Analysis of allergens in tubeimu saponin extracts by using rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cell‐based affinity chromatography coupled to liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

An affinity two‐dimensional chromatography method was developed for the recognition, separation, and identification of allergic components from tubeimu saponin extracts, a preparation often injected to treat various conditions as indicated by traditional Chinese medicine. Rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membranes were used as the stationary phase of a membrane affinity chromatography column to capture components with affinity for mast cells that could be involved in a degranulation reaction. The retained components were enriched and analyzed by membrane affinity chromatography with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry via a port switch valve. Suitability and reliability of the method was investigated using appropriate standards, and then, the method was applied to identify components retained from tubeimu saponin extracts. Tubeimoside A was identified in this way as a potential allergen, and degranulation assays confirmed that tubeimoside A induces RBL‐2H3 cell degranulation in a dose‐dependent manner. An increase in Ca²⁺ influx indicated that degranulation induced by tubeimoside A is likely Ca²⁺ dependent. Coupled with the degranulation assay, RBL‐2H3 cell‐based affinity chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry is an effective method for screening and identifying allergic components from tubeimu saponin extracts.     

Screening anti‐allergic components of Astragali Radix using LAD2 cell membrane chromatography coupled online with UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method

Huangqi (Astragali Radix), a traditional Chinese herb, is widely used in clinical therapy in China. In addition, an anti‐allergic effect of constituents in Huangqi has been reported in the scientific literature. In the present study, cell membrane chromatography coupled online with UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method was developed to screen, analyze and identify the anti‐allergic components of Huangqi. The Laboratory of Allergic Disease 2 (LAD2) cell was used to establish cell membrane chromatography, which was combined with UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS. The coupled system was then used to screen anti‐allergic components from Huangqi. Effects of active components were verified by histamine release assay. A component retained on the LAD2 cell membrane chromatography was identified as formononetin. Bioactivity of formononetin was investigated by histamine release assay in LAD2 cells, and it was found that formononetin could inhibit histamine release in a dose‐dependent manner from 1 to 100 μm . The LAD2 cell membrane chromatography online with UHPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method is an effective technique for screening the anti‐allergic components of Huangqi.     

Screening the anti‐allergic components in Saposhnikoviae Radix using high‐expression Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 cell membrane chromatography online coupled with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Saposhnikoviae Radix, the dried root of Saposhnikoviae divaricata, is commonly used in the traditional Chinese anti‐allergic preparations, like Bofutsusho‐san and Yupingfeng granules. A high‐expression Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 cell membrane chromatography coupled online with high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with an ion trap time‐of‐flight multistage mass spectrometry system was established and used for screening and identifying the anti‐allergic components in Saposhnikoviae Radix. The system was validated for excellent specificity and suitability using the appropriate standards. Two retained fractions were obtained on the cell membrane chromatography column, and three main components were identified as prim‐O‐glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, and 4′‐O‐β‐d ‐glucosyl‐5‐O‐methylvisamminol. Next, the molecular docking study was conducted, which confirmed that these three components could effectively bind to MRGPRX2 through hydrogen bonds with its amino acid residues. Finally, histamine release assay was performed to investigate the bioactivities of prim‐O‐glucosylcimifugin, cimifugin, and 4′‐O‐β‐d ‐glucosyl‐5‐O‐methylvisamminol. Results showed that these three components could exert anti‐allergic effects by inhibiting the histamine release in a dose‐dependent manner (from 10 to 100 µM). In conclusion, the high‐expression Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 cell membrane chromatography is an effective tool for discovering the anti‐allergic components in Saposhnikoviae Radix.     

Screening antiallergic components from Carthamus tinctorius using rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cell membrane chromatography combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

Carthamus tinctorius, used in traditional Chinese medicine, has many pharmacological effects, such as anticoagulant effects, antioxidant effects, antiaging effects, regulation of gene expression, and antitumor effects. However, there is no report on the antiallergic effects of the components in C. tinctorius. In the present study, we investigated the antiallergic components of C. tinctorius and its mechanism of action. A rat basophilic leukemia 2H3/cell membrane chromatography coupled online with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to screen antiallergic components from C. tinctorius. The screening results showed that Hydroxysafflor yellow A, from C. tinctorius, was the targeted component that retained on the rat basophilic leukemia 2H3/cell membrane chromatography column. We measured the amount of β‐hexosaminidase and histamine released in mast cells and the key markers of degranulation. The release assays showed that Hydroxysafflor yellow A could attenuate the immunoglobulin E induced release of allergic cytokines without affecting cell viability from 1.0 to 50.0 μM. In conclusion, the established rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with online high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method successfully screened and identified Hydroxysafflor yellow A from C. tinctorius as a potential antiallergic component. Pharmacological analysis elucidated that Hydroxysafflor yellow A is an effective natural component for inhibiting immunoglobulin E–antigen‐mediated degranulation.     

Screening anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection by using rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with HPLC–ESI‐TOF‐MS

MaiLuoNing injection is a traditional Chinese medicine that used clinically since the 1950s in China. However, anaphylactic reactions, through the potentiation of mast cell degranulation, have been reported. In the present study, a rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization‐ion trap‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry method was established for screening, analyzing, and identifying the potential anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection. Harpagoside, a potential degranulator of rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cells, was retained in rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography. We aimed to evaluate the retained components to determine which of those were capable of inducing degranulation of basophilic leukemia cells. A β‐hexosaminidase assay revealed that harpagoside can induce rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell degranulation in a dose‐dependent manner. BLBA/c mice also exhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in response to harpagoside. These results indicate that rat basophilic leukemia‐2H3 cell membrane chromatography coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry is effective in screening for the anaphylactic components of MaiLuoNing injection.     

The human mast cell line‐1 cell membrane chromatography coupled with HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method for screening potentical anaphylactic components from chuanxinlian injection

Chuanxinlian injection is a traditional Chinese medicine injection widely used in China to treat sore throat, cough and dysentery, although a high occurrence of severe adverse reactions has been reported in clinical practice in recent years. In the present study, a human mast cell line‐1 cell membrane chromatography coupled with HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS method was established to screen and identify potentical anaphylactic components in chuanxinlian injection, and the dehydroandrographolide was identified as a potential anaphylactic component. In vitro anaphylactic assay showed that intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration clearly increased under dehydroandrographolide (100 μm ) treatment. β ‐Hexosaminidase and histamine release in human mast cell line‐1 cells were both markedly enhanced with increased concentrations of dehydroandrographolide, confirming the anaphylactic activity of dehydroandrographolide. The application for chuanxinlian injection in this study suggested that the developed human mast cell line‐1 cell membrane chromatography coupled with HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS system may be effective and rapid for screening the potentical anaphylactic components from complex samples.     

Screening of allergic components mediated by H1R in homoharringtonine injection through H1R/CMC‐HPLC/MS

It has been reported that the histamine H₁ receptor (H₁R) gene is up‐regulated in patients with allergic rhinitis and H₁R expression level strongly correlates with the severity of allergy symptoms. Drugs for therapy should avoid allergy symptoms, especially for patients with over‐expressed H₁R. Therefore, screening of the components which could induce H₁R activation is urgently needed for drug safety evaluation. Homoharringtonine injection is a preparation for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, which is approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) and US Food and Drug Administration. However, severely adverse reactions often occur with intravenous injection of the preparation. In present study, an H₁R/CMC model was applied for capturing membrane retained components which could induce H₁R activation. Retention components were enriched and analyzed by H₁R/CMC‐HPLC/MS. Homoharringtonine was recognized, separated and identified in homoharringtonine injection. Ca²⁺ flux assay and p‐IP3R expression founded that homoharringtonine retained by the H₁R/CMC model increased phosphorylation of IP3R and promoted cytosolic free Ca²⁺ elevation in a dose‐dependent manner which further verified the activity of homoharringtonine in activating the H₁R. In conclusion, homoharringtonine was screened and identified as a potential allergic factor. This provides an indication that a patient with over‐expressed H₁R should be aware of possible allergic reaction when applying homoharringtonine injection. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Osteoblast cell membrane chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for screening specific active components from traditional Chinese medicines

A method using osteoblast membrane chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was developed to recognize and identify the specific active components from traditional Chinese medicines. Primary rat osteoblasts were used for the preparation of the stationary phase in the cell chromatography method. Retention components from the cell chromatography were collected and analyzed by liquid chromatography with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. This method was applied in screening active components from extracts of four traditional Chinese medicines. In total, 24 potentially active components with different structures were retained by osteoblast cell chromatography. There were five phenolic glucosides and one triterpenoid saponin from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, two organic acids and ten flavonoids from Epimedium sagittatum Maxim, one phthalide compound and one organic acid from Angelica sinensis Diels, and two flavonoids and two saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. Among those, four components (icariin, curculigoside, ferulaic acid, and timosaponin BII) were used for in vitro pharmacodynamics validation. They significantly increased the osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, levels of bone gla protein and collagen type 1, and promoted mineralized nodule formation. The developed method was an effective screening method for finding active components from complex medicines that act on bone diseases.     

Activity ranking of synthetic analogs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 by an integrated cell membrane chromatography system

Evaluating the biological activities of small molecules represents an important part of the drug discovery process. Cell membrane chromatography (CMC) is a well‐developed biological chromatographic technique. In this study, we have developed combined SMMC‐7721/CMC and HepG2/CMC with high‐performance liquid chromatography and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry to establish an integrated screening platform. These systems was subsequently validated and used for evaluating the activity of quinazoline compounds, which were designed and synthesized to target vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. The inhibitory activities of these compounds towards this receptor were also tested using a classical caliper mobility shift assay. The results revealed a significant correlation between these two methods (R² = 0.9565 or 0.9420) for evaluating the activities of these compounds. Compared with traditional methods of evaluating the activities analogous compounds, this integrated cell membrane chromatography screening system took less time and was more cost effective, indicating that it could be used as a practical method in drug discovery.     

Off‐line comprehensive two‐dimensional reversed‐phase countercurrent chromatography with high‐performance liquid chromatography: Orthogonality in separation of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc

Off‐line comprehensive two‐dimensional reversed‐phase countercurrent chromatography with high‐performance liquid chromatography was investigated in separation of crude ethanol extract from traditional Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. Two‐dimensional contour plots for countercurrent chromatography with high‐performance liquid chromatography was obtained after comprehensive separation was completed. Total peak capacity was evaluated and approximately 810 peaks were obtained through a comprehensive two‐dimensional separation. A highly orthogonality of 52.23% and a large separation space occupancy of 88.86% were achieved. Meanwhile, it was found that several components could be well separated by countercurrent chromatography while they could not be separated by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and vice versa, which further indicated the orthogonality of the two separation methods. The off‐line comprehensive two‐dimensional countercurrent chromatography with high‐performance liquid chromatography provided a promising and powerful method for separation of complex natural products.     

Application of two‐dimensional liquid chromatography in the separation of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicines have been widely used to prevent and cure diseases for thousands of years. For the purpose of better understanding the extremely complicated traditional Chinese medicines, powerful separation techniques are essential. Two‐dimensional liquid chromatography has been proven to be more powerful for the separation of complex traditional Chinese medicines due to its enhanced peak capacity and resolution compared with one‐dimensional liquid chromatography. Enormous efforts have been made on the coupling of independent separation mechanisms to improve the resolving power for complex traditional Chinese medicine samples, including the development and introduction of novel stationary phases. This review aims to give an overview on the applications of two‐dimensional liquid chromatography in traditional Chinese medicine research since 2008, including comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography, heart‐cutting two‐dimensional liquid chromatography both in on‐line, and off‐line mode. Different couplings of separation modes were respectively discussed based on specific studies, with emphasis on the applications of novel stationary phases in the two‐dimensional liquid chromatography.     

Purification of lignans from Fructus Arctii using off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography

As a common traditional Chinese medicine, Fructus Arctii has important clinical medical values. Its main components are lignans, which are difficult to separate and analyze because of the complex composition, similar chemical structures, and close properties. In this study, an off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method, as well as an effective sample pretreatment method based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography material, was developed to enrich the minor lignan fractions and obtain high‐purity compounds. In total, 12 high‐purity compounds were isolated from Fructus Arctii . Their structures were identified by using high‐resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which showed that all were lignans and that most of them were isomers. The results demonstrated the effective off‐line two‐dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/reversed‐phase liquid chromatography method for the purification of lignans from Fructus Arctii . The separation protocol established here will be beneficial for the separation of complex samples from other kinds of natural products.     

Simultaneous determination of 10 first-generation histamine h1 receptor blockers in feeds by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole ion trap hybrid mass spectrometer

A method for simultaneous determination of 10 first-generation histamine H1 receptor blockers in feeds by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry combined with solid phase extraction. Instrument conditions, extraction solvents, and purification methods have been optimized. Under the optimum conditions, these analytes were separated effectively at 6 min. These feeds have been extracted by acid acetonitrile and purified by mixed cation exchange solid-phase extraction. The performance of this method meets the requirements of veterinary residue detection in feeds in China. It is appropriate for the confirmatory monitoring and quantitative analysis of 105 feed samples, five kinds of histamine H1 receptor blockers have been detected in 10 samples.     

Separation of α‐amylase inhibitors from Abelmoschus esculentus (L).Moench by on‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography target‐guided by ultrafiltration‐HPLC

In this study, an on‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography system based on a six‐port valve was developed. Target‐guided by ultrafiltration with high‐performance liquid chromatography, the one‐step isolation of three potential α‐amylase inhibitors from Abelmoschus esculentus (L).Moench was achieved by employing the developed orthogonal system and extrusion elution mode. The purities of three potential α‐amylase inhibitors were all over 95% as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, UV, mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR spectroscopy were applied to the structural identification of the isolated three target compounds, their structures were assigned as quercetin‐3‐O‐sophoroside (i), 5,7,3′,4′‐tetrahydroxy flavonol‐3‐O‐[β‐d ‐rhamnopyranosil‐(1→2)]‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside (ii ) and isoquercitrin (iii), respectively. The Results demonstrated that the proposed method was highly efficient to screen and isolate enzyme inhibitors from complex natural products extracts, and on‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography can effectively increase the peak resolution of target compounds.