通草类中药微量元素的主成分分析和聚类分析

探讨通草类中药材中微量元素含量与其功效间的相关性。以微量元素含量为指标,运用主成分分析和聚类分析对11种通草类中药的微量元素进行分析。主成分分析结果表明前3个主因子含有通草类中药材微量元素含量84.50%的信息。利用3个主因子模型和聚类分析谱图,解释了11种通草类中药中药的相似性与差异。利用主成分分析和聚类分析法初步得出11种通草类中药的微量元素与其功效存在相关性,为该类中草药的开发利用提供了科学依据和理论基础。     

A metabolomics strategy for authentication of plant medicines with multiple botanical origins,a case study of Uncariae Rammulus Cum Uncis

Source authentication of herbal medicines was essential for ensuring their safety, efficacy and quality consistency, especially those with multiple botanical origins. This study proposed a metabolomics strategy for species discrimination and source recognition. Uncariae Rammulus Cum Uncis, officially stipulating the stems with hooks of five Uncaria species as its origins, was taken as a case study. Firstly, an untargeted MS^E method was developed by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for global metabolite characterization. Subsequently, data pretreatment was conducted by using Progenesis QI software and screening rules. The obtained metabolite features were defined as variables for statistical analyses. Principal component analysis and chemical fingerprinting spectra suggested that five official species were differentiated from each other except for Uncaria hirsuta and Uncaria sinensis. Furthermore, orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis was performed to discriminate confused two species, and resulted in the discovery of nine contributing markers. Ultimately, a Support Vector Machine model was developed to recognize five species and predict origins of commercial materials. The study demonstrated that the developed strategy was effective in discrimination and recognition of confused species, and promising in tracking botanical origins of commercial materials.     

降脂中药微量元素的主成分分析和聚类分析

探讨降脂中药中微量元素的种类和含量与其药用价值的相关性。以常用的10种降脂中药作为研究对象,采用原子吸收光谱法(AAS)对其所含微量元素进行测定,运用化学计量学方法中的主成分分析和聚类分析方法进行信息解析。主成分分析结果表明,前4个主因子含有降脂类中药微量元素含量88.96%的信息。根据主成分得分图和聚类分析谱图,可将10种中药分为两类。找出了与每类中药相关性密切的微量元素,解释了10种中药之间的相似性与差异。通过主成分分析和聚类分析初步揭示出10种降脂中药的微量元素与其功效存在相关性,为该类中药的开发提供了科学依据和理论基础。     

Tradition- and science-based quality control of Chinese medicines--introducing the Phyto-True system

The current QC practice of quantifying presumed active chemicals or arbitrarily selected chemical markers is of doubtful value in assessing multicomponent complex traditional Chinese medicines (CMs) and often leads to an inconsistent or irreproducible research and clinical outcome. Consequently, the first and most important step in the QC of CMs (or other botanical medicines) whose exact active chemical components are unknown is to use analytical techniques that can comprehensively define the totality of the components/attributes making up their identity and quality. One of the most versatile techniques is HPTLC. Using HPTLC, along with other simple techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy combined with complementary gene expression profiling, we have been able to correctly identify CM materials, detect adulterants, and differentiate closely related materials and botanical species. Our research has resulted in the introduction of the concept and specimens of Phyto-True Reference Material (PTRM), aka Representative Botanical Reference/Research Material (RBRM), now commercially available, and a novel patent-pending technology (Phyto-True system) that can serve as a starting point for the meaningful QC of traditional CMs so far not possible for these complex materials. Examples will be highlighted to demonstrate this new concept.     

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled with hierarchical cluster analysis to evaluate Wikstroemia indica (L.) C. A. Mey. from different geographical regions

A sensitive, rapid and simple ultra high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine seven constituents (umbelliferone, apigenin, triumbelletin, daphnoretin, arctigenin, genkwanin and emodin) in Wikstroemia indica (L.) C. A. Mey. The chromatographic analysis was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) by gradient elution with the mobile phase of 0.05% formic acid aqueous solution (A) and acetonitrile (B). Multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive and negative electrospray ionization interface was carried out to detect the components. This method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision and stability. Excellent linear behavior was observed over the certain concentration ranges with the correlation coefficient values higher than 0.999. The intraday and innerday precisions were within 2.0%. The recoveries of seven analytes were 99.4–101.1% with relative standard deviation less than 1.2%. The 18 Wikstroemia indica samples from different origins were classified by hierarchical clustering analysis according to the contents of seven components. The results demonstrated that the developed method could successfully be used to quantify simultaneously of seven components in Wikstroemia indica and could be a helpful tool for the detection and confirmation of the quality of traditional Chinese medicines.     

高效液相色谱-质谱法及模式识别法用于鉴别普洱生茶与熟茶

采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术及高效液相色谱法对生熟普洱茶中的主要成分进行定性和定量分析。鉴定出普洱茶水溶液中8种主要成分,分别为没食子酸(GA)、没食子酸儿茶素(GC)、表没食子酸儿茶素(EGC)、儿茶素(C)、咖啡因(CAF)、表儿茶素(EC)、表没食子酸儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)和表儿茶素没食子酸酯(ECG)。以这8种成分的含量为指标,对普洱生茶和熟茶各20批进行主成分分析、聚类分析和判别分析,能准确地区分普洱生茶与熟茶。     

Determination of lead in botanicals/Chinese prepared medicines by using microwave digestion with flow injection-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive, and rapid method was developed for the determination of lead in botanicals and Chinese prepared medicines (CPM) by using closed-vessel microwave digestion with flow injection-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The limits of detection and quantitation for the method, based on 0.5 g digested sample, were calculated to be 0.10 and 0.61 mg/kg, respectively. A simple approach was proposed for calibration by multiple linear regression (MLR) with 207Pb, 206Pb, and 204Pb for the determination of lead in botanical and CPM samples. The results from calibration by MLR were compared with those obtained by conventional modes using 207Pb and the sum of 207Pb and 206Pb. The results obtained by the different modes of calibration were in good agreement for botanical and CPM samples. The method was found to have good accuracy for the analysis of botanical reference materials. Method precision based on analyses of different types of CPM samples by different analysts on different days for different levels of lead was between 3.0 and 8.0% (relative standard deviation, n = 6). The effect of possible matrix interference caused by nitric acid and the extent of digestion was investigated with the method of standard additions. Significant matrix interference was not observed for the CPM samples analyzed. MLR was used to examine the effect of variation in isotopic abundance, which was found to present no significant problem in the determination of lead in the botanical and CPM samples.     

One single standard substance for the determination of multiple anthraquinone derivatives in rhubarb using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection

Due to the complexity of the chemical constitution of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), now there is a trend to establish methods, using multi-components analysis, for the effective quality control of TCMs. However, the limited availability of multiple reference substances hinders the wide popularization for routine quality control of TCMs. Using an easily available single component contained in the analyte as an internal standard to determine multiple analogues should be a practical option. In this study, we selected rhubarb rhizome as an example, and used emodin, the easily available active component, as the external standard to determine directly the content of emodin in rhubarb, and the same component as the internal standard to simultaneously determine the other six anthraquinones in rhubarb. Compared with the results obtained using the external standard method, this alternative method was found to have no statistically significant differences in our laboratory as verified by the F-test (p = 95%, n = 6). However, due to weak robustness caused by the fluctuation of relative response factors in different laboratories, such a method can only serve as a practical measure to solve the lack of so many chemical standard substances when relative response factors have been determined. This alternative method can then be used without reference substances. Once the corresponding chemical standards are available and are acceptable as well as cost-effective, then the external standard method for the simultaneous determination of multiple components (SDMC) in TCMs will prevail.     

Simultaneous analysis of 11 main active components in Cirsium setosum based on HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS and combined with statistical methods

A novel method based on high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed for simultaneous determination of the 11 major active components including ten flavonoids and one phenolic acid in Cirsium setosum. Separation was performed on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column with gradient elution of methanol and 0.1‰ acetic acid (v/v). The identification and quantification of the analytes were achieved on a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Multiple‐reaction monitoring scanning was employed for quantification with switching electrospray ion source polarity between positive and negative modes in a single run. Full validation of the assay was carried out including linearity, precision, accuracy, stability, limits of detection and quantification. The results demonstrated that the method developed was reliable, rapid, and specific. The 25 batches of C. setosum samples from different sources were first determined using the developed method and the total contents of 11 analytes ranged from 1717.460 to 23028.258 μg/g. Among them, the content of linarin was highest, and its mean value was 7340.967 μg/g. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were performed to differentiate and classify the samples, which is helpful for comprehensive evaluation of the quality of C. setosum.     

Quality evaluation and species differentiation of Rhizoma coptidis by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Rhizoma coptidis, a broadly used traditional Chinese medicine, derives from the dried rhizomes of Coptis chinensis Franch, Coptis deltoidea C.Y. Cheng et Hsiao and Coptis teeta Wall. Quantitative determination of protoberberine alkaloids in R. coptidis is critical for controlling its quality. In this study, a rapid, simple and accurate quantitative ¹H NMR (qNMR) method was developed for simultaneous determination of berberine, jatrorrhizine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine and columbamine in R. coptidis from the three species. Method validation was performed in terms of selectivity, precision, repeatability, stability, accuracy, robustness and linearity. The average recoveries obtained were in the range of 96.9–102.4% for all the six alkaloids. In addition, the qNMR data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), and the results showed that the contents of the active alkaloids have significant difference among the three species. Compared with the conventional HPLC approach, the proposed qNMR method was demonstrated to be a powerful tool for quantifying the six alkaloids due to its unique advantages of high robustness, rapid analysis time and no need of standard compounds for calibration curves preparation. These findings indicate that this method has potential as a reliable method for quality evaluation of herb medicines, especially for protoberberine alkaloid-containing ones.     

基于牛舌草指纹图谱的多指标成分相对定量与鉴别方法

色谱指纹图谱法在中草药产地鉴别或中成药鉴别中发挥着重要作用,然而色谱峰强度和位置易受目标物提取和分离条件的影响,发展更加准确的指纹图谱具有重要意义。该文以色谱峰中某一个常见组分（芦丁）作为内标,分析其他组分的相对含量,以相对含量作为指纹图谱信息,结合化学模式识别可以精确给出产地的相似度。以牛舌草的液相色谱指纹图谱指纹峰为例,以其中芦丁的组分峰作为基准峰,其他指纹峰以芦丁为参照,计算每个指纹峰以芦丁计的含量,建立了牛舌草的指纹图谱。将获得的相对含量指纹图谱采用系统聚类分析和主成分分析进行化学模式识别研究,实现了不同产地牛舌草的区分。该方法建立了牛舌草多指标成分的相对定量与鉴别方法,既节省资源,又具有可操作性,对于其他中药或中成药的质量控制具有一定的借鉴意义。     

基于多元统计学的青稞HPLC指纹图谱研究

为了筛选品质良好的青稞,选择不同产地的10批青稞样品,建立了青稞的高效液相指纹图谱,并进行了聚类分析和主成分分析,测定了儿茶素、表儿茶素和芦丁3种指标成分的含量.首先采用高效液相色谱法测得了10批青稞的色谱图,建立其共有模式,确定了11个共有峰,蓝青稞指标成分含量均高于白青稞.对共有峰数据进行聚类分析和主成分分析,10...     

Flexible and powerful strategy for qualitative and quantitative analysis of valepotriates in Valeriana jatamansi Jones using high‐performance liquid chromatography with linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Valeriana jatamansi Jones is an important medicinal plant and its quality is closely related to its region of origin. In the current study, we utilized a flexible and powerful strategy for comprehensive evaluation of the quality diversity for 15 regions in China. The method was based on a hybrid linear ion trap‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry platform. For structure characterization, fragmentation patterns were detected by analyzing a series of standard compounds using data dependent multistage mass spectrometry acquisition. A fragment ion database for valepotriates was established, and the acquired data were high throughput filtered by fragment ion search for compound identification. For quantitative purposes, we normalized the mass spectrometry data of 15 samples using SIEVE 2.0 and the differences in composition were analyzed using principal component analysis combined with hierarchical clustering analysis. The results identified a total of 92 compounds from Valeriana jatamansi Jones. Samples from Dali, Kunming, and Baoshan have better qualities and concentrations of the main active constituents. To verify our strategy, we compared the valtrate, acevaltrate, and baldrinal contents using high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. We developed and validated a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analytical method to achieve quality control of Valeriana jatamansi Jones.     

Multiple chromatographic fingerprinting and its application to the quality control of herbal medicines

Recently, chromatographic fingerprinting has become one of the most powerful approaches to quality control of herbal medicines. However, the performance of reported chromatographic fingerprinting constructed by single chromatogram sometimes turns out to be inadequate for complex herbal medicines, such as multi-herb botanical drug products. In this study, multiple chromatographic fingerprinting, which consists of more than one chromatographic fingerprint and represents the whole characteristics of chemical constitutions of the complex medicine, is proposed as a potential strategy in this complicated case. As a typical example, a binary chromatographic fingerprinting of “Danshen Dropping Pill” (DSDP), the best-sold traditional Chinese medicine in China, was developed. First, two HPLC fingerprints that, respectively, represent chemical characteristics of depsides and saponins of DSDP were developed, which were used to construct binary chromatographic fingerprints of DSDP. Moreover, the authentication and validation of the binary fingerprints were performed. Then, a data-level information fusion method was employed to capture the chemical information encoded in two chromatographic fingerprints. Based on the fusion results, the lot-to-lot consistency and frauds can be determined either using similarity measure or by chemometrics approach. The application of binary chromatographic fingerprinting to consistency assessment and frauds detection of DSDP clearly demonstrated that the proposed method was a powerful approach to quality control of complex herbal medicines.     

Simultaneous quantitation of 14 active components in Yinchenhao decoction by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection: Method development and ingredient analysis of different commonly prepared samples

We developed a novel quantitative analysis method based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection for the simultaneous determination of the 14 main active components in Yinchenhao decoction. All components were separated on an Agilent SB‐C18 column by using a gradient solvent system of acetonitrile/0.1% phosphoric acid solution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min for 35 min. Subsequently, linearity, precision, repeatability, and accuracy tests were implemented to validate the method. Furthermore, the method has been applied for compositional difference analysis of 14 components in eight normal‐extraction Yinchenhao decoction samples, accompanied by hierarchical clustering analysis and similarity analysis. The result that all samples were divided into three groups based on different contents of components demonstrated that extraction methods of decocting, refluxing, ultrasonication and extraction solvents of water or ethanol affected component differentiation, and should be related to its clinical applications. The results also indicated that the sample prepared by patients in the family by using water extraction employing a casserole was almost same to that prepared using a stainless‐steel kettle, which is mostly used in pharmaceutical factories. This research would help patients to select the best and most convenient method for preparing Yinchenhao decoction.     

Multi‐component determination and chemometric analysis of Paris polyphylla by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection

Multi‐source analysis of traditional Chinese medicine is key to ensuring its safety and efficacy. Compared with traditional experimental differentiation, chemometric analysis is a simpler strategy to identify traditional Chinese medicines. Multi‐component analysis plays an increasingly vital role in the quality control of traditional Chinese medicines. A novel strategy, based on chemometric analysis and quantitative analysis of multiple components, was proposed to easily and effectively control the quality of traditional Chinese medicines such as Chonglou. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography was more convenient and efficient. Five species of Chonglou were distinguished by chemometric analysis and nine saponins, including Chonglou saponins I, II, V, VI, VII, D, and H, as well as dioscin and gracillin, were determined in 18 min. The method is feasible and credible, and enables to improve quality control of traditional Chinese medicines and natural products.     

Extraction of hidden information of ToF‐SIMS data using different multivariate analyses

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) is a powerful tool for determining surface information of complex systems such as polymers and biological materials. However, the interpretation of ToF‐SIMS raw data is often difficult. Multivariate analysis has become effective methods for the interpretation of ToF‐SIMS data. Some of multivariate analysis methods such as principal component analysis and multivariate curve resolution are useful for simplifying ToF‐SIMS data consisting of many components to that explained by a smaller number of components. In this study, the ToF‐SIMS data of four layers of three polymers was analyzed using these analysis methods. The information acquired by using each method was compared in terms of the spatial distribution of the polymers and identification. Moreover, in order to investigate the influence of surface contamination, the ToF‐SIMS data before and after Ar cluster ion beam sputtering was compared. As a result, materials in the sample of multiple components, including unknown contaminants, were distinguished. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

发酵虫草菌粉及产品指纹图谱建立及多指标成分分析

《中国药典》收载的发酵虫草菌粉产品的质量标准中,规定以鸟苷、腺苷、尿苷的含量作为评价相关产品质量的标准。但除此之外,还有许多其他的核苷类成分对发酵虫草菌粉质量控制的影响尚未被探讨。为探究发酵虫草菌粉及产品质控指标选择的合理性,采用超高效液相色谱-紫外检测法对19批发酵虫草菌粉及产品中9种核苷成分(尿嘧啶、胞苷、鸟嘌呤、尿苷、腺嘌呤、肌苷、鸟苷、胸苷、腺苷)进行了定量分析,建立了发酵虫草菌粉样品的指纹图谱,并结合统计学提供了一种分析指标性成分的方法。通过优化样品的提取方法,选择超声提取法制备19批发酵虫草菌粉及产品的供试液;采用Agilent Eclipse Plus C18色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm, 3.5 μm)进行色谱分析,以甲醇-水为流动相梯度洗脱,对方法的校正曲线、准确度、精密度、重复性和回收率进行了验证。结合对照品指认了指纹图谱中的9个核苷峰,并采用外标一点法测得了各核苷成分的含量。使用化学模式识别对指纹图谱中的共有峰进行分析,聚类分析和主成分分析得到了同样的分类结果:19批样品共分为5类,其中同一发酵虫草菌粉因工艺差异可分为2类,而心肝宝胶囊、百令胶囊、宁心宝胶囊则各单独分为1类。同时,使用主成分分析获得了各样品中的指标性成分,分别为尿苷、鸟苷、腺苷、腺嘌呤、尿嘧啶,并使用聚类分析再次进行确证,验证了指标性成分的合理性。     

Investigation of chemical changes in Polygonatum kingianum after traditional processing by multiple fingerprint profiles in combination with multivariate methods

Polygonati Rhizoma (Huangjing) is traditional medicine in China, which can only be used as medicine after being processed. However, there is a limited theoretical basis for analyzing the changes in chemical components after traditional processing. In this study, analytical techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance gel permeation chromatography–evaporative light scattering detection, and HPLC–diode array detection were proposed to perform multiple fingerprint analyses of the changes in the processed materials; the total sugar was also determined. Moreover, the chemometric studies, including hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis, were used to visualize the discrimination of raw and processed materials. The results revealed that the chemical constituents had been profoundly changed following sample processing. In conclusion, these methods could be successfully used to compare raw and processed materials of Polygonatum kingianum, which could be used to elaborate the rationality of processing from the perspective of chemical composition.