondary fragments, and the database. In the present study, the characteristic ions in S. parviflora were grouped into five major classes. A total of 104 components were identified, including 12 potentially novel compounds. This rapid and accurate method provides an important basis for basic chemical research in S. parviflora.

LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS detection of food flavonoids: principle, methodology, and applications

Flavonoids have been attracting increasing research interest because of their multiple health promoting effects. However, many flavonoids with similar structures are present in foods, often at low concentrations, which increases the difficulty of their separation and identification. Liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) has become one of the most widely used techniques for flavonoid detection. LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS can achieve highly efficient separation by LC; it also provides structural information regarding flavonoids by Q-TOF-MS/MS. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the scientific principles and detailed methodologies (e.g., qualitative determination, quantitative determination, and data processing) of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS specifically for food flavonoids. It also discusses the recent applications of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS in determination of flavonoid types and contents in agricultural products, changes in their structures and contents during food processing, and metabolism in vivo after consumption. Moreover, it proposes necessary technological improvements and potential applications. This review would facilitate the scientific understanding of theory and technique of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS for flavonoid detection, and promote its applications in food and health industry.

Chrysotoxene induces apoptosis of human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo via activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway

Previous studies have indicated that chrysotoxene may be a potential drug used to treat tumors, however the effect of chrysotoxene on hepatoblastoma remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect and elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of chrysotoxene on human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. Chrysotoxene (5-40 µg/ml) exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells with inhibitory rates of 24.67-84.06% (half maximal inhibitory concentration, 19.64 µg/ml), observed from a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The results of flow cytometry analysis indicated that chrysotoxene (5, 10 or 20 µg/ml) significantly (P<0.01) induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells with apoptotic rates of 23.14, 35.68 and 55.61% respectively, compared with the control group. The results of western blot analysis indicated that chrysotoxene (5, 10 or 20 µg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) promoted the release of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) and Cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, downregulated Survivin and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) proteins levels, and upregulated Bcl-2-associated X factor (Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), cleaved (c)-caspase-9 and c-caspase-3 protein levels in HepG2 cells, compared with the control group. The results of xenograft analysis indicated that chrysotoxene (20 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.01) inhibited the growth of HepG2 cell-induced tumors by regulating the aforementioned apoptotic proteins (Smac, Cytochrome c, Survivin, Bcl-2, Bax, Apaf-1, c-caspase-9 and c-caspase-3), compared with the control group. In conclusion, chrysotoxene induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo via activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway, suggesting that it may be a potential candidate drug for treating patients with hepatoblastoma.

Therapeutic effects of Caragana pruinosa Kom. roots extract on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Caragana pruinosa Kom. is a deciduous shrub belonging to the genus of Caragana (Leguminosae), and Caragana plants exhibit a wide range of interesting pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-arthritis activity, etc.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was aimed to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of 80% EtOH extract from the roots of C. pruinosa (ERCP) on arthritis and explore the potential pharmacological mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After collagen induced arthritis (CIA) were established in rats, the animals were orally administered with ERCP (130, 260 and 520mg/kg) for 30 days. During the treatment, the rats' body weights, arthritis indices and paw volumes were measured every 5 days. Subsequently, rats' blood samples were collected to determine TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and C-reactive protein (CRP) contents in serum. Then, rats were sacrificed and the hind paws and knee joints were collected for histopathological examination.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that ERCP significantly suppressed the inflammatory reactions and destructions in joints and synovial tissues. ERCP inhibited the paw swelling and arthritis index in CIA rats. Additionally, it decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and CRP, whereas increased that of IL-10.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested ERCP has significant anti-arthritic effect on CIA rats, and the pharmacological mechanisms are related to the down-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and CRP and the up-regulation of IL-10.