LC-MS methods combination for identification and quantification of trans-sinapoylquinic acid regioisomers in green coffee

The present study aims to both identify and quantify trans-sinapoylquinic acid (SiQA) regioisomers in green coffee by combined UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS methods. Among the various mono-acyl chlorogenic acids found in green coffee, SiQA regioisomers are the least studied despite having been indicated as unique phytochemical markers of Coffea canephora (known as Robusta). The lack of commercially available authentic standards has been bypassed by resorting to the advantages offered by high-resolution LC-MS as far as the identification is concerned. SiQA regioisomers have been identified in several samples of Robusta and Coffea arabica (known as Arabica) commercial lots from different geographical origin and, for the first time, in different samples of coffee wild species (Coffea liberica and Coffea pseudozanguebariae). Quantification (total SiQA ranging from 3 to 5 mg/100 g) let to reconsider these chlorogenic acids as unique phytochemical markers of Robusta being present in the same quantity and distribution in C. liberica as well. Gardeniae Fructus samples (fruits of Gardenia jasminoides) have additionally been characterized as this matrix is recognized as one of the few naturally occurring SiQA sources. The SiQA regioisomer content (total SiQA about 80 mg/100 mg) fully supports the proposal to use this matrix as a surrogate standard for further studies.

Preparative separation of iridoid glucosides and crocins from Gardeniae Fructus using sequential macroporous resin column chromatography and evaluation of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities

Iridoid glycosides (geniposide (GP), genipin-1-gentiobioside (GB), etc.) and crocins (crocin Ⅰ (CR1), crocin Ⅱ(CR2), etc.) are two main bioactive components in Gardeniae Fructus (GF), which is a famous traditional Chinese medicine. Iridoid glycosides exhibit many activities and are used to manufacture gardenia blue pigment for the food industry. Crocins are rare natural water-soluble carotenoids that are often used as food colorants. A sequential macroporous resin column chromatography technology composed of HC-500B and HC-900B resins was developed to selectively separate iridoid glucosides and crocins from GF. The adsorption of GP on HC-900B resin was an exothermic process. The adsorption of CR1 on HC-500B resin was an endothermic process. The two kinds of components were completely separated by a sequential resin column. GB and GP were mainly found in product 1 (P1) with purities of 11.38% and 46.83%, respectively, while CR1 and CR2 were mainly found in product 2 (P2) with purities of 12.32% and 1.40%, respectively. The recovery yields of all the compounds were more than 80%. The above results showed that sequential resin column chromatography technology achieved high selectivity and recovery yields. GF extract, P1 and P2 could significantly inhibit the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, indicating that iridoid glycosides and crocins provide a greater contribution to the anti-inflammatory activity of GF. At the same time, compared to the GF extract and P1, P2 exhibited stronger scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, indicating that crocins may provide a significant contribution to the antioxidant activity of GF.

[Mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus in ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis based on metabolomics and intestinal microbiota]

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA), a chronic autoimmune disease, is featured by persistent joint inflammation. The development of RA is associated with the disturbance of endogenous metabolites and intestinal microbiota. Gardeniae Fructus(GF), one of the commonly used medicinal food in China, is usually prescribed for the prevention and treatment of jaundice, inflammation, ache, fever, and skin ulcers. GF exerts an effect on ameliorating RA, the mechanism of which remains to be studied. In this study, ultra-perfor-mance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)-based serum non-target metabolomics and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing were employed to elucidate the mechanism of GF in ameliorating RA induced by complete Freund's adjuvant in rats. The results showed that GF alleviated the pathological conditions in adjuvant arthritis(AA) rats. The low-and high-dose GF lo-wered the serum levels of interleukin(IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), IL-1β, and prostaglandin E2 in the rats(P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathways involved in metabolomics were mainly α-linolenic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The results of 16S rDNA sequencing showed that the Streptococcus, Facklamia, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, and Kosakonia were the critical gut microorganisms for GF to treat AA in rats. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the three differential metabolites PE-NMe[18:1(9Z)/20:0], PC[20:1(11Z)/18:3(6Z,9Z,12Z)], and PC[20:0/18:4(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)] were correlated with the differential bacteria. In conclusion, GF may ameliorate RA by regulating the composition of intestinal microbiota, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The findings provide new ideas and data for elucidating the mechanism of GF in relieving RA.

Feasibility of mixed herbal medicine for improving gastric function in an alcohol-induced gastritis model

PURPOSE

Excessive exercise causes various gastric dysfunction. Gastritis is common among athletes who perform high-intensity training. Gastritis is a digestive disease involving mucosal damage caused by inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress. In this study, the effects of a complex natural extract on gastric mucosal damage and the expression of inflammatory factors were evaluated in an animal model of alcohol-induced gastritis.

METHODS

A mixed herbal medicine (Ma-al-gan; MAG) was prepared with four natural products (Curcumae longae Rhizoma, Schisandrae chinensis Fructus, Artemisiae scopariae herba, and Gardeniae Fructus) identified by a systemic analysis using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform. The effects of MAG on alcohol-induced gastric damage were evaluated.

RESULTS

MAG (10-100 μg/mL) significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. MAG (500 mg/kg/d) effectively prevented alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury in vivo.

CONCLUSION

MAG regulates inflammatory signals and oxidative stress and is a potential herbal medicine for gastric disorders.

[Bioinformatics analysis and validation of key genes in transformation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy to end-stage renal disease and traditional Chinese medicines for prevention and treatment]

This study used bioinformatics analysis to screen out key genes involved in the transformation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy to end-stage renal disease and to predict targeted Chinese herbs and medicines and active ingredients with preventive and curative effects. The GSE108113 microarray of idiopathic membranous nephropathy and GSE37171 microarray of were downloaded from the comprehensive gene expression database, and 8 homozygous differentially expressed genes for the transformation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy into end-stage renal disease of were screened out by R software. GraphPad Prism was used to verify the expression of homozygous differentially expressed genes in GSE115857 microarray of idiopathic membranous nephropathy and GSE66494 microarray of chronic kidney disease, and 7 key genes(FOS, OGT, CLK1, TIA1, TTC14, CHORDC1, and ANKRD36B) were finally obtained. The Gene Ontology(GO) analysis was performed. There were 209 functions of encoded proteins, mainly involved in regulation of RNA splicing, cytoplasmic stress granule, poly(A) binding, etc. Thirteen traditional Chinese medicines with the effect of preventing the transformation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy to end-stage renal disease were screened out from Coremine Medical database, including Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Lycopi Herba, and Gardeniae Fructus, which were included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The active ingredient quercetin mined from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) had ability to dock with the key gene FOS-encoded protein molecule, which provided targets and research ideas for the development of new traditional Chinese medicines.

Co-Treatments of Gardeniae Fructus and Silymarin Ameliorates Excessive Oxidative Stress-Driven Liver Fibrosis by Regulation of Hepatic Sirtuin1 Activities Using Thioacetamide-Induced Mice Model

Gardeniae Fructus (GF, the dried ripe fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) has traditionally been used to treat various diseases in East Asian countries, such as liver disease. Silymarin is a well-known medicine used to treat numerous liver diseases globally. The present study was purposed to evaluate the synergistic effects of GF and silymarin on the thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of a mouse model. Mice were orally administered with distilled water, GF (100 mg/kg, GF 100), silymarin (100 mg/kg, Sily 100), and GF and silymarin mixtures (50 and 100 mg/kg, GS 50 and 100). The GS group showed remarkable amelioration of liver injury in the serum levels and histopathology by observing the inflamed cell infiltrations and decreases in necrotic bodies through the liver tissue. TAA caused liver tissue oxidation, which was evidenced by the abnormal statuses of lipid peroxidation and deteriorations in the total glutathione in the hepatic protein levels; moreover, the immunohistochemistry supported the increases in the positive signals against 4-hydroxyneal and 8-OHdG through the liver tissue. These alterations corresponded well to hepatic inflammation by an increase in F4/80 positive cells and increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hepatic protein levels; however, administration with GS, especially the high dose group, not only remarkably reduced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver cells but also considerably diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines, which were driven by Kupffer cell activations, as compared with each of the single treatment groups. The pharmacological properties of GS prolonged liver fibrosis by the amelioration of hepatic stellate cells’ (HSCs’) activation that is dominantly expressed by huge extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules including α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type1 and 3, respectively. We further figured out that GS ameliorated HSCs activated by the regulation of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) activities in the hepatic protein levels, and this finding excellently reenacted the transforming growth factor-β-treated LX-2-cells-induced cell death signals depending on the Sirt1 activities. Future studies need to reveal the pharmacological roles of GS on the specific cell types during the liver fibrosis condition.

[Origin identification of Gardeniae Fructus based on hyperspectral imaging technology]

In order to realize rapid and non-destructive identification of the origin of Gardeniae Fructus, a technical method based on hyperspectral imaging technology was established in this study. Spectral information of Gardeniae Fructus samples from eight production origins was acquired from visible NIR(410-990 nm, VNIR) and short wavelength NIR(950-2 500 nm, SWIR) bands based on hyperspectral imaging techniques. The average spectral reflectance within the region of interest was extracted and calculated using the ENVI 5.3 software, resulting in 1 600 sample data. The visible short wavelength infrared band(fused bands) spectral data covering the range 410-2 500 nm were obtained after combining the spectral data of VNIR and SWIR. Data were de-noised by five common preprocessing methods, including multivariate scatter correction, Savitzky-Golay smoothing, standard normal variate, first derivative(FD), and second derivative from VNIR, SWIR, and fused bands(VNIR+SWIR). Partial least squares discriminant analysis, linear support vector classification(LinearSVC), and random forest were used to establish the model for origin identification of Gardeniae Fructus. The results indicated that the identification model of Gardeniae Fructus origin established after FD pretreatment of the spectral data in the fused bands could yield good results. According to the confusion matrix evaluation results, the model prediction set using LinearSVC reached 100% accuracy, so the optimum identification model of Gardeniae Fructus origin was determined as fusion bands-FD-LinearSVC. Therefore, the hyperspectral imaging technology can achieve rapid, nondestructive, and accurate identification of Gardeniae Fructus samples of different origins, which provides a technical reference for the differential detection of Gardeniae Fructus and other Chinese medicines.

Gardeniae Fructus Extract Alleviates Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in Mice

Muscle atrophy (MA) is a case in which protein degeneration occurs excessively due to an imbalance between protein synthesis and breakdown, and is characterized by decreased muscle mass and weakened muscle strength. Despite mounting concern about MA, the number of patients with MA is increasing every year. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) hot water extract on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MA in mice. C57BL/6N mice were grouped (n = 8) as follows: Normal mice (Normal), MA mice were treated with distilled water (Control), MA mice were treated with GF 100 mg/kg (GF100), MA mice were treated with GF 200 mg/kg (GF200). For 10 days, DEX (25 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) injection was used to induce MA, and GF was administered. GF treatment restored the muscle weight decreased due to MA, and in particular, the weights of EDL+TA and Sol were significantly increased in the GF200 group. Also, it was confirmed that the swimming time was improved in the GF200 group. In addition, the expression of NADPH oxidase related to oxidative stress was significantly reduced, and protective (insulin-like growth factor I/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway) and catabolic (AMP-activated kinase [AMPK]/sirtuin 1 [SIRT1]/proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-forkhead box O (FOXO) pathway) pathways were significantly modulated. These results demonstrate that GF regulates muscle protein synthesis and catabolic pathways, and in particular, it is judged to improve MA by regulating the proteolytic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α-FOXO pathway.

[Correlation of non-crocin components of Gardeniae Fructus with its external properties]

This study aimed to explore the correlation of the content of 15 non-crocin components of Gardeniae Fructus with its external properties(shape and color). The fruit shape was quantified according to the length/diameter measured by ruler and vernier calliper and the chromaticity values L~*, a~*, b~*, and ΔE~* of all samples were determined by chroma meter. Chromatographic separation was conducted on a Welch Ultimate XB C_(18) column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) under gradient elution with acetonitrile solution(A) and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was 238 nm. The high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was established for simultaneous determination of the content of eight iridoid glycosides, six phenolic acids, and one flavonoid in 21 batches of Gardeniae Fructus samples. The correlation of the content of the 15 components with shapes and chromaticity values in each sample was analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. According to the circulation situation and traditional experience, 21 batches of Gardeniae Fructus samples were divided into three categories, namely 14 batches of Jiangxi products(small and round, red and yellow), 4 batches of Fujian products(oval, red) and 3 batches of Shuizhizi(Gardenia jasminoides, longest, reddest). The Gardeniae Fructus samples were sequenced as Jiangxi products(1.71) < Fujian products(1.99) < Shuizhizi(2.55) in terms of the length/diameter average, Jiangxi products(17.7) < Fujian products(19.7) ≈ Shuizhizi(19.6) in terms of average value of a~*(red and green), Jiangxi products(24.4) > Fujian products(19.2) ≈ Shuizhizi(19.3) in terms of b~*(yellow and blue), and Jiangxi products(49.8) > Fujian products(48.0) ≈ Shuizhizi(47.8) in terms of L~*(brightness). The total content of the 15 components, 8 iridoid glycosides, 6 phenolic acids, and rutin in Jiangxi products was in the ranges of 65.53-99.64, 52.15-89.16, 6.10-11.83, and 0.145-1.81 mg·g~(-1), respectively. The total amount of the 15 components, 8 iridoid glycosides, 6 phenolic acids, and rutin in Fujian products was in the ranges of 69.33-94.35, 63.52-85.19, 5.39-8.41, and 0.333-0.757 mg·g~(-1), respectively. In Shuizhizi, the total content of the 15 components, 8 iridoid glycosides, 6 phenolic acids, and rutin was in the ranges of 77.35-85.98, 68.69-76.56, 7.30-9.05, and 0.368-0.697 mg·g~(-1), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that Gardeniae Fructus with leaner and longer fruit shape possessed lower content of total phenolic acids(the sum of the six phenolic acids) and rutin, but the correlation with iridoid glycosides was not high. Additionally, the higher content of total phenolic acids and rutin denoted the yellow coloration of Gardeniae Fructus, and the higher content of cryptochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and rutin meant the brighter color of Gardeniae Fructus. However, the higher content of geniposide and neochlorogenic acid and the lower content of deacetyl asperulosidic acid methyl ester led to the red coloration of Gardeniae Fructus. The results indicated that the morphological characters of Gardeniae Fructus were closely related to its chemical components. The more round shape and the yellower color reflected the higher content of phenolic acids and flavonoid, and Gardeniae Fructus with redder color had higher content of geniposide. OPLA-DA showed that the length/diameter and the content of six iridoid glycosides(gardoside, shanzhiside, gardenoside, genipin 1-gentiobioside, 6β-hydroxy geniposide, and deacetyl asperulosidic acid methyl ester), two phenolic acids(neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid) and rutin could be used as markers to distinguish three types of samples. This study provided experimental data for the scientific connotation of "quality evaluation through morphological identification" of Gardeniae Fructus.

Gardeniae Fructus Attenuates Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice via Both AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB Pathway and Nrf2 Signaling

Liver fibrosis, which means a sort of the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrices (ECMs) components through the liver tissue, is considered as tissue repair or wound-healing status. This pathological stage potentially leads to cirrhosis, if not controlled, it progressively results in hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we investigated the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of mice model. GF not only attenuated hepatic tissue oxidation but also improved hepatic inflammation. We further confirmed that GF led to ameliorating liver fibrosis by ECMs degradations. Regarding the possible underlying mechanism of GF, we observed GF regulated epigenetic regulator, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), in TAA-injected liver tissue. These alterations were well supported by SIRT1 related signaling pathways through regulations of its downstream proteins including, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p47^phox, NADPH oxidase 2, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1, respectively. To validate the possible mechanism of GF, we used HepG2 cells with hydrogen peroxide treated oxidative stress and chronic exposure conditions via deteriorations of cellular SIRT1. Moreover, GF remarkably attenuated ECMs accumulations in transforming growth factor–β1-induced LX-2 cells relying on the SIRT1 existence. Taken together, GF attenuated liver fibrosis through AMPK/SIRT1 pathway as well as Nrf2 signaling cascades. Therefore, GF could be a clinical remedy for liver fibrosis patients in the future.

Mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with the oral intake of Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicines containing Gardeniae Fructus

We report a case of mesenteric phlebosclerosis (MP) in a woman in her 50s who had been taking Kamishoyosan for 13 years. Colonoscopic findings 13 years after the start of oral administration were nonspecific, with decreased vascular permeability and redness of the mucosa. The extent of the lesion was initially from the cecum to the ascending colon but expanded over time to the transverse colon. In colon biopsies, there was a remarkable deposition of collagen fibers around the small vessels in the lamina propria of the cecum or the ascending colon over time, and the specific lesions expanded to the transverse colon. The deposition of collagen fibers around the vessels in the lamina propria was already present when the total oral dose of the Sanshishi component was low. In this valuable case of MP, changes after the start of oral administration of Kamishoyosan could be followed over time via endoscopy and biopsy.

Metabolomics based comprehensive investigation of Gardeniae Fructus induced hepatotoxicity

Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi in Chinese, ZZ in brief), a commonly used herbal medicine, has aroused wide concern for hepatotoxicity, but the mechanism remains to be investigated. This study was aimed at investigating the mechanism of ZZ-induced liver injury in vivo and in vitro based on metabolomics and evaluating the hepatotoxicity prediction ability of the in vitro model. SD rats were administered with extracted ZZ and HepG2 cells were treated with genipin, the major hepatotoxic metabolite of ZZ. Liver, plasma, intracellular and extracellular samples were obtained for metabolomics analysis. As a result, ZZ caused plasma biochemical and liver histopathological alterations in rats, and induced purine and amino acid metabolism disorder in the liver and pyrimidine, primary bile acids, amino acid metabolism and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis disorder in the plasma. Pyrimidine, purine, amino acid metabolism and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis were also found to be disturbed in the genipin-treated HepG2 cells, which exhibited similarity with the result in vivo. This study comprehensively illustrates the underlying mechanism involved in ZZ-related hepatotoxicity from the aspect of metabolome, and provides evidence that identifying hepatotoxicity can be achieved in cells, representing a non-animal alternative for systemic toxicology.

[Study on time-toxicity relationship and mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus extract on hepatoxicity in rats based on proteomics]

To study the time-toxicity relationship and mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus extract on the hepatoxicity in rats. Rats were randomly divided into C group(0 day), D5 group(5 days), D12 group(12 days), D19 group(19 days), and D26 group(7 days recovery after 19 days of administration). The rats in normal group received normal saline through intragastric administration, and the rats in other groups received 10 g·kg~(-1 )Gardeniae Fructus extract through intragastric administration. After the final administration, the livers were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the liver tissue. Total liver proteins were extracted for proteomic analysis, detected by the Nano-ESI liquid-mass spectrometry system and identified by Protein Disco-very software. SIEVE software was used for relative quantitative and qualitative analysis of proteins. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed based on STRING. Cytoscape software was used for cluster analysis of differential proteins. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) database was used to perform enrichment signal pathway analysis. Pearson correlation analysis was performed for the screened differential protein expression and liver pathology degree score. The results showed that the severity of liver injury in D5, D12 and D19 groups was significantly higher than that in group C. The degree of liver damage in D5 group was slightly higher than that in D12 and D19 groups, with no significant difference between group D26 and group C. Totally 147 key differential proteins have been screened out by proteomics and mainly formed 6 clusters, involving in drug metabolism pathways, retinol metabolism pathways, proteasomes, amino acid biosynthesis pathways, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. The results of Pearson correlation analysis indicated that differential protein expressions had a certain temporal relationship with the change of liver pathological degree. The above results indicated that the severity of liver damage caused by Gardeniae Fructus extract did not increase with time and would recover after drug with drawal. The above pathways may be related to the mechanism of liver injury induced by Gardeniae Fructus extract.

Analysis of the chemical composition changes of Gardeniae Fructus before and after processing based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gardeniae Fructus, the dry fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has been widely used for the treatment of different diseases. Although four types of processed Gardeniae Fructus products, characterized by differing effects, are available for clinical use, little is known regarding the respective processing mechanisms. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical analysis was applied to characterize the chemical profiles of the differently processed Gardeniae Fructus products and to determine differences in their chemical compositions, thereby enabling us to identify those active compounds associated with the observed clinical effects. A total of 125 compounds were accordingly identified, among which, 56 were established as primary contributors to the significant differences (P < 0.01) between crude and processed Gardeniae Fructus, based on t-test analysis. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms underlying the chemical transformations that occurred during processing were discussed. The findings of this study may not only contribute to the more effective quality control of Gardeniae Fructus but also provide basic information for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the changes in chemical constituents in response to processing, and provide a basis for further investigations of Gardeniae Fructus processing mechanisms.

[UPLC quantitative fingerprint research on Gardeniae Fructus based on chemical pattern recognition technology]

Twenty-six batches of Gardeniae Fructus from different producing area were collected for the development of the fingerprint, and the main components of Gardeniae Fructus were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The producing areas of Gardeniae Fructus were distinguished by chemical pattern recognition technology, and the index components of Gardeniae Fructus were quantitated. An UPLC wavelength switching method was adopted, and the separation was carried out on a Waters Acquity UPLC HASS C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) column using the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.5% formic acid water for gradient elution. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used for the data ana-lysis. The results showed that the similarity of 26 batches of Gardeniae Fructus was more than 0.89, and ten common peaks were defined. Sixteen compounds including monoterpenes, iridoids and diterpenoids were identified by reference identification, literature comparison and high-resolution mass spectrometry data analysis. The distinguishment of origin of Gardeniae Fructus was realized by PCA and OPLS-DA analysis, and two quality differential markers were screened as geniposide and crocin Ⅰ. The contents of crocin Ⅰ, crocin Ⅱ and geniposide in Gardeniae Fructus from different places were different. These results will provide reference for the geographical origin traceability of Gardeniae Fructus.

[Study on mechanisms of anti-Alzheimer's disease action of absorbed components of Gardeniae Fructus based on network pharmacology]

Gardeniae Fructus has the traditional effects of promoting intelligence and inducing resuscitation, but its mechanism is unclear. In this study, the relationship between Gardeniae Fructus's traditional effect of promoting intelligence and inducing resuscitation and anti-Alzheimer's disease effect was taken as the starting point to investigate the anti-Alzheimer's disease mechanism of the major absorbed components in Gardeniae Fructus by the network pharmacology method. The network pharmacology research model of &quot;absorbed composition-target-pathway-disease&quot; was adopted. In this study, the active components screening and target prediction technology were used to determine the active components and targets of Gardeniae Fructus in treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The enrichment pathway and biological process of Gardeniae Fructus were studied by using the bioinformatics annotation database(DAVID), and the results of molecular docking validation network analysis were used to elaborate the mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus in treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It was found that 35 absorbed components of Gardeniae Fructus not only regulated 48 targets such as cholines-terase(BCHE) and carbonic anhydrase 2(CA2), but also affected 11 biological processes(e.g. transcription factor activity, nuclear receptor activity, steroid hormone receptor activity, amide binding and peptide binding) and 7 metabolic pathways(MAPK signaling pathway, Alzheimer disease and estrogen signaling pathway, etc.). Molecular docking results showed that more than 60% of the active components could be well docked with key targets, and the relevant literature also showed that the active components could inhibit the MAPK1 expression of key targets, indicating a high reliability of results. These results indicated that Gardeniae Fructus may play its anti-Alzheimer's disease action via a &quot;multi-ingredients-multi-targets and multi-pathways&quot; mode, providing a scientific basis for further drug research and development.

[Correlation between color and content of eight components of Gardeniae Fructus at different harvest time]

This research is to establish an HPLC method for determination of geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide, p-trans-coumaroylgenipin gentiobioside, chlorogenic acid, crocin-Ⅰ, crocin-Ⅱ and crocin-Ⅲ in Gardeniae Fructus at different harvest time. The detection wavelength was 238, 320 and 440 nm. Principal component analysis(PCA), correlation analysis, regression analysis and partial least squares(PLS) analysis were used to explore the relationship of color and content of eight components in Gardeniae Fructus. The result showed that the trend of the eight components in Gardeniae Fructus at harvest time in different three years was varied similarly. According to the variation of eight components at different harvest time, the mature and immaturate Gardeniae Fructus were discriminated. The content of crocin-Ⅰwas correlated positively with a~* of color significance. The redder color of Gardeniae Fructus showed the higher value of a~* and content of crocin-Ⅰ, indicating the better quality of Gardeniae Fructus. This method provided reference for justifying the color and quality of Gardeniae Fructus and scientific evidence for &quot;assessing quality by distinguishing color&quot;.

[Determination of heavy metal contents in Gardeniae Fructus and fried Gardeniae Fructus and their health risk assessment]

In this study, the contents of Cu, As, Cd, Pb and Hg in 10 batches of Gardeniae Fructus and 10 batches of fried Gardeniae Fructus from Fuzhou in Jiangxi were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), and the target hazard coefficient(THQ) for different drug users(adults and children) was calculated by using the international health risk assessment model. According to the ISO and green industry standard, the content of Hg in 4 batches of Gardeniae Fructus exceeded the standard with an over-standard rate of 40%. The THQ and total THQ of Hg in 2 batches of Gardeniae Fructus were higher than the international standard limit of Gardeniae Fructus. For 10 batches of fried Gardeniae Fructus, the content of every heavy metal and total amount of five heavy metals did not exceed the standard. However, the THQ and total THQ of Hg in 1 batch of fried Gardeniae Fructus were higher than the international standard limit of Gardeniae Fructus. As compared with Gardeniae Fructus, the contents of Cu, Pb and Hg in fried Gardeniae Fructus decreased by 34.0%, 77.6% and 23.1%; the THQ of Cu, Pb and Hg for adults decreased by 33.3%, 75.0% and 96.9%; and the THQ of Cu, Pb and Hg for children decreased by 37.5%, 75.0%, 90.7%. It showed that the contents of heavy metals in individual batches of Gardeniae Fructus in this experiment had a certain risk to human health, but the contents of these heavy metals in fried Gardeniae Fructus had no obvious effect on human health. This study provided experimental basis and research ideas for safety evaluation of Gardeniae Fructus and fried Gardeniae Fructus.

A systematic metabolic pathway identification of Common Gardenia Fruit (Gardeniae Fructus) in mouse bile, plasma, urine and feces by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

Gardeniae Fructus was a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) containing various biological ingredients including iridoids and crocetins, monocyclic monoterpenes, organic acids, and flavonoids. However, few systematic identification studies of the bioactive components in vivo have been reported. Herein, the ingredients and metabolites of Gardeniae Fructus were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-sensitivity Q-TOF mass spectrometry. A total of 45 prototype compounds in Gardeniae Fructus extract were tentatively identified. After oral administration, 69 of prototypes and metabolites were identified from mice bile, plasma, urine, and feces, in which, 31 compounds were prototypes, and 38 chemicals were metabolites. The in vivo biotransformation pathways of these metabolites were also proposed including phase I (hydrolysis, hydrogenation, oxidation, loss of O, and ketone formation, decarboxylation) and phase II reactions (glycine, cysteine, glutathione, and glutamine, and sulfate conjugation, and glucuronidation). For the first time, our results had revealed systematic metabolic profiles of ingredients in Gardeniae Fructus extract in vivo of mice and replenished novel knowledge into the explanation of effective material and/or toxicological basis of Gardeniae Fructus which deserves further investigation.

[Technology optimization of Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice and composition changes after processing]

To optimize the technology of Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice,establish fingerprints and simultaneously determine seven compounds( geniposidic acid,chlorogenic acid,genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside,geniposide,rutin,crocin Ⅰ,and crocin Ⅱ) by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography( UPLC). Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18( 2. 1 mm×50 mm,1. 7μm) column was used with acetonitrile and 0. 1% formic acid solution as mobile phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0. 4 m L·min-1. The data was comprehensively processed and analyzed with similarity evaluation,principal component analysis( PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis( PLS-DA) methods. Twenty common peaks were identified in this study,and the similarity of samples was over 0. 97. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that there were differences in chemical compositions and contents between the raw Gardeniae Fructus and those processed with ginger juice,with 9 potential differentiated chromatographic peaks. After being processed with ginger juice,the contents of chlorogenic acid,crocin Ⅰ and crocin Ⅱ were less than before and the contents of other four compositions were higher than before. The optimized preparation for Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice was stable and feasible. The methods of UPLC fingerprints and simultaneous determination of seven components can be effectively carried out to distinguish Gardeniae Fructus and Gardeniae Fructus processed with ginger juice.

[Grade evaluation of Gardeniae Fructus based on quality constant method]

Grade evaluation method of quality constant is a kind of grading method for Chinese medicinal materials and decoction pieces,combining the external morphological index and internal content index. This method was used in this paper for grade evaluation of Gardeniae Fructus. By measuring the morphological and content indexes of 14 batches of Gardeniae Fructus,a method for calculating the quality constant of fruits was established,and the grade evaluation criteria were formed. At the same time,the NO inhibition effect of different grades of Gardeniae Fructus samples on RAW264. 7 cells induced by LPS was determined to investigate the relationship between the quality grade and pharmacodynamics of decoction pieces. The results showed that the quality constants of Gardeniae Fructus decoction piece samples ranged from 1. 46 to 4. 42. If the percentage quality constant ≥80% was classified into first-class,50%-80%as second-class and the rest as third-class,the quality constant was ≥3. 54 for first-class,2. 21-3. 54 for second-class and <2. 21 for third-class Gardeniae Fructus decoction pieces. The pharmacodynamic results showed that the pharmacodynamic intensity was positively correlated with the grade,which also proved the rationality of the grade evaluation method of quality constant.

[Establishment of extraction method for Gardeniae Fructus extract and its application in evaluating different Gardeniae Fructus decoction pieces]

In this experiment,the gradation analysis method was used to evaluate the quality of different pieces of Gardeniae Fructus through the extraction rate difference and the difference analysis of the main components in the extract. In this experiment cold-dip and hot-dip methods were used to compare the yield of Gardeniae Fructus extract and the content of chemical constituents with water,25%,50%,75% and 95% ethanol fractions. By weighted calculation,the optimal extraction method of Gardeniae Fructus was determined,and this was verified by practical application. RESULTS:: showed that for the water-soluble extract,cold dip method was better than the hot dip method; and for alcohol-soluble extract,75% ethanol under cold dip method was best. The verification results showed that water-soluble extracts under cold dip methods could be used to significantly distinguish the raw Gardeniae Fructus( GF) and processed( stir-baked) GF( GFP) collected from the market. Meanwhile,this method could be also used to distinguish the same batch of GF,GFP and carbonized GF( GFC) with significant differences,respectively( P<0. 05). Ethanol-soluble extract can be used to clearly distinguish GFP and GFC pieces in the same batch( P<0. 05). The results of content determination showed that the variation coefficient of components in GF processed products was higher than that in extracts,and the content of hydroxygeniposide was the most significant component between GF and its processed products. It is suggested that the method of water-soluble extract of GF and the determination of the content of gardoside should be combined together to evaluate the quality of GF and its heat processed products.

[Quality evaluation of multi-components simultaneous determination and fingerprint of Gardeniae Fructus from different regions]

An analysis method was established by UPLC fingerprint and then applied to simultaneous determination of multiple compounds in Gardeniae Fructus from different areas in China. Samples were separated on a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈( 2. 1 mm×50 mm,1. 7 μm) column with 0. 1% formic acid-water and acetonitrile solution as gradient mobile phase at a flow rate of 0. 4 m L·min-1 at various wavelengths. The similarity of samples was over 0. 95 with ″Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine( 2012 edition) ″. The UPLC common fingerprints for 32 batches were established with 19 common peaks identified. The samples were divided into 3 groups analyzed by HCA and PCA. Five components were identified as the main compositions which caused the differences of chemical constituents in the samples from different areas with partial least squares discriminant analysis( PLS-DA). The content of the total components in each area was Zhejiang > Fujian > Jiangxi > Sichuan. This method was accurate and viable,could be used to evaluate the quality of Gardeniae Fructus.

Treatment Mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus and Its Carbonized Product Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Lesions in Rats

Gardeniae Fructus (GF) and carbonized GF (GFC) have been shown to exert a gastrointestinal protective effect and are frequently used in clinical practice for the treatment of hemorrhage and brown stool. In this study, we employed a combination of pharmacological methods and metabolomics in a rat model of ethanol-induced acute stomach ulcer to investigate the gastroprotective effect of GF and GFC water extracts and the potential mechanism involved in this process. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the plasma of rats were determined. The results showed that both GF and GFC reduced the ethanol-induced gastric lesions and expression of NO and IL-6 in these rats. Of note, 16 and 11 feature metabolites were filtered and identified in the GF and GFC groups, respectively. Both GF and GFC act by restoring the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine, and the metabolism of glycerophospholipids. Moreover, histological evaluation revealed that heat processing of GF to create GFC enhanced the gastric mucosa protective effect. Furthermore, heat processing converted the main pathway from alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, associated with GF, to histidine metabolism, associated with GFC. GF and GFC ameliorated gastric mucosa lesions in rats via reductions in NO production and inflammatory cytokine secretion, and the induction of prostaglandin E2.

The Potential Antipyretic Mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus and Its Heat-Processed Products With Plasma Metabolomics Using Rats With Yeast-Induced Fever

Gardeniae Fructus (GF), prepared GF (GFP), and carbonized GF (GFC) are widely used in China for the treatment of fever. However, the involved antipyretic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, rectal temperature and pyrogenic cytokines were used to evaluate the antipyretic effect of raw and processed GF in rats with dry-yeast-induced pyrexia. Reverse phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to acquire the metabolomics profile of GF, GFP, and GFC in rats with pyrexia. The results showed that the rectal temperature of rats treated with GF, GFP, and GFC was suppressed after 6 h (P < 0.05), compared with that observed in pyrexia model rats. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 were suppressed by GF, GFP, and GFC. Moreover, GFC suppressed the expression of interleukin 6 significantly (P < 0.01). Of note, 11, 15, and 25 feature metabolites were identified in the GF, GFP, and GFC groups. Pathway analysis showed that GF mainly regulated the biosynthesis of valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Notably, GFP was involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, while GFC was linked to glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. These results suggested that GF, GFP, and GFC maintained their antipyretic effect despite heat processing. However, heat processing altered endogenous feature metabolites and certain pathways of GF, GFP, and GFC in rats with yeast-induced pyrexia to exert an antipyretic effect.

Enhancement of active compound, genipin, from Gardeniae Fructus using immobilized glycosyl hydrolase family 3 β-glucosidase from Lactobacillus antri

Geniposide is an iridoid glycoside, which is abundant in Gardeniae Fructus. Despite the various pharmaceutical effects of geniposide on a human body, its hydrolysis into a smaller molecule, genipin, by β-glucosidase produced by bacteria in the intestines is particularly important to improve geniposide uptake into the body. Since geniposide is much more abundant in Gardeniae Fructus than its aglycone genipin, we herein transformed geniposide into genipin using purified recombinant β-glucosidase from Lactobacillus antri (rBGLa), which was expressed in Escherichia coli to enhance the genipin content. Purified rBGLa was characterized using p-nitrophenyl β-d-glucopyranoside, and the optimal temperature and pH for its β-glucosidase activity were found to be 45 °C and 6.0. When the enzyme was immobilized, rBGLa was active at higher temperatures than the free enzyme, and we confirmed that its stability upon changes in pH and temperature was highly improved. Using 0.5 μg/mL free rBGLa, single compound of 0.4 mM geniposide was efficiently converted into genipin within 2 h, and the immobilized rBGLa also successfully transformed geniposide in a hot-water extract of Gardeniae Fructus into the aglycone, which makes it applicable to the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Discovery and LC-MS Characterization of New Crocins in Gardeniae Fructus and Their Neuroprotective Potential

Ten new crocins, neocrocins B-J (1-9) and 13-cis-crocetin-8'-O-β-d-gentiobioside (14), along with 10 known crocins, were isolated from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Gardeniae Fructus). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analyzing HRESIMS, UV/vis, and 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and their neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide- and l-glutamic acid-induced SH-SY5Y cell injury were evaluated. The UPLC-Q/TOF-MS chromatogram of a crocin-rich fraction derived from gardenia fruit extracts was established using the obtained crocin compounds as references. Most of the peaks were identified (the total integral area of the identified peaks accounted for 95% of total peak areas), and bioactive crocins were a large portion of this fraction (the areas of peaks from the neuroprotective compounds accounted for 70% of the total).

Quality control and producing areas differentiation of Gardeniae Fructus for eight bioactive constituents by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS

Gardeniae Fructus (G.Fructus), the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Rubiaceae), is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used for the treatment of hepatitis, jaundice, hypersonic, diabetes and hematuria. Numerous researches have demonstrated that the major active constituents in G.Fructus were responsible for the majority of medical effects of this fruit and their quantification were important for the quality control of G.Fructus. However, in the current quality control standard, only geniposide was used as characteristic marker of G.Fructus, which could not reflect the overall quality of this fruit. In order to identify more chemical makers for improving the quality control standard and evaluate producing areas differentiation of G.Fructus, in the present study, a novel and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector coupled to an electrospray tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 8 major constituents, including geniposidic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), genipin-1-β-gentiobioside (3), geniposide (4), genipin (5), rutin (6), crocin-1 (7), crocin-2 (8) in G.Fructus. Moreover, chemometric analysis techniques with principal component constituent analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) involved were introduced in statistical analysis of 8 investigated constituents in the 34 batches samples to discriminate the samples from different producing areas. The results indicated that the contents of the 8 major bioactive constituents in G.Fructus varied significantly among different producing areas. From results of the loading plot from PCA analysis, genipin-1-β-gentiobioside may have more influence in discriminating the sample from different producing areas, and which was found to be the most abundant bioactive component besides geniposide in all the 34 batches samples, suggesting that it should be added as chemical marker for further investigation on the pharmacological actions and the quality control of G.Fructus.