Determination of radix ginseng volatile oils at different ages by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Comprehensive 2-D GC (GC x GC) coupled with TOF MS or flame ionization detector (FID) was employed to characterize and quantify the chemical composition of volatile oil in the radixes of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (ginseng) at different ages. Thirty-six terpenoids were tentatively identified based on the MS library search and retention index in a ginseng sample at the age of 3 years. An obvious group-type separation was obtained in the GC x GC-TOF MS chromatogram. The data collected by GC x GC-FID were processed using a principal component analysis (PCA) method to classify the samples at different ages. The compounds responsible for the significant differentiation among samples were defined. It was found that the relative abundances of alpha-cadinol, alpha-bisabolol, thujopsene, and n-hexadecanoic acid significantly rise with the increase in age.     

Wild ginseng grows in Myanmar

Ginseng, the underground parts of plants of Panax species, has been used in oriental traditional medicine for centuries. Unfortunately, because of extensive exploitation over thousands of years, the natural source of these species has been almost exhausted. Recently, we have found a wild ginseng growing in Myanmar. Here, by a combination of chemical composition study and gene sequence analysis, we unambiguously demonstrate that the wild ginseng is actually P. zingiberensis, commonly known as ginger ginseng. This ginseng was an indigenous to the southwestern China. However, now it is seriously threatened to brink of extinction and is put on the highest level of protection in China. Therefore, an appropriate protection measure is highly recommended to preserve this valuable resource, since this Myanmar ginseng might turn out to be the last P. zingiberensis, which could ever be seen in the planet.     

Distinguishing Ontario ginseng landraces and ginseng species using NMR-based metabolomics

The use of ¹H-NMR-based metabolomics to distinguish and identify unique markers of five Ontario ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) landraces and two ginseng species (P. quinquefolius and P. ginseng) was evaluated. Three landraces (2, 3, and 5) were distinguished from one another in the principal component analysis (PCA) scores plot. Further analysis was conducted and specific discriminating metabolites from the PCA loadings were determined. Landraces 3 and 5 were distinguishable on the basis of a decreased NMR intensity in the methyl ginsenoside region, indicating decreased overall ginsenoside levels. In addition, landrace 5 was separated by an increased amount of sucrose relative to the rest of the landraces. Landrace 2 was separated from the rest of the landraces by the increased level of ginsenoside R_b1. The Ontario P. quinquefolius was also compared with Asian P. ginseng by PCA, and clear separation between the two groups was detected in the PCA scores plot. The PCA loadings plot and a t-test NMR difference plot were able to identify an increased level of maltose and a decreased level of sucrose in the Asian ginseng compared with the Ontario ginseng. An overall decrease of ginsenoside content, especially ginsenoside R_b1, was also detected in the Asian ginseng’s metabolic profile. This study demonstrates the potential of NMR-based metabolomics as a powerful high-throughput technique in distinguishing various closely related ginseng landraces and its ability to identify metabolic differences from Ontario and Asian ginseng. The results from this study will allow better understanding for quality assessment, species authentication, and the potential for developing a fully automated method for quality control.

Determination of heavy metals and pesticides in ginseng products.

Medicinal plants may carry residuals of environmentally persistent pesticides or assimilate heavy metals in varying degrees. Several factors may influence contaminant accumulation, including species, level and duration of contaminant exposure, and topography. As part of a program for assessment of the quality of herbal medicines, we have analyzed 21 over-the-counter ginseng (Panax ginseng) products in various dosage forms. Chromium, mercury, and arsenic were undetectable above their limits of detection in both liquid and solid samples; while cadmium, lead, and nickel were present in the majority of samples. The chlorinated pesticide levels varied widely. In most samples, the total concentration of pesticides was below 100 ppb; while in 5 samples the total concentration exceeded 100 ppb.     

Structure elucidation of sweet-tasting cycloartane-type saponins from ginseng oolong tea and Abrus precatorius L. leaves

The composition of ginseng oolong a widely used tea product was investigated. A new sweet-tasting cycloartane-type saponin 3β-O-[β-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-D-6-acetylglucopyranosyl)-(20S,22S)-3β,22-dihydroxy-9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-26,29-oic acid (9), along with five new compounds, was identified in the methanolic extract of the ginseng oolong tea. Structural elucidation was conducted by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-MS, HPLC-LITMS/MS. It was shown that these compounds have different sugar chains connected to the abrusogenin molecule. Then saponin profiles of four commercially available ginseng oolong samples and Abrus precatorius L. leaves were compared and the presence of three known abrusosides and six new acetyl and malonyl abrusogenin derivatives was proved. The original ginsenosides were not detected in the extract, therefore, abrusosides could serve as a replacement responsible for the sweet taste of the tea.     

Easy DNA extraction for rapid detection of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer in commercial ginseng products

An investigation was carried out in order to obtain an easy and rapid detection of Panax ginseng in commercial herbal products by using molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)). Two protocols and one commercial kit for DNA extraction were used. Four forms of commercial products were considered, i.e., dried body roots, dried root tails, dried root prongs and dried extracts. The RFLP of DNA amplified products by 18df/28ccr primers, obtained using Inf I, Sau 3A1 and Taq I endonucleases, allowed the identification of P. ginseng and its differentiation from P. quinquefolium. The presence of adulterants, as Mirabilis jalapa L. and Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. was excluded in the examined commercial samples. P. ginseng was detected in 63% of the considered samples according to the declaration of the labels, whereas negative results were obtained with the dried extract form. Therefore, the Invitrogen DNA extraction kit let the easy extraction of useful amounts of DNA and a standardisation of routine work, in comparison with the other molecular protocols so far used.     

Fast determination of ginsenosides in ginseng by high‐performance liquid chromatography with chemometric resolution

Ginseng is a well‐known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, and ginsenosides are its major active components. A method for the fast determination of ginsenosides in ginseng samples by high‐performance liquid chromatography was developed and used for the quantitative analysis of four ginsenosides in three different ginseng samples. In this method, instead of time‐consuming gradient elution, isocratic elution was used to speed up the analysis. Under strong isocratic elution, all the ginsenosides are eluted in 2.3 min. Although the measured signal is composed of overlapped peaks with the interferences and background, the signal of ginsenosides can be extracted by chemometric resolution. A non‐negative immune algorithm was employed to obtain the chromatographic information of the target components from the data. Compared with conventional chemometric approaches, the method can perform the extraction for one‐dimensional overlapping signals. The method was validated by the determination of four ginsenosides in three different ginseng samples. The recoveries of the spiked samples were in the range of 94.08–107.3%.     

超高效液相色谱法结合化学计量学分析评价4种商品人参的质量

建立了快速、灵敏、准确的超高效液相色谱方法,用来分析4种商品人参(人参、红参、人参叶、人参须)中12种人参皂苷的含量,并用化学计量学方法评价了商品人参的质量。采用ACQUITY UPLC^TM BEH C₁₈色谱柱(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm),以乙腈-水为流动相进行梯度洗脱。对所建立的测定12种人参皂苷的UPLC方法进行了线性方程、准确度、重复性、回收率等方法学考察。采用聚类分析和主成分分析的化学计量学方法对4种商品人参进行分析,评价了其质量。结果表明聚类分析和主成分分析2种化学计量学方法非常适合大样本、多成分的中药材质量分析。     

Pesticide multiresidue analysis in Panax ginseng (C. A. Meyer) by solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture and nitrogen-phosphorus detection

An analytical multi-residue method using gas chromatography coupled with electron capture and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector was investigated for the simultaneous determination of 18 commonly used insecticides and fungicides in Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). Samples were previously extracted with an acetonitrile and cleaned up by solid-phase extraction (SPE). The calibration curves were linear, with determination coefficients higher than 0.989. Recoveries at concentrations between 0.01 and 14.9 ppm ranged from 72.3 to 117.2%, with precision, which was expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), at values lower than 5%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of pesticide levels from 12 ginseng samples, taken from four different agricultural areas of Jeonnam province, where several insecticides and fungicides were applied. Except in one sample, tolclofos-m was the only pesticide contained at a level lower than the maximum residue limits (MRL) authorized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) in real ginseng samples grown for 4, 5 and 6 years.     

慢性心功能衰竭患者尿液的代谢组学研究

采用基于液相色谱-质谱联用的方法对慢性心力衰竭(Chronic heart failure, CHF)患者和正常对照(Control)人群的尿液进行分析, 筛选慢性心力衰竭患者尿液中的差异代谢物, 研究其发病机制, 并为临床治疗提供科学依据.选择15个慢性心力衰竭患者(年龄(62.27±3.14)岁)及15个正常人(年龄(65.41±4.63)岁), 采用高分辨度快速液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间串联质谱(RRLC-QTOF/MS)技术对尿液代谢物进行分析, 采用主成分分析(PCA)对两组代谢物进行分类, 并筛选潜在生物标记物;运用偏最小二乘判别分析法(PLS-DA)建模, 考察生物标记物对疾病筛选的预测能力.研究结果表明, CHF组和Control组尿液代谢物谱能得到很好的区分, 发现并鉴定了2种潜在生物标记物尿苷及丙氨酰色氨酸, 提示嘧啶代谢和色氨酸代谢可能在心力衰竭发生发展中有重要作用.     

基于超高效液相色谱-高分辨质谱的多肽组学技术用于人参不同部位多肽的差异分析

采用基于超高效液相色谱-高分辨质谱的多肽组学技术对人参主根、支根、须根和芦头的多肽谱进行全面分析，旨在评价人参不同形态区域多肽表达的异同。本研究共表征62个数据库中已收录的人参多肽。结果表明，人参不同部位均富含多肽类成分。多肽组学研究发现，人参主根和支根、芦头与须根之间多肽含量具有显著差异，从鉴定到的多肽中共发现25个稳定表达的已知潜在多肽标志物。其中多肽种类及含量在主根与其他部位间差异最显著，为主根与非主根药效差异研究提供了新思路。本研究揭示了人参多肽结构多样性及人参不同部位人参多肽表达的异同，对人参化学特征评价具有重要意义，为人参质量控制和合理应用提供了化学依据。     

Glycosides from ginseng roots IV. Isolation of new glycosides from ginseng

Summary 1. New glycosides — panaxosides C, D, E, and F — have been isolated from the root of ginseng by partition chromatography.2. The glycosides of ginseng contain genins of two groups: the first consists of the genins of panaxosides A, B, and C, and the second of those of panaxosides D, E, and F. When panaxosides D, E, and F are hydrolyzed, panaxadiol is formed as the main product of the decomposition of the genins.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 82–86, 1965     

Discrimination between ginseng from Korea and China by light stable isotope analysis

Ginseng is a health food and traditional medicine highly valued in Asia. Ginseng from certain origins is higher valued than from other origins, so that a reliable method for differentiation of geographical origin is important for the economics of ginseng production. To discriminate between ginseng samples from South Korea and PR China, 29 samples have been analyzed for the isotopic composition of the elements H, C and N. The results showed δ(2)H values between -94 and -79‰, for δ(13)C -27.9 to -23.7‰ and for δ(15)N 1.3-5.4‰ for Chinese ginseng. Korean ginseng gave δ(2)H ratios between -91 and -69‰, δ(13)C ratios between -31.2 and -22.4‰ and δ(15)N ratios between -2.4 and +7‰. Despite the overlap between the values for individual isotopes, a combination of the isotope systems gave a reasonable differentiation between the two geographic origins. Especially the statistically significant difference in δ(2)H ratios facilitated the differentiation between Korean and Chinese ginseng samples.     

机器学习设计单步逆向合成反应的研究进展

在逆向合成分析的过程中,对特定的目标分子设计单步逆向合成反应是探寻最优有机合成路线的关键环节。随着机器学习(Machine learning)研究的兴起,很多研究者开始尝试利用机器学习方法设计单步逆向合成反应。相关研究主要集中在两方面：(1)研究化合物分子输入方法;(2)基于特定的分子输入,研究各类单步逆向合成反应预测模型的构建方法。本文首先综述了分子输入的三种主流方法;然后分别分析了基于这三种分子输入方法构建的单步逆向合成反应预测模型的研究实例;之后,总结了当前机器学习方法设计单步逆向合成反应研究中存在的问题,并给出了解决问题的思路;最后,对机器学习设计单步逆向合成反应的前景作出展望。     

Exploring the value of pleural fluid biomarkers for complementary pleural effusion disease examination

ObjectivePleural fluid biomarkers are beneficial for the complementary diagnosis of pleural effusion etiologies. This study focuses on the multidimensional evaluation of deep learning to investigate the pleural effusion biomarkers value and the diagnostic utility of combining these markers, in distinguishing pleural effusion etiologies.MethodsPleural effusion were divided into three groups according to the diagnosis and treatment guidelines: malignant pleural effusion (MPE), parapneumonic effusion (PPE), and congestive heart failure (CHF). First, the value of the biomarker was analyzed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Then by utilizing deep learning and entropy weight method (EWM), the clinical value of biomarkers was computed multidimensionally for complementary diagnosis of pleural effusion diseases.ResultsThere were significant differences in the six biomarkers, TP, ADA, CEA, CYFRA211, NSE, MNC% (p < 0.05) and no significant differences in three physical characteristics including color, transparency, specific gravity and six other biomarkers such as WBC, PNC%, MTC%, pH level, GLU, LDH (p > 0.05) among the three pleural effusion groups. The comprehensive test of pleural fluid biomarkers based on deep learning is of high accuracy. The clinical value of cytomorphology biomarkers WBC, MNC %, PNC %, MTC % was higher among pleural fluid biomarkers.ConclusionThe clinical value of multi-dimensional analysis of biomarkers by deep learning and entropy weight method is different from the ROC curve analysis. It is suggested that during the clinical examination process, more attention should be paid to the cell morphology biomarkers, but the physical properties of the pleural fluid are less clinical significance.     

Lysophosphatidylcholine Biomarkers of Lung Cancer Detected by Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Centrifugal ultrafiltration after methanol extraction of whole plasma was used as an optimal condition for the preparation of blood plasma before metabonomic studies. The plasma samples from 102 lung cancer patients and 34 healthy volunteers were prepared with this approach. With ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(Q-TOF MS) analysis, the samples were investigated in order to find potential disease biomarkers. After data acquisition, orthogonal signal correction partial least squares models were built to differentiate the healthy volunteers from lung cancer patients and to identify metabolites that showed significantly different expression between the two groups. Several metabolite ions were identified as potential biomarkers according to the variable importance in the project(VIP) value in both ion modes. Five lysophosphatidylcholines were further identified as specifically lysoPC 16:0, isomer of lysoPC 16:0, lysoPC 18:0, lysoPC 18:1 and lysoPC 18:2. These results suggest that UPLC coupled with Q-TOF MS is an effective technique for the analysis of plasma metabolites in metabonomic studies.     

超高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱快速分析人参根中的皂甙化合物

建立了超高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱快速分析人参根部提取物中的皂甙类化合物的方法。色谱柱为HSS T3超高效液相色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm);以15 mmol/L甲酸铵水溶液-乙腈为流动相,采用二元梯度洗脱的方式对人参主根的皂甙提取物进行分离。基于待测目标物的多级质谱碎片离子、精确质量等信息,结合9种人参皂甙标准化合物的多级质谱碎片离子质谱图,共鉴定出人参主根提取物中27种皂甙类化合物。在确定的条件下,以9种人参皂甙标样为研究对象,进行了全面的方法学考察,发现它们的线性范围分别为0.33～9.00 mg/L (Rg1), 0.11～9.00 mg/L (Re), 0.02～2.00 mg/L (Rf), 0.07～6.00 mg/L (Rg2), 0.04～3.00 mg/L (Rb1, Rb3), 0.22～6.00 mg/L (Rc), 0.04～9.00 mg/L (Rb2, Rd);在中等加标浓度时,经内标物峰面积校正的9种皂甙标准化合物的峰面积的相对标准偏差(RSD)不高于11.3%;低、中、高3个质量浓度加标水平的回收率范围分别为90%～100%、98%～104%及96%～103%;最低检出限为3.5～18.5 μg/L。该方法具有高分辨、快捷、简便、可靠等特点,并成功地应用于分析同一产地、不同生长时间的人参干燥主根中皂甙的差异。可以预计此方法可进一步应用于各种人参原料和制品中皂甙的快速测定。     

Separation of the total glycosides of ginseng (panax ginseng C. A. Mey) on Sephadex

Summary The total glycosides of ginseng can be separated on Sephadex into two groups of materials, the first group containing the most polar glycosides and the second mainly two glycosides of less polarity-panaxosides A and C.     

Significant difference in active metabolite levels of ginseng in humans consuming Asian or Western diet: The link with enteric microbiota

After ingestion of ginseng, the bioavailability of its parent compounds is low and enteric microbiota plays an important role in parent compound biotransformation to their metabolites. Diet type can influence the enteric microbiota profile. When human subjects on different diets ingest ginseng, their different gut microbiota profiles may influence the metabolism of ginseng parent compounds. In this study, the effects of different diet type on gut microbiota metabolism of American ginseng saponins were investigated. We recruited six healthy adults who regularly consumed different diet types. These subjects received 7 days' oral American ginseng, and their biological samples were collected for LC‐Q‐TOF‐MS analysis. We observed significant ginsenoside Rb₁ (a major parent compound) and compound K (a major active metabolite) level differences in the samples from the subjects consuming different diets. Subjects on an Asian diet had much higher Rb₁ levels but much lower compound K levels compared with those on a Western diet. Since compound K possesses much better cancer chemoprevention potential, our data suggested that consumers on a Western diet should obtain better cancer prevention effects with American ginseng intake compared with those on an Asian diet. Ginseng compound levels could be enhanced or reduced via gut microbiota manipulation for clinical utility.     

Determination of ginsenosides (ginseng saponins) in dry root powder from Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and selected commercial products by liquid chromatography: interlaboratory study

Twelve collaborating laboratories assayed 4 products, namely, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and 2 ginseng products, for 6 ginsenosides: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1. Collaborators also received a negative control for the recovery study. Pure ginsenosides were provided as reference standards for the liquid chromatography (LC) analysis and the system suitability tests. The LC analyses were performed on the methanol extract using UV detection at 203 nm. For P. ginseng, individual ginsenosides were consistent in their means; repeatability standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 4.17 to 5.09% and reproducibility standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 7.27 to 11.3%. For P. quinquefolius, the Rb1 and Rb2 ginsenosides were higher and lower in concentration than P. ginseng, with RSDr values of 3.44 and 6.60% and RSDR values of 5.91 and 12.6% respectively, and other analytes at intermediate precisions. For ginseng commercial products, RSDr values ranged from 3.39 to 8.12%, and RSDR values ranged from 7.65 to 16.5%. A recovery study was also conducted for 3 ginsenosides: Rg1, Re, and Rb1. The average recoveries were 99.9, 96.2, and 92.3%, respectively. The method is not applicable for the determination of Rg1 and Re in ginseng product at levels <300 mg/kg.