Effect of pH on the Metabolism of Aconitine under Rat Intestinal Bacteria and Analysis of Metabolites Using HPLC/MS-MSn Technique

A semi‐quantitative method of mass spectrometry (MS) has been described for the analysis of metabolites of aconitine by rat intestinal bacteria at different pH. At pH 7.0, the rat intestinal bacteria exhibit optimal activity for the metabolism of aconitine. A high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization multiple‐stage mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐MSⁿ) method has been applied to investigate the characteristic product ions of metabolites. Then, the logical fragmentation pathways of metabolites have been proposed. By comparing the retention time (t_R) of HPLC and the ESI‐MSⁿ data with the data of standard compounds and reports from literature, ten metabolites have been identified and a distinctive metabolite (15‐deoxyaconitine) has been deduced first time. The experimental results demonstrate that HPLC/ESI‐MSⁿ is a specific and useful method for the identification of metabolites of aconitine. Also, in the present paper, the HPLC‐MS method was introduced to determine the synthetical metabolite prior to the study of the toxicity by the method of Bliss.     

电喷雾串联质谱分析附子炮制中的化学成分变化

利用电喷雾质谱方法(ESI-MS)分析了附子加辅料(甘草)炮制前后水煎液中二萜类生物碱在种类和含量方面的变化,通过加入内标化合物,建立了电喷雾质谱的半定量分析方法。此方法具有快速、准确、灵敏的特点,能够更加全面地反映中药配伍炮制过程中多种化学成分的含量变化,并能根据电喷雾串联质谱的分析结果鉴定配伍后产生的新的化学成分,在共煎液中的次乌头碱、中乌头碱和乌头碱的相对含量分别是单煎液中的5.67%、4.05%和4.88%。通过研究附子与甘草的单煎液、共煎液以及药渣中化学成分的变化,揭示了甘草作为辅料,在炮制过程中对附子减毒作用机理。     

超高效液相色谱-质谱结合主成分分析方法研究制川乌配伍前后的肠内菌代谢差异

利用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用( UPLC-MS)技术结合主成分分析方法研究制川乌单煎液、制川乌与白芍、制川乌与防己共煎液在大鼠肠内菌中的代谢差异。采用SIMCA-P软件,以肠内菌代谢后乌头类生物碱的相对含量为变量进行主成分( PCA)分析。在主成分得分图中,制川乌单煎液与制川乌-白芍、制川乌-防己共煎液均可以明显区分,说明制川乌单煎液与制川乌-白芍、制川乌-防己共煎液的肠内菌生物转化存在显著差异。通过主成分分析载荷图及独立样本t检验,从制川乌-白芍组得到7种差异显著的标志物,从制川乌-防己组得到6种标志物,其中制川乌-白芍组有4种标志物经肠内菌代谢后含量高于制川乌组,而制川乌-防己组有1种化合物含量高于制川乌组,两组中其它标志物含量低于制川乌组。这些标志物可能是制川乌配伍前后药效差异的物质基础。     

离心超滤质谱筛选川乌中与人血清白蛋白相互作用的乌头类生物碱

采用离心超滤质谱技术从川乌总生物碱提取物中筛选与人血清白蛋白相互作用的乌头类生物碱成分,并用LC-MSn技术对筛选出的活性成分进行了分离鉴定.结果表明,从川乌总生物碱中筛选并鉴定出9种与人血清白蛋白存在相互作用的乌头类生物碱:苯甲酰新乌头原碱、苯甲酰乌头原碱、10-OH-中乌头碱、中乌头碱、10-OH-乌头碱、乌头碱、次乌头碱、脱氧乌头碱和3,13-脱氧乌头碱.     

利用液质联用技术分析干姜对乌头类生物碱在大鼠肠内吸收的影响

为从吸收的角度考察干姜对乌头类双酯型生物碱的解毒机理, 采用外翻肠囊法展开实验. 利用超高液相与三重四极杆质谱联用技术定量检测双酯型生物碱成分, 采用标准曲线法计算乌头碱、中乌头碱、次乌头碱在肠囊内吸收的绝对含量, 采用质谱峰面积直接分析其它双酯型生物碱的相对变化, 结果加入干姜提取液后, 乌头碱、中乌头碱、次乌头碱的单位肠管面积累计吸收量均降低, 10-羟基中乌头碱的的累积峰面积降低; 加入维拉帕米后, 双酯型生物碱的单位肠管面积累计吸收量及累积峰面积均增加; 向含有地高辛的肠营养液中加入干姜提取液后, 地高辛在各实验时间点的单位肠管面积累计吸收量均降低, 根据以上结果推测干姜抑制乌头类双酯型生物碱在大鼠肠囊内吸收的可能机制是通过诱导肠内P-葡糖蛋白, 从而抑制作为P-葡糖蛋白底物的双酯型生物碱的吸收, 最终起到减毒作用.     

利用软电离质谱技术研究乌头碱在肠内细菌中的生物转化

采用人肠内细菌和乌头碱温孵的方法及电喷雾质谱技术, 探讨了乌头碱在人肠内的生物转化规律. 根据在正离子电喷雾电离条件下乌头类生物碱质子化分子[M+H]+提供的分子量信息, 并结合精确质量测定提供的元素组成及串联质谱提供的结构信息, 可以对乌头碱的转化产物直接进行定性分析. 研究结果表明, 乌头碱在人肠内细菌环境中可通过脱乙酰基、脱甲基、脱羟基以及酯化反应产生新型的单酯型、双酯型和脂类生物.     

16-O-去甲基去氧乌头碱在肠内细菌中的生物转化研究

采用人肠内细菌和乌头碱体外温孵的方法,探讨乌头碱的代谢产物16-O-去甲基去氧乌头碱在人肠内的生物转化。利用离子阱电喷雾串联质谱(ESIMS/MSn)方法直接分析16-O-去甲基去氧乌头碱的代谢产物。乌头类生物碱在ESI正离子模式条件下形成质子化分子[M H] 。16-O-去甲基去氧乌头碱可被人肠内细菌转化,通过脱乙酰基、脱苯甲酰基、脱甲基、脱羟基以及酯化反应产生新型的单酯型、双酯型和脂类生物碱等10余种代谢产物。双酯型生物碱具有较高的毒性,相对应的单酯型和脂类生物碱毒性较低。16-O-去甲基去氧乌头碱被肠内细菌转化为单酯型和脂类生物碱会使其毒性降低。     

The comparative research on constituents of Radix Aconiti and its processing by HPLC quadrupole TOF-MS

Based upon the regulations stipulated by the State Food and Drug Administration of China, only the processed, detoxified tubers and roots of Aconitum are allowed to be administered orally, used in clinical decoctions and adopted as raw materials for pharmaceutical manufacturing, so the processing principle of preparation of Radix Aconiti is important for ensuring the Radix Aconiti praeparata quality. A simple approach was described for HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS screening and identification of many of the aconitine alkaloids present in unprocessed Radix Aconiti and Radix Aconiti praeparata. To compare their fingerprints, the processing principle of preparation of Radix Aconiti was developed. Twenty‐nine compounds and 26 compounds were assigned to aconitine alkaloids and tentatively identified by comparing accurate mass and fragments information with that of the authentic standards or by mass spectrometry analysis and retrieving the reference literature. The nonester alkaloids were almost the same. The diester diterpene alkaloids were decreased, the monoester‐diterpene alkaloids were increased and lipo‐alkaloids decreased obviously in the processing of the preparation. These transformed components could be regarded as potential chemical markers that can be used to distinguish between raw and processed herbs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

乌头碱的代谢产物去氧乌头碱的生物转化及其电喷雾串联质谱

采用人肠内细菌和乌头碱体外温孵的方法, 探讨去氧乌头碱在人肠内的生物转化. 利用离子阱和傅里叶变换离子回旋共振质谱直接分析去氧乌头碱的转化产物. 乌头类生物碱及其代谢产物在正离子电喷雾质谱条件下形成质子化分子([M+H]+), 通过多级串联质谱进行结构表征. 去氧乌头碱可被人肠内细菌转化, 通过脱酰基、脱甲基脱羟基以及酯化反应产生新型的单酯型、双酯型和脂类生物碱等10余种代谢产物. 双酯型的去氧乌头碱的毒性较高, 当它被肠内细菌转化为单酯型和脂类生物碱时会使其毒性降低.     

电喷雾质谱半定量方法研究制川乌配伍后的大鼠肠内菌生物转化

利用建立的代谢前后生物碱成分的电喷雾质谱半定量分析方法,通过分析各药对共煎液经大鼠肠内菌群代谢后主要生物碱的含量变化,对制川乌与浙贝母、法半夏、白蔹分别配伍后共煎液中双酯型、单酯型及脂型生物碱的肠内菌生物转化进行了深入研究,研究结果表明,配伍后中药浙贝母增加共煎液中双酯型生物碱含量,法半夏降低共煎液中双酯型生物碱含量,而白蔹对共煎液中双酯型生物碱含量影响不大;在代谢过程中,大鼠肠内菌群能够将复方中双酯型生物碱转化为脂型生物碱,从而达到中药配伍的减毒增效目的。本文通过化学方法和肠内菌代谢研究证明了制川乌配伍及代谢的机理。     

Mechanism of Incompatible Herb Pairs,Panax ginseng and Veratrum nigrum L.: Material Basis and Metabolic Profiles of Ginsenosides in Rat Intestinal Bacteria

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, Panax ginseng and Veratrum nigrum L. is an important incompatible herb pair. Studies on the content variation of main components and the influences on the metabolism in rat intestinal bacteria are useful to understand the mechanism of incompatibility of this herb pairs. In this study, the content variation of ginsenosides and their metaboltic profiles in the extracts of P. ginseng and compatibility of P. ginseng with V. nigrum L. (G‐V) were investigated using relative quantitative method of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and UPLC‐MSⁿ, respectively. The relative contents of most ginsenosides were reduced in the extract of G‐V. Furthermore, ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂, Rc and Rd could be metabolized to Rd, F2 and C‐K in rat intestinal bacteria. The metabolic speeds of Rb₁, Rb₂ and Rc in the G‐V extracts at ratios of 10:5, 10:7 and 10:10 and the metabolic rates of ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂ and Rc to Rd, Rd to F2 in all compatibility extracts were lower than that in the P. ginseng extract. In conclusion, this study illustrated the mechanism of effect‐reducing by comparison of the relative contents and metabolic profiles of ginsenosides after compatibility of P. ginseng and V. nigrum L.     

乌头类生物碱组分在CYP450中的代谢指纹图谱及对CYP450活性的影响

利用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)的多反应监测(MRM)技术, 结合多探针底物方法, 对单酯型及双酯型乌头类生物碱组分对细胞色素P450(CYP450)亚型的活性影响进行了研究; 同时利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间串联质谱(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS)对单酯型和双酯型乌头类生物碱组分在CYP450中的代谢指纹图谱进行了研究. 活性影响研究结果表明, 单酯型生物碱组分对CYP2C及2D的抑制能力较强, 其IC₅₀值分别为7.44和6.74 μmol/L; 双酯型生物碱组分对CYP1A2, 3A, 2C和2D均有较弱的抑制作用, 其IC₅₀值分别为39.48, 70.44, 17.36和86.04 μmol/L. 代谢指纹图谱显示, 双酯型生物碱组分在大鼠肝微粒体中有6个特异性产物可以作为该反应的特征峰.     

超临界萃取中药白芷的化学成分的气相色谱质谱分析

采用超临界流体萃取法对传统中药白芷的化学成分进行了分离提取研究，利用气相-质谱联机技术，对其中的55种化学成分进行了鉴定，并测定了相对含量。与传统的水蒸气蒸馏法提取的白芷挥发油进行了比较，分析。实验结果表明，超临界CO2萃取法所得的产物，能保留药材白芷的所有有效成分，可以入药。     

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.     

Profiling isoflavone conjugates in root extracts of lupine species with LC/ESI/MSn systems

Extracts obtained from roots of three lupine species (Lupinus albus, L. angustifolius, L. luteus) were analysed using LC/UV and LC/ESI/MS(n). The experiments were performed using two mass spectrometric systems, equipped with the triple quadrupole or ion trap analysers. Thirteen to twenty isomeric isoflavone conjugates were identified in roots of the investigated lupine species. These were di- and monoglycosides of genistein and 2'-hydroxygenistein with different patterns of glycosylation, both at oxygen and carbon atoms; some glycosides were acylated with malonic acid. It was not possible to establish the glycosylation sites of the aglycone only on the basis of the registered mass spectra; however, it was possible to differentiate C- and O-glucosides of isoflavones. Only comparison of retention times with those of standard compounds permitted to indicate the correct glycosylation pattern. In the case of diglycosides, the glycosylation pattern (O-diglucoside or O-glucosylglucoside) was distinguishable on the basis of the relative intensities of daughter ions in the mass spectra of protonated molecular ions. It was not possible to elucidate the site of malonylation on the sugar moiety from mass spectra, however, protonated molecules [M + H](+) of isoflavone glucosides with different placement of the malonyl group on the sugar ring were recognized in the extracts. In addition to the isoflavone glycosides, some flavone or flavonol glycosides were identified in the samples on the basis of collision-induced daughter ion spectra of the aglycone ions. A comparison of results obtained with the triple quadrupole and ion trap analysers was done in the course of the investigations.     

Simultaneous pharmacokinetics and stability studies of physalins in rat plasma and intestinal bacteria culture media using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

Physalins are the major steroidal constituent of Physalis plants and display a range of biological activities. For this study, a rapid and sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of six physalins. Specifically, it was for the quantification of physalin A, physalin B, physalin D, physalin G, 4,7‐didehydroneophysalin B, and isophysalin B in rat plasma and rat intestinal bacteria. After a solid‐phase extraction, analytes and internal standards (prednisolone) were separated on a Shield reverse‐phase C18 column (measuring 3 mm × 150 mm with an internal diameter of 3.5 μm) and determined using multiple reactions in a monitoring mode with a positive‐ion electrospray ionization source. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) and was used at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The intra‐ and interday precisions were within 15% with accuracies ranging from 86.2 to 114%. The method was validated and successfully applied to pharmacokinetics and stability studies of six physalins in rat plasma and rat intestinal bacteria, respectively. The results showed that physalin B and isophysalin B could not be absorbed by rats, and rat intestinal bacteria could quickly transform physalins.     

Study of transaldolase deficiency in urine samples by capillary LC-MS/MS

Transaldolase (TAL) is a key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). TAL deficiency is a newly recognized cause of liver cirrhosis. We have developed an ion-pair LC separation combined with negative ion electrospray MS/MS detection method to assess PPP metabolites in urine samples from TAL-deficient mice. Sedoheptulose 7-phosphate (S7P), C5-polyols D-arabitol and D-ribitol, and 6-phosphogluconate (6PG) levels were markedly increased in urine of TAL-deficient mice with respect to those of wild-type and heterozygote littermates. The detection limits of S7P, D-arabitol, and 6PG were 0.15 +/- 0.015 pmol, 3.5 +/- 0.41 pmol, and 0.61 +/- 0.055 pmol, respectively. The limit of quantitation was 0.4 +/- 0.024 nmol/ml for S7P, 1.6 +/- 0.11 nmol/ml for 6PG and 10 +/- 0.7 nmol/ml for D-arabitol. Additional metabolites, hexose 6-phosphates (m/z 259), D-ribose 5-phosphate and D-xylulose 5-phosphate (m/z 229), D-fructose 1,6-diphosphate (m/z 339), C6-polyols (m/z 181) and GSSG (m/z 611), that have been positively identified in mouse urine, showed similar levels in control and TAL-deficient mice.     

分散固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定蜂蜜中生物碱

建立了分散固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(QuEChERS-HPLC-MS/MS)同时测定蜂蜜中吡咯里西啶生物碱(倒千里光、千里光菲林、千里光宁、克氏千里光宁)和异喹啉类生物碱(小檗碱、荷叶碱)的方法。蜂蜜样品经乙腈提取,乙二胺-N-丙基硅烷(PSA)吸附剂净化,HPLC-MS/MS测定。采用Agilent Poroshell 120SB-C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,2.7μm)分离。以0.1%甲酸溶液和乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱,电喷雾正离子(ESI+)模式电离,多反应监测模式(MRM)下进行测定,外标法定量。结果表明,在0.1~100μg/L范围内,6种生物碱的相关系数均大于0.99;在1~100μg/kg的添加水平下,所有生物碱回收率均在70%~110%之间;6种生物碱日内精密度小于15%,日间精密度小于20%;方法检出限和定量限分别为0.3和1.0μg/kg。本方法可用于蜂蜜中吡咯里西啶生物碱和异喹啉类生物碱的同时定性和定量分析。     

气相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定白芍中10种有机磷农药残留

建立了同时测定中药白芍中10种有机磷农药残留含量的气相色谱–串联质谱方法。样品用乙腈超声提取,提取液经凝胶渗透色谱净化后,以VF–5毛细管色谱柱(30 mm×0.25 mm,0.25μm)分离,串联四极杆质谱仪为检测器进行定性、定量分析。10种有机磷农药残留的检出限为0.02～4.0 mg/kg,实际样品的加标回收率为75%～105%,相对标准偏差为4%～10%。该方法能够满足白芍中有机磷农药残留的定性、定量检测要求。     

Simultaneous determination of eight alkaloids and oleandrin in herbal cosmetics by dispersive solid‐phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

We utilized ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and dispersive solid‐phase extraction to develop a new method for the detection of nine analytes (scopolamine, cephaeline, strychnine, hyoscyamine, brucine, hydrastine, ajmalicine, colchicine, and oleandrin) in herbal cosmetics. Acetonitrile/water and 2‐propylaminoethylamine were used to disperse and purify during the dispersive solid‐phase extraction step. The analytes were separated by a Waters UPLC HSS T3 column and detected through electrospray ionization source in the positive mode with multi‐reaction monitoring conditions. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.2–100.0 μg/L with the correlation coefficients higher than 0.995. The method limit of quantitation (S/N = 10) were 5.0 μg/kg for oleandrin and 1.0 μg/kg for the other eight alkaloids. The mean recoveries at three spiked concentration levels of 1.0–10.0 μg/kg were in the range of 86.9–116.5% with the intra‐day relative standard deviations (n  = 6) ranging from 2.4 to 8.8%, and inter‐day relative standard deviations ranging from 2.7 to 5.7%. This method is accurate, simple and rapid, and has been applied to the quality supervision of herbal cosmetics in Guangzhou.