Determination of four active saponins of Panax notoginseng in rat feces by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method is developed for the determination of ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rd, and notoginsenoside R1 of Panax notoginseng (PNS) in rat feces after oral and intravenous administration of total saponins of PNS. The fecal samples are treated with organic extraction and solid-phase extraction prior to high-performance liquid chromatography. The calibration curves for the four saponins are linear in the given concentration ranges. The precision of the method is in the range of 1.0-10.0% (relative standard deviation), and the accuracy is between 80.0% and 110%. The recoveries of this method are all over 75%. This method is successfully applied to the analyses of fecal samples of rats treated with PNS.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the active saponins from Panax notoginseng in rat tissues

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was used to determine the ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rd of Panax notoginseng in rat tissues (kidney, liver, heart, spleen and lung) after the administration of total saponins of P. notoginseng. The tissue samples were treated with solid-phase extraction prior to HPLC. The calibration curves for the three saponins were linear in the given concentration ranges. The intra-day and inter-day assay coefficients in tissues were between 76 and 120% respectively. The recoveries of all the tissues were higher than 70%. This method was applied to evaluate the distribution of the three major saponins of P. notoginseng in rat tissues.     

中药材三七提取液近红外光谱的支持向量机回归校正方法

提出近红外光谱的支持向量机回归校正建模方法.以中药材三七渗漉提取液为实际分析对象,对其近红外光谱数据进行预处理和主成分分析后,用支持向量机回归算法建立人参皂苷R_g1,R_b1和R_d以及三七总皂苷的近红外光谱校正模型.以R_g1,R_b1和R_d的HPLC测定值及三七总皂苷的比色法测定值为参照,将本文方法与偏最小二乘回归和径向基神经网络建模方法相比较,结果表明,本文所建模型的预测准确性优于后两者,可推广应用于中药提取过程的近红外光谱分析.     

Determination of Active Components in a Natural Herb with Near Infrared Spectroscopy Based on Artificial Neural Networks

The non-linear relationships between the contents of ginsenoside Rg1, Rb2, Rd and Panax notoginseng saponins(PNS) in Panax notoginseng root herb and the near infrared(NIR) diffuse reflectance spectra of the herb were established by means of artificial neural networks(ANNs). Four three-layered perception feed-for-ward networks were trained with an error back-propagation algorithm. The significant principal components of the NIR spectral data matrix were utilized as the input of the networks. The networks architecture and parameters were selected so as to offer less prediction errors. Relative prediction errors for Rg1, Rb1, Rd and PNS obtained with the optimum ANN models were 8.99%, 6.54%, 8.29%, and 5.17%, respectively, which were superior to those obtained with PLSR methods. It is verified that ANN is a suitable approach to model this complex non-linearity. The developed method is fast, non-destructive and accurate and it provides a new efficient approach for determining the active components in the complex system of natural herbs.     

Simultaneous determination of saponins in flower buds of Panax notoginseng using high performance liquid chromatography

The flower buds of Panax notoginseng have been commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, vertigo, tinnitus and acute faucitis in China. The amount of total saponins in the flower buds is higher than in any other parts of P. notoginseng. However, the compositions of flower buds have not been quantified clearly until now. A sensitive and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method was developed for the first time to simultaneously quantify eight active saponins in the flower buds of P. notoginseng, including notoginsenoside R(1) and ginsenosides Rg(1), Re, Rb(1), Rb(2), Rb(3), Rd and F(2). The analysis was performed on a reversed-phase C(18) column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.01% aqueous formic acid. The proposed method provided good linearity, reproducibility and sensitivity for the simultaneous quantification of the investigated saponins with overall intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy of better than 4.1% (RSD) and higher than 95% (accuracy), respectively. The recoveries for all the saponins determined were in the range 94.7-104.8% with RSD better than 3.1%. Using the optimized method, we were able to analyze samples from different villages of Wenshan Prefecture, China, which is helpful for quality control of flower buds of P. notoginseng.     

中药材三七中皂苷类成分的近红外光谱快速无损分析新方法

提出了用近红外漫反射光谱快速无损测定三七中皂苷类成分的新方法采用 HPLC分析了中药材三七固皂昔R_1,人参皂苷Hg_1,Rb_1和Rd的含量,用吸附树脂 比色法测定了三七总皂苷（PNS）的含量,共获得R_1,Bg_1,Rb_1,Rd,PNS的含 量范围分别为1,58-5．08,21,68-46.13,11.46-40.41粉．在3500-1100cm~(-1) 扫描样品,以交叉验证误差均方根（RMsECV）为指标,通过筛选,近红外波段和光 谱预处理方法．采用偏最小二乘算法建立了近红外光谱与5个组分PHLC分析值之间 的校正模型,预测了8个未知样本．R_1,Rg_1,Rb_1,Rd及PNS校正模型的RMSECV 分别为0．40,1.47,1.94,0RMSEP分别为0．53,3．15,2．14,0．70,9．03． 该方法快速无损,结果可靠,为中药材复杂体系中化学组分的测定提供了新的绿色 分析手段．     

Analysis of saponins in raw and steamed Panax notoginseng using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of six saponins (notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rd) in raw and steamed Panax notoginseng. Linearity (r2 > 0.9988), intra- and inter-day precision (RSD < 4%), limit of detection (0.008-0.013 mg/ml), limit of quantification (0.027-0.042 mg/ml) of the saponins were determined. The method was successfully applied to 11 pairs of raw and steamed P. notoginseng products. Three products showed discrepancies between theirlabelled claims (raw or steamed) and the results of analysis. This new, simple and reliable method could be used in the quality control of raw and steamed P. notoginseng.     

Simultaneous determination of 11 saponins in Panax notoginseng using HPLC-ELSD and pressurized liquid extraction

A new HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) method was developed for simultaneous determination of 11 major triterpene saponins, namely notoginsenoside R1 (1), ginsenosides Rg1 (2), Re (3), Rf(4), Rb1 (5), Rg2 (6), Rc (7), Rb2 (8), Rb3 (9), Rd (10), and Rg3 (11) in Panax notoginseng, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was employed for sample preparation, and the analysis was achieved using a Zorbax ODS C18 column eluted with gradient water-ACN in 60 min. The drift tube temperature of ELSD was set at 60 degrees C, and nitrogen flowrate was at 1.4 L/min. The method provided good repeatability and sensitivity for quantification of 11 saponins with overall precision (including intra- and interday) and LOD of less than 2.9% (RSD) and 98 ng, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to quantify 11 saponins in 28 samples of P. notoginseng collected in different places, which is helpful to control the quality of P. notoginseng and its related products.     

Comparative study on chemical components and anti‐inflammatory effects of Panax notoginseng flower extracted by water and methanol

Methanol and water are commonly used solvents for chemical analysis and traditional decoction, respectively. In the present study, a high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method was developed to quantify 11 saponins in Panax notoginseng flower extracted by aqueous solution and methanol, and chemical components and anti‐inflammatory effects of these two extracts were compared. The separation of 11 saponins, including notoginsenoside Fc and ginsenoside Rc, was well achieved on a Zorbax SB C18 column. This developed method provides an adequate linearity (r ² > 0.999), repeatability (RSD < 4.26%), inter‐ and intraday variations (RSD < 3.20%) with recovery (94.7–104.1%) of 11 saponins concerned. Our data indicated that ginsenoside biotransformation in PNF was found, when water was used as the extraction solvent, but not methanol. Specifically, the major components of Panax notoginseng flower, ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd, can be near completely transformed to the minor components, gypenoside XVII, notoginsenoside Fe, ginsenoside Rd2, notoginsenoside Fd, and ginsenoside F2, respectively. Total protein isolated from Panax notoginseng flower is responsible for this ginsenoside biotransformation. Additionally, methanol extract exerted the stronger anti‐inflammatory effects than water extract in lipopolysaccharide‐induced RAW264.7 cells. This difference in anti‐inflammatory action might be attributed to their chemical difference of saponins.     

Pharmacokinetic parameters of three active ingredients hederacoside C,hederacoside D,and ɑ‐hederin in Hedera helix in rats

In Hedera helix hederacoside C, hederacoside D, and ɑ‐hederin are three major bioactive saponins and play pivotal roles in the overall biological activity. In this study, a specific and sensitive ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the quantification of three major bioactive saponins in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed‐phase Thermo Hypersil GOLD C₁₈ column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.9 μm) using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile‐water containing 0.1% formic acid. The assay was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetic behavior of the three analytes in rats after oral and intravenous administration of a mixture of saponins (hederacoside C, hederacoside D, and ɑ‐hederin). Further research was performed to compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of the three analytes after the oral administration of a mixture of saponins and an extract of saponins from Hedera helix, and results showed that double peaks were evident on concentration–time profile for each of the three saponins. The difference in the pharmacokinetic characteristics of three saponins between a mixture of saponins and an extract of saponins from Hedera helix was found in rat, which would be beneficial for the preclinical research and clinical use of Hedera helix.     

Chemical investigation of saponins in different parts of Panax notoginseng by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for the qualitative determination of saponins in different parts of P. notoginseng, including rhizome, root, fibre root, seed, stem, leaf and flower. The samples were extracted using PLE. The analysis was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 8 mM aqueous ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in the negative ion mode using the electrospray ionization, and a collision induced dissociation (CID) experiment was also carried out to aid the identification of compounds. Forty one saponins were identified in different parts of P. notoginseng according to the fragmentation patterns and literature reports, among them, 21 saponins were confirmed by comparing the retention time and ESI-MS data with those of standard compounds. The results showed that the chemical characteristics were obviously diverse in different parts of P. notoginseng, which is helpful for pharmacological evaluation and quality control of P. notoginseng.     

Comprehensive HILIC × RPLC with mass spectrometry detection for the analysis of saponins in Panax notoginseng

A comprehensive off-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) method coupling hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) was developed in this study to detect as many saponins as possible in extracts of Panax notoginseng. The orthogonality of the 2D HILIC × RPLC was up to 81%, and the peak capacity was 10200. In total, 224 saponins were found, and some of them were trace amounts. Besides, a screening table designed by adding molecular weights of possible aglycones and sugars was constructed to help rapidly characterize the saponins using MS information. Unfortunately, the structure of saponins could not be identified by using only MS information.     

5,6-Didehydroginsenosides from the roots of Panax notoginseng

Two minor novel dammarane-type saponins - 5,6-didehydroginsenoside Rd (1) and 5,6-didehydroginsenoside Rb1 (2) - were isolated from the dried roots of Panax notoginseng along with sixteen known saponins. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

Identification of chemical constituents in Rhizoma Paridis Saponins and their oral administration in rat plasma by UPLC/Q‐TOF/MS

On‐line ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with diode‐array detection (UPLC/DAD) and electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS) were used for separation, identification and structural analyses of saponins in Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) and rat plasma after oral administration of RPS. Thirty steroidal saponins in RPS were identified by comparing their retention time, accurate mass measurement and positive and negative mass spectrometry data with that of reference compounds. The UPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS method was proved to be rapid and efficient in that 30 steroidal saponins, including three kinds of saponins (prototype, pennogenyl and diosgenyl saponins) were tentatively characterized within 6 min. After oral administration of RPS, 21 original saponins were absorbed in RPS‐treated rat plasma. Our results indicated that UPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS is a rapid and effective tool for identification of a series of saponins at trace level. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

改性松香键合二氧化硅高效液相色谱固定相的制备及其对三七总皂苷的分离

三七中发挥药效的主要成分为三七皂苷R1、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rb1和人参皂苷Rd,用于贫血、冠心病、高血压、脑卒中后遗症等疾病的治疗,但其化学成分多且难分离.将氢化松香丙烯酸羟乙酯(HRHA)通过巯基-烯点击化学反应键合到烷基化硅胶表面,制备出一种新型的改性松香键合二氧化硅高效液相色谱固定相(SiO2...     

Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XIX. Notoginseng (3): immunological adjuvant activity of notoginsenosides and related saponins: structures of notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen.

New dammarane-type triterpene saponins, notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N, were isolated from the glycosidic fraction of the dried roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Immunological adjuvant activities of the principal notoginsenosides and related dammarane-type triterpene saponins were examined and notoginsenosides-D, -G, -H, and -K were found to increase the serum IgG level in mice sensitized with ovalbumin.     

Tissue distribution of capilliposide B,capilliposide C and their bioactive metabolite in mice using liquid ‐tandem mass spectrometry

Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl (Primulaceae), a folk medicinal plant in China, showed significant anti‐tumor activities in vivo and in vitro . Capilliposide B (LC‐B) and capilliposide C (LC‐C) are the main bioactive components in this plant. To explore their tissue distribution, a reliable bioanalytical method for the quantification of LC‐B, LC‐C and their bioactive metabolite, capilliposide A (LC‐A), in mouse tissues was developed and validated. In this study, the tissue distribution profiles of the three compounds were examined after intravenous administration of pure LC‐B and oral administration of total saponins of L. capillipes Hemsl extract (LCE) for 10 days. Method validation was conducted over the curve range 10.0–5000 ng/mL for all three analytes in various tissue homogenates. The relative standard deviation of intra‐day and inter‐day precision of the QC samples was <14.7%, and the accuracy ranged from 85.9 to 114.0%. The results indicated that LC‐B was rapidly and widely distributed throughout the whole body except for muscle following intravenous administration of LC‐B. In addition, LC‐A was only in liver, intestine, lung and stomach. After oral administration of LCE, LC‐B and LC‐C were distributed into various tissues. The highest levels were observed in stomach and intestine.     

三七总皂甙对牛血清白蛋白溶液构象的影响

应用衰减全反射傅立叶变换红外光谱结合荧光光谱和紫外光谱研究了中药三七 的有效成分三七总皂甙与牛血清白蛋白（BSA）的相互作用，采用对蛋白质红外光 谱酰氨Ⅰ带和酰氨Ⅲ带进行曲线拟合的方法，定量分析了不同浓度三七总皂甙对 BSA二级结构的影响，发现随着三七总皂甙浓度的增加，蛋白分子结构逐渐发生了 由螺旋向折叠的转化。a-螺旋结构减少了3%，β-折叠结构增加了约5%，其它二级 结构没有明显的变化，红外差谱和荧光光谱的结果为药物与蛋白质的作用引起牛血 清白蛋白溶液构象的变化提供了佐证，紫外光谱反映了单体皂甙与蛋白质的结合常 数的差异。     

Studies on the interaction of total saponins of panax notoginseng and human serum albumin by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Total saponins of panax notoginseng (TPNS), isolated from the roots of panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H. Chen, have been considered as the main active components of San-Chi and have various therapeutical actions. Their interactions with human serum albumin have been investigated by Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry and fluorescence methods. The results showed that TPNS combined with HSA through C=O and C-N groups of polypeptide chain. The drug-protein combination caused the significant loss of alpha-helix structure and the microenvironment changes of the tyrosine residues in protein at higher drug concentration. Combining the curve-fitting results of amide I and amide III bands, the alterations of protein secondary structure after drug complexation were quantitatively determined. The alpha-helix structure has a decrease of approximately 6%, from 55 to 49% and the beta-sheet increased approximately 3%, from 23 to 26% at high drug concentration. However, no major alterations were observed for the beta-turn and random coil structures up on drug-protein binding.     

LC and LC–MS Study of the Bioavailability and Metabolites of TM208 after Oral and Intravenous Administration to Rat

4-Methylpiperazine-1-carbodithioic acid 3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl ester hydrochloride (TM208) is a new compound expected to become a new drug because of excellent in vivo and in vitro anticancer activity and low toxicity. A new, specific and sensitive LC method was set up for detecting the bioavailability of TM208 after oral administration. Samples were extracted with ethyl acetate after oral and intravenous administration. The retention times of TM208 and plunarizine (I.S.) were 5.5 and 9.9 min, respectively. The linear range was 0.125–50 μg mL^?1. The accuracy (error, %) for three concentrations was 2.7–16.6%. Intra-day precision (as RSD) was 1.6–6.9% and inter-day precision was 7.6–11.5%. Extraction recovery of TM208 was 84.15–89.51% and that of the I.S. was 83.3%. Results from stability testing indicated that samples should be analyzed within 24 h or frozen immediately for later analysis. The bioavailable fraction (F) calculated by use of a non-compartment model was 63.3%. Pharmacokinetic data for TM208 were: mean residence time 24.3 and 5.1 h, V _d 186.2 and 35.5 L kg^?1, and Cl 6.9 and 4.2 L h^?1 kg^?1 after oral and intravenous administration, respectively. LC–MS comparison of the metabolites after the two methods of administration showed the kind and content of metabolites of TM208 in rat urine after intravenous administration were more than after oral administration. The experimental results show that the low anticancer activity of TM208 after intravenous administration is related to rapid elimination of the drug, and that the kind and content of metabolites do not affect the bioactivity of TM208.