High‐expression β1 adrenergic receptor/cell membrane chromatography method based on a target receptor to screen active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicines

β‐Adrenergic receptors are important targets for drug discovery. We have developed a new β₁‐adrenergic receptor cell membrane chromatography (β₁AR‐CMC) with offline ultra‐performance LC (UPLC) and MS method for screening active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, Chinese hamster ovary‐S cells with high β₁AR expression levels were established and used to prepare a cell membrane stationary phase in a β₁AR‐CMC model. The retention fractions were separated and identified by the UPLC–MS system. The screening results found that isoimperatorin from Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii was the targeted component that could act on β₁AR in similar manner of metoprolol as a control drug. In addition, the biological effects of active component were also investigated in order to search for a new type of β₁AR antagonist. It will be a useful method for drug discovery as a leading compound resource.     

Cardiac Muscle/Cell Membrane Chromatography-Offline-Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Method to Identify Bioactive Components from Traditional Chinese Medicines

An offline analytical method combining cardiac muscle/cell membrane chromatography (CM/CMC) with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to identify bioactive components from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) such as Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) and Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (SSF) was developed. The stationary phase of the CM/CMC system employed rat cardiac muscle cell membranes. Fractions retained by the CM/CMC column were collected and analyzed by LC/MS under optimum offline conditions. After evaluating the suitability and reliability of the CM/CMC-offline-LC/MS method using nifedipine and nitrendipine as standards, this method was applied for screening and identification of bioactive components from the extracts of SCF and SSF. The main compounds in both species retained by CM/CMC were deoxyschizandrin (DSD) and schisantherin A (STA) as identified by LC/MS. In vivo pharmacological experiments suggested that DSD and STA could significantly decrease the myocardial-infarct size in rats injured by myocardial ischemia–reperfusion. Our CM/CMC-offline-LC/MS method could be used as an effective alternative for screening multiple receptor-binding bioactive components in TCMs such as FSC and FSS used to remedy cardiac diseases and may be useful for drug discovery using medicinal herbs as lead compounds.     

Cell membrane chromatography coupled online with LC‐MS to screen anti‐anaphylactoid components from Magnolia biondii Pamp. targeting on Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2

Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 was a mast cell–specific receptor mediating anaphylactoid reactions by activating mast cells degranulation, and it was also identified as a target for modulating mast cell–mediated anaphylactoid and inflammatory diseases. The anti‐anaphylactoid drugs used clinically disturb the partial effect of partial mediators released by mast cells. The small molecule of Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 specific antagonists may provide therapeutic action for the anaphylactoid and inflammatory diseases in the early stage. In this study, the Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 high expression cell membrane chromatography was coupled online with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry and successfully used to screen anti‐anaphylactoid components from Magnolia biondii Pamp. Fargesin and pinoresinol dimethyl ether were identified as potential anti‐anaphylactoid components. Bioactivity of these two components were investigated by β hexosaminidase and histamine release assays on mast cells, and it was found that these two components could inhibit β hexosaminidase and histamine release in a concentration‐dependent manner. This Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 high expression cell membrane chromatography coupled online with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry system could be applied for screening potential anti‐anaphylactoid components from natural medicinal herbs. This study also provided a powerful system for drug discovery in natural medicinal herbs.     

Determination of Pharmaceuticals by Dynamic Cell Membrane Chromatography Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

As a biological affinity chromatographic method, cell membrane chromatography (CMC) using a silica stationary phase covered with specific cell membrane has been used in screening active components. The innovation of this work is that the bioactive cell membrane and the chromatographic packing are mixed and absorbed for the first time to form the pre-column. The pre-column was placed in front of a C₁₈ column to create dynamic CMC online high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The retention behavior and dynamic changes of pharmaceuticals were studied for this system. The results indicate that the retention time of the drug was increased and the symmetry factor reached the analytical level after the addition of the dynamic cell membrane pre-column. Therefore, the dynamic CMC coupled with HPLC system may be a potentially rapid and efficient drug analysis approach for the interaction of drug molecule and receptor on red blood cell membranes.     

An online coupled peritoneal macrophage/cell membrane chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method to screen for anti‐inflammatory components from the Chinese traditional medicine Chloranthus multistachys Pei

Cell membrane chromatography (CMC) is a chromatographic biological affinity method that uses specific cell membranes as the stationary phase. In this study, a novel peritoneal macrophage/cell membrane chromatography (PM/CMC)–online‐high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) method was established to screen for the anti‐inflammatory components from traditional Chinese medicines using hydrocortisone and dexamethasone as standards. The stationary phase of the CMC employed mouse peritoneal macrophage cell membranes. This method was applied to the purification and identification of components in extracts of Chloranthus multistachys Pei. The major component retained by CMC was identified as isofraxidin by HPLC/MS. In vitro experiments revealed that IF was able to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor‐α in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated mice and peritoneal macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. The results demonstrated that the PM/CMC‐online‐HPLC/MS is an effective screening system for the rapid detection, enrichment, and identification of target components from complex samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Establishment of A431 cell membrane chromatography-RPLC method for screening target components from Radix Caulophylli

We describe here an analytical method of A431 cell membrane chromatography (A431/CMC) (CMC, cell membrane chromatography) combined with RPLC for recognition, separation, and identification of target components from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) Radix Caulophylli. The A431 cells with high expressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were used to prepare the stationary phase in the CMC model. Retention fractions on the A431-CMC model were collected using an automated fraction collection and injection module (FC/I). Each fraction was analyzed by RPLC under the optimized conditions. Gefitinib and erlotinib were used as standard compounds to investigate the suitability and reliability of the A431 cell membrane chromatography-RPLC method prior to screening target component from Radix Caulophylli total alkaloids. The results indicated that caulophine and taspine were the target component acting on the epidermal growth factor receptor. This method could be an efficient way in drug discovery using natural medicinal herbs as a source of novel compounds.     

A new A431/cell membrane chromatography and online high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for screening epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix sophorae flavescentis

The intracellular kinase domains of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in some tumor cells such as human epidermal squamous cells (A₄₃₁ cells) are an important target for drug discovery. We have developed a new A₄₃₁/cell membrane chromatography (A₄₃₁/CMC)-online–high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) method for screening EGFR antagonists from medicinal herbs such as traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In this study, A₄₃₁ cells with high EGFR expression levels were used to prepare cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) in an A₄₃₁/CMC model. The retention fractions eluted from the CMSP column were enriched onto an ODS pre-column and then switched into an HPLC/MS system by combining a 10 port columns switching valve. The screening results found that oxymatrine and matrine from Radix sophorae flavescentis (RSF) were the targeted components which could act on EGFR in similar manner of gefitinib as a control drug. There was a good relationship of their inhibiting effects on EGFR secretion and A₄₃₁ cell growth in vitro. This new A₄₃₁/CMC-online-HPLC/MS method can be applied for screening EGFR antagonists from TCMs such as RSF. It will be a useful method for drug discovery with natural medicinal herbs as a leading compound resource.     

用高表达EGFR细胞膜色谱-HPLC/MS联用快速筛选独活中抗EGFR活性成分

报道了用高表达表皮生长因子受体细胞膜色谱与高效液相色谱/质谱在线联用方法(EGFR/CMC-online-HPLC/MS)快速筛选发现中药独活中的活性成分.实验中,采用高表达EGFR的细胞膜制备色谱固定相,建立EGFR/细胞膜色谱(EGFR/CMC)模型,利用柱切换和固相萃取技术,将EGFR/CMC模型与高效液相色谱/质谱(HPLC/MS)在线联用,构成一种新的可同时"识别-鉴定"目标成分的二维色谱系统,并应用于快速筛选独活中具有抗EGFR活性的目标成分.结果发现独活中的蛇床子素具有与对照药物达沙替尼类似的色谱保留特性,能够作用于EGFR;同时MTT及Elisa分析实验证实蛇床子素对HEK293EGFR细胞增殖及EGFR表达均有抑制作用.本文建立的EGFR/CMC-online-HPLC/MS二维色谱方法,可以选择性地从中药复杂体系中快速"识别-鉴定"目标组分,且筛选结果与特定生物效应显著相关.     

EGFR/cell membrane chromatography-online-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for screening EGFR antagonists from Radix Angelicae Pubescentis

The intracellular kinase domains of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in some tumor cells are significant targets for drug discovery. We have developed a new EGFR cell membrane chromatography (EGFR/CMC)-online-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) method for screening anti-EGFR antagonists from medicinal herbs such as Radix Angelicae Pubescentis. In this study, the HEK293 EGFR cells with high expression of EGFR were used to prepare cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) in the EGFR/CMC model. The retention fractions on the EGFR/CMC model were directly analyzed by combining a 10 port columns switcher with a HPLC/MS system online. As a result, osthole from Radix Angelicae Pubescentis was found to be the active component acting on EGFR like dasatinib as the control drug. There was a good relationship between their inhibiting effects on EGFR secretion and HEK293 EGFR cell growth in vitro. This new EGFR/CMConline-HPLC/MS method can be applied for screening anti-EGFR antagonists from TCMs, for instance, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis. It will be a useful method for drug discovery with natural medicinal herbs as a leading compound resource.     

Comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatography for screening anti‐tumor components from Radix Sophorae flavescentis

Radix Sophorae flavescentis is generally used for the treatment of different stages of prostate cancer in China. It has ideal effects when combined with surgical treatment and chemotherapy. However, its active components are still ambiguous. We devised a comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatography system for screening anti‐prostate cancer components in Radix Sophorae flavescentis . Gefitinib and dexamethasone were chosen as positive and negative drugs respectively for validation and optimization the selectivity and suitability of the comprehensive two‐dimensional chromatographic system. Five compounds, sophocarpine, matrine, oxymatrine, oxysophocarpine, and xanthohumol were found to have significant retention behaviors on the PC‐3 cell membrane chromatography and were unambiguously identified by time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Cell proliferation and apoptosis assays confirmed that all five compounds had anti‐prostate cancer effects. Matrine and xanthohumol had good inhibitory effects, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 0.893 and 0.137 mg/mL, respectively. Our comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatographic system promotes the efficient recognition and rapid analysis of drug candidates, and it will be practical for the discovery of prostate cancer drugs from complex traditional Chinese medicines.     

Cell extraction combined with off‐line HPLC for screening active compounds from Coptis chinensis

Cell membrane chromatography is a useful tool for screening active compounds from natural products. As the reason of separation mechanism, traditional cell membrane chromatography could not be used for screening the active compounds absorbed through the cell membrane and influencing the cell signal transduction pathway. In this work, we establish a new method named cell extraction combined with off‐line HPLC for screening the compounds penetrating the cell membrane. This is the first time 3 T3‐L1 adipocyte culture has been combined with HPLC technology. Compared with other cell membrane chromatography methods, there is good resolution and no further analysis by other chromatographic steps is required. On co‐incubating crude extracts of Coptis chinensis with cells and analyzing the compounds extracted by the cells, active compounds such as berberine were detected. Glucose consumption tests showed that berberine could increase glucose consumption by insulin‐resistant 3 T3‐L1 adipocytes. The levels of intracellular berberine correlated with its activity. The results indicate that the developed method could be an alternative method for screening active compounds from natural products. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of Determination of Drug–Muscarinic Receptor Affinity by Cell-Membrane Chromatography and by Radioligand-Binding Assay with the Cerebrum Membrane of the Rat

This study was performed to determine whether cell-membrane chromatography (CMC) can be used to reflect the selectivity and specificity of interactions between drugs and the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR). A cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) was prepared by immobilizing rat cerebrum cell membrane on the surface of a silica carrier and used for rapid on-line chromatographic evaluation of ligand binding affinity to mAChR. Comparison of the results with affinity rank orders obtained from radioligand-binding assays using the same cerebrum membrane indicated a positive correlation (r²=0.8640, n=18, P < 0.0001) between the data sets and proved that CMC can be used to evaluate drug–receptor affinity for drug candidates.Revised: 19 July and 15 November 2004     

Screening potential antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor from Marsdenia tenacissima via cell membrane chromatography model assisted by HPLC–ESI–IT–TOF–MS

Marsdenia tenacissima, or Tongguanteng in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese herb and has a broad application in clinical practice for its pharmacological effects of treating asthma, pneumonia, tonsillitis, pharyngitis tumors, etc. However, few studies have reported the screening of the active components of this medicine for tumor therapy. In this work, a two‐dimensional analytical system was developed to screen antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from M. tenacissima. A fraction was retained on the EGFR cell membrane chromatography (CMC) column, separated and identified as tenacissoside G (TG), tenacissoside H (TH) and tenacissoside I (TI) by two‐dimensional HPLC–IT–TOF–MS. Molecular docking and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were carried out to assess the activity of TS (including TG, TH and TI). Molecular docking results showed that the binding mode of TS on EGFR is similar to that of gefitinib. The MTT assay demonstrated that gefitinib and TS (especially TI) could inhibit the growth of EGFR highly expressed cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner in the range of 5–50 μmol/L. In conclusion, the two‐dimensional EGFR/CMC–HPLC–IT–TOF–MS system could be a useful approach in drug discovery from traditional Chinese medicines for searching for potential antitumor candidates.     

Isolation and purification of two antioxidant isomers of resveratrol dimer from the wine grape by counter‐current chromatography

Resveratrol dimers belong to a group of compounds called stilbenes, which along with proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, catechins, and flavonols are natural phenolic compounds found in grapes and red wine. Stilbenes have a variety of structural isomers, all of which exhibit various biological properties. Counter‐current chromatography with a two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (2:5:4:5, v/v/v/v) was applied to isolate and purify stilbene from the stems of wine grape. Two isomers of resveratrol dimers trans‐ε‐viniferin and trans‐δ‐viniferin were obtained from the crude sample in a one‐step separation, with purities of 93.2 and 97.5%, respectively, as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The structures of these two compounds were identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, their antioxidant activities were assessed by 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The antioxidant activities of trans‐δ‐viniferin were higher than that of trans‐ε‐viniferin in this model. This work demonstrated that counter‐current chromatography is a powerful and effective method for the isolation and purification of polyphenols from wine grape. Additionally, the DPPH radical assay showed that the isolated component trans‐δ‐viniferin exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than trans‐ε‐viniferin and a little bit weaker than vitamin E at the same concentration.     

Screening active anti‐breast cancer compounds from Cortex Magnolia officinalis by 2D LC–MS

Most of the anti‐breast cancer drugs are often limited owing to drug resistance and serious adverse reactions. Therefore, development of more targeted and low toxic drugs from traditional Chinese medicines for breast cancer are needed. At the same time, establishment of fast and effective drug screening methods are urgently required. We describe here a 2D LC method of MDA‐MB‐231 cell membrane chromatography combined with HPLC/MS for recognition, separation, and identification of target components from traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Magnolia officinalis. The MDA‐MB‐231 cells membrane was used to prepare the chromatographic stationary phase in the first dimension. The active compounds had a retention characteristic on the cell membrane chromatography model (10 × 2.0 mm, 5 μm). The retention fractions were enriched using an online C₁₈ column (10 × 1.0 mm, 5 μm) and were analyzed by the second dimension RP chromatography. Finally, the activity of the retention fractions was tested through in vitro experiments. Results showed that the retention fractions were honokiol and magnolol and the inhibition rate on MDA‐MB‐231 cell growth were 23 and 64 μM, respectively. These results support the conclusion that this coupled analytical technique could be an efficient method in drug discovery.     

Prostate Cell Membrane Chromatography�CLC/MS Method for Screening ��1A-Adrenoceptor Antagonists from Lotus Plumule

The ??_1A-adrenoceptor (??_1A-AR) plays an important role in drug discovery and development. An online analytical method coupling prostate cell membrane chromatography (CMC) with high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was established to screen ??_1A-AR antagonists in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). The prostate cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) was prepared by immobilizing the prostate cell membrane onto the surface of the silica carrier. The surface and chromatographic characteristics of the prostate CMSP were studied using tamsulosin as a model molecule. The retained fractions from the prostate CMC were analyzed by transferring them to an LC/MS system through a 10-port switch valve. The active component, which could act on the prostate cell membrane and receptor on it (such as ??_1A-AR), was determined using a displacement experiment. The results indicated that liensinine, isoliensine, and neferine from Lotus Plumule exhibited similar retention characteristics to the control drug tamsulosin when utilizing the prostate CMC model. This new prostate CMC?CLC/MS method is applicable for screening ??_1A-AR antagonists from TCMs such as Lotus Plumule and could be employed as a drug discovery tool for natural medicinal herbs.     

Rapid screening,identification, and purification of neuraminidase inhibitors from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. by ultrafiltration with HPLC–ESI‐TOF‐MS combined with semipreparative HPLC

We put forward an efficient strategy based on bioassay guidance for the rapid screening, identification, and purification of the neuraminidase inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines, and apply to the discovery of anti‐influenza components from Lithospermiun erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. Ultrafiltration with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was employed for the rapid screening and preliminarily identification of anti‐influenza components from Zicao. Semipreparative high‐performance liquid chromatography was used for the rapid separation and purification of the target compounds. NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy were used for further structural identification, and the activity of the compounds was verified by in vitro assay. Five compounds were found to have neuraminidase inhibitory activity by this method. Subsequently, the five compounds were separated by semipreparative high‐performance liquid chromatography with the purity over 98% for all of them by high‐performance liquid chromatography test. Combined with the NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy data, they were identified as alkannin, acetylalkannin, isobutyrylalkannin, β,β‐dimethylacryloylalkannin and isovalerylalkannin. The in vitro assay showed that all five compounds had good neuraminidase inhibitory activities. These results suggested that the method is highly efficient, and it can provide platform and methodology supports for the rapid discovery of anti‐influenza active ingredients from complex Chinese herbal medicines.     

Preparation and Application of Modified VEGFR-2 Cell Membrane Chromatographic Separation System

The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in some tumor cells is a significant target for drug discovery. In this work, a modified model of VEGFR-2 cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) was prepared by immobilizing U251 cell membrane onto the surface of chitosan-silica (CTS-SiO₂) hybrid carrier. The surface and chromatographic characteristics of VEGFR-2 CMSP were studied. We have developed modified VEGFR-2 cell membrane chromatography for screening drugs and sunitinib malate was used as a positive control. The interaction between the new compounds and membrane receptor was determined by the capacity factors (kʹ). The in vitro cytotoxicity of 10 new compounds on U251 cell viability was determined by MTT test separately to verify the potential pharmacological activity. The modified VEGFR-2 cell membrane chromatographic system demonstrated fast and effective characteristics for screening leading compounds.

     

Screening epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix et Rhizoma Asari by two‐dimensional liquid chromatography

Radix et Rhizoma Asari is a traditional Chinese medicine, and has many pharmacological effects, such as calming, analgesia, anti‐inflammation, antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive, antivirus, etc. But few studies have screened the active compounds from extracts of Radix et Rhizoma Asari for tumor therapy. In this study, a two‐dimensional liquid chromatography system was built to screen active compounds acting on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from Radix et Rhizoma Asari. The screening result showed that asarinin from Radix et Rhizoma Asari was the targeted component that could act on EGFR specificity. The competitive binding assay and molecular docking assay results showed asarinin binding with EGFR in similar manner as with gefitinib, which was used as a positive control drug. Then the antitumor effect of asarinin was studied through cell growth assay in vitro. The results showed that gefitinib and asarinin could inhibit highly expressed EGFR cell growth in a dose‐dependent manner in the range of dose from 0.10 to 102.4 μM. This two‐dimensional liquid chromatography system will be a useful method in drug discovery from natural medicinal herbs for searching potential antitumor candidates.     

Ultrafiltration liquid chromatography combined with high‐speed countercurrent chromatography for screening and isolating potential α‐glucosidase and xanthine oxidase inhibitors from Cortex Phellodendri

Cortex Phellodendri is a typical Chinese herb with a large number of alkaloids existing in all parts of it. The most common methods for screening and isolating alkaloids are mostly labor intensive and time consuming. In this study, a new assay based upon ultrafiltration liquid chromatography was developed for the rapid screening of ligands for α‐glucosidase and xanthine oxidase. The C. Phellodendri extract was found to contain two alkaloids with both α‐glucosidase‐ and xanthine oxidase binding activities and one lactone with α‐glucosidase‐binding activity. Subsequently, with the help of high‐speed countercurrent chromatography, the specific binding ligands including palmatine, berberine, and obaculactone with purities of 97.38, 96.12, and 96.08%, respectively, were successfully separated. An optimized low‐toxicity two‐phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate/n‐butanol/ethanol/water (3.5:1.7:0.5:5, v/v/v/v) was used to isolate the three compounds mentioned above from C. Phellodendri. The targeted compounds were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Therefore, ultrafiltration liquid chromatography combined with high‐speed countercurrent chromatography is not only a powerful tool for screening and isolating α‐glucosidase and xanthine oxidase inhibitors in complex samples but is also a useful platform for discovering bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus and gout.