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.     

Simultaneous Separation and Determination of Benzoic Acid Compounds in the Plant Medicine by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis

A simple and inexpensive high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) was applied to separate five benzoic acid compounds simultaneously. The investigation was carried out by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). To avoid a time‐consuming and tedious procedure, orthogonal experimental design OA₉ (3⁴) for separation experiments was applied to find the optimal conditions in terms of the resolution and analytical time. The best conditions for separation were obtained using a 20 mM borax and 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer (pH 9.8) containing 2 mM β‐CD and 4% methanol (v/v). Online UV detection was performed at 250 nm. A voltage of 16 kV was applied and the temperature was controlled at 25 °C. Injection was performed for 5 s. The method was validated for the quantification of benzoic acid, salicylic acid and ortho‐aminobenzoic acid in Radix Isatidis, a traditional plant medicine with removal of endotoxin. The separation and determination were satisfactory and quick.     

光谱成像技术无损鉴别西洋参饮片的研究

应用电可控液晶光谱成像装置,测定不同市售来源的西洋参饮片,以期为其质量控制提供新的方法。系统光谱分辨率5nm,光谱覆盖范围为405～680nm,空间分辨率50lp·mm-1。从成像光谱立方体中提取特征光谱曲线,构建饮片指纹图谱;采用主成分等聚类分析方法解析其指纹图谱,用于饮片真伪鉴别与质量判定。结果与性状,显微及理化鉴定结果相吻合。表明光谱成像分析技术可用于中药指纹图谱的构建和质量评价,操作方法简便、快速、无损。     

The comparative pharmacokinetics of four bioactive ingredients after administration of Ramulus Cinnamomi–Radix Glycyrrhizae herb pair extract,Ramulus Cinnamomi extract and Radix Glycyrrhizae extract

Ramulus Cinnamomi (RC)–Radix Glycyrrhizae (RG) is a classic herb pair, which is commonly used as a fixed form to treat cardiovascular disease in the clinic. Our work aimed to compare the pharmacokinetic difference of cinnamic acid, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and glycyrrhetinic acid in rats after oral administration of the RC–RG herb pair extracts [Guizhigancao Decoction (GGD) and Lingguizhugan Decoction (LGZGD)] and the single RC or RG extract. A HPLC‐MS method was developed and validated to study comparative pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetic parameters (C_max, AUC, MRT) of four compounds between the RC–RG herb pair group and the single herb (RC or RG) group showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Compared with the single herb (RC or RG) group, higher peak concentration, slower elimination and larger exposure could be observed after giving the RC–RG herb‐pair extracts. The pharmacokinetic differences might indicate the relativity of remedy in the RC–RG herb pair and provide scientific information for rational administration of the drug in the clinic. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of anti‐Coxsackie virus B3 constituents of Radix Astragali by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

To profile the anti‐Coxsackie virus B3 constituents of Radix Astragali, an HPLC‐DAD‐MSⁿ analytical method, combined with an in vivo test, has been developed to identify the constituents of the active part, which has been demonstrated to have potency to inhibit the proliferation of virus in cardiac muscle, alleviate infraction in heart and elevate the survival rate of the animal. By comparing their retention time and MS data with those obtained from the authentic compounds and the published data, a total of 19 compounds, including 11 isoflavonoids and eight saponins, were identified, among which one pterocarpane glucoside was reported for the first time. The present study provides an approach to rapidly screening bioactive constituents in traditional Chinese medicines. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fragmentation study of iridoid glycosides and phenylpropanoid glycosides in Radix Scrophulariae by rapid resolution liquid chromatography with diode‐array detection and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI‐TOF MS) method was applied to the mass spectral study of a series of naturally occurring iridoid glycosides and phenylpropanoid glycosides in Radix Scrophulariae, which provides higher speed and increased sensitivity without loss of resolution. With dynamic adjustment as the key role of the fragmentor voltage and confirmed with authentic standards, valuable structural information regarding the nature of both the glycoside skeletons was thus obtained. Most compositions were found to possess organic acid moiety such as cinnamoyl, caffeoyl and ferulyol. Besides extensive fragmentation of the carbohydrate moiety, losses of the hydroxyl and glucose residue units showed in the spectra, permitting the exploration of the skeleton and the identity of substituents in the molecule. Ten major iridoid glycosides and 10 phenylpropanoid glycosides were identified or tentatively characterized based on their retention times, UV and TOF MS data. The major fragmentation pathways of PGs in Radix Scrophulariae obtained through the MS data was schemed systematically for the first time, which provides a reference for other PGs derivatives. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and application of mesoporous molecular sieve for miniaturized matrix solid‐phase dispersion extraction of bioactive flavonoids from toothpaste,plant, and saliva

This article describes the use of the mesoporous molecular sieve KIT‐6 as a sorbent in miniaturized matrix solid‐phase dispersion (MSPD) in combination with ultra‐performance LC for the determination of bioactive flavonoids in toothpaste, Scutellariae Radix, and saliva. In this study, for the first time, KIT‐6 was used as a sorbent material for this mode of extraction. Compared with common silica‐based sorbents (C18 and activated silica gel), the proposed KIT‐6 dispersant with a three‐dimensional cubic Ia3d structure and highly ordered arrays of mesoporous channels exhibits excellent adsorption capability of the tested compounds. In addition, several experimental variables, such as the mass ratio of sample to dispersant, grinding time, and elution solvent, were optimized to maximize the extraction efficiency. The proposed analytical method is simple, fast, and entails low consumption of samples, dispersants and elution solvents, thereby meeting “green chemistry” requirements. Under the optimized conditions, the recoveries of three bioactive flavonoids obtained by analyzing the spiked samples were from 89.22 to 101.17%. Also, the LODs and LOQs for determining the analytes were in the range of 0.02–0.04 μg/mL and 0.07–0.13 μg/mL, respectively. Finally, the miniaturized matrix solid‐phase dispersion method was successfully applied to the analysis of target solutes in real samples, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

不同产地黄芪的红外光谱鉴别研究

采用红外光谱、二阶导数红外光谱和二维相关红外光谱,对四种不同产地的黄芪原药材进行了鉴别研究。结果表明:不同产地黄芪的红外光谱和二阶导数红外谱具有一定的相似度,与淀粉的红外谱图比对,4个不同产地的黄芪均含有淀粉,其中陕西绥德产黄芪的淀粉含量比其它3个产地黄芪的都要高。山西浑源和山西天镇产黄芪谱图的1 510、1 425cm-1木质素特征峰比内蒙古固阳和陕西绥德产黄芪的更为明显,说明前二者产黄芪中木质素含量高于后二者产黄芪。在二维相关红外谱图上,根据4个产地黄芪的相对峰强度的差异,可进行产地的鉴别。研究结果表明对于不同产地黄芪的鉴别,红外三级鉴定法是一种快速有效的新方法。     

An improved cell membrane chromatography method for the simultaneous screening of two epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from radix scutellariae

A high‐expression epidermal growth factor receptor cell membrane chromatography using the silica gel with the average particle size of 3 μm as the stationary phase carrier coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry was established for the online screening of epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin in Chinese), a traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the growth factor receptor cell membrane chromatography model using the smaller particle size carrier showed a higher efficiency for simultaneous screening baicalein, another one of the potential epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix Scutellariae extract besides wogonin, which was found in our previous work. The molecular docking result showed the occupancy site and binding mode of baicalein and wogonin with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase were similar to gefitinib. The result of the assay for the in vitro inhibitory activity showed that baicalein and wogonin inhibited the growth of the high‐expression epidermal growth factor receptor cell in a dose‐dependent manner and even achieved a better inhibition effect than gifitinib in the low‐dosage range.     

Sodiation‐based in‐source collision for profiling of pyranocoumarins in Radix Peucedani (Qianhu): utility of sodium adducts' stability with in‐source collision

Full scan mode of liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization source offers a chance on global detection of complicated components; however, the scan mode carries significant challenges in rapidly capturing information of analysts. Sodiation‐based in‐source collision was proposed here, as a technique for rapid detecting untargeted analytes in full scan analysis, which was based on the stability of sodium adducts and the nonselectivity of in‐source collision. Then the technique was applied to profile of angular‐type pyranocoumarins (APs) in Radix Peucedani, with full scan analysis performed at two specific in‐source collision energy: a high energy 50 V that is tolerated by the sodium adducts of APs, and a low energy 10 V, at which abundant adducts were offered. The spectra list of two average mass spectra was exported, and stable ions were selected based on the intensity ratio of standards at the two collision energy. Then 27 plausible [M + Na]⁺ m/z values of APs were acquired after filtering the fragment ion and isotope ions and validating with [M + NH₄]⁺. Eighty‐two APs finally were tentatively identified based on their accurate spectral data of MSⁿ, fragmentation rules, and elution order regardless of their absolute configuration, which included 25 reported APs from Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. The technique provided a novel application of sodium adduct in qualitative analysis. And it was valuable for rapidly capturing information of analytes in full scan analysis, not only for APs but also for other compounds that could form sodium adducts. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.