Assessment of quality consistency in traditional Chinese medicine using multi‐wavelength fusion profiling by integrated quantitative fingerprint method: Niuhuang Jiedu pill as an example

Under the wave of the revival of traditional Chinese medicine, there is a quite imperative duty to study an integrated and comprehensive method of fingerprint data processing and analysis on the quality consistency of traditional Chinese medicine. So, we proposed six parameters from two aspects (qualitative and quantitative), three levels (biased to strong peaks, biased to weak peaks, no obvious bias), to comprehensively evaluate the similarity of the two fingerprints. On this basis, another five parameters were proposed to evaluate the integrated effects (consistency, volatility, and similarity). This method was applied to 22 batches of Niuhuang Jiedu pill samples. Next, a practical and convenient multi‐wavelength fusion method was designed to provide more information, and the generated fusion profilings were used for subsequent evaluation. The characteristics of the parameters were confirmed by correlation analysis. The results of both hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis for raw data and standardized data were consistent with integrated quantitative fingerprint method results. At the same time, this method gave a reasonable explanation for abnormal and dissimilar samples. This work illustrated that the proposed method was particularly suitable for similarity analysis of fingerprints and capable of ensuring the quality consistency in traditional Chinese medicine.     

色谱指纹图谱与中药质量控制

本文综述了近年来色谱指纹图谱研究中多种色谱技术、相关化学计量学方法的发展及其在中药质量控制中的应用,并对中药质量稳定性和有效性的全面评价方法和可行性进行了初步探讨。提出以色谱指纹图谱为核心,依托现代色谱技术、化学计量学和系统生物学方法,建立中药化学成分信息与药效(毒性)信息相关关系的中药质量控制研究策略,深层次揭示中药的内在作用机理,期望真正实现中药质量的可控、安全和有效。     

基于定量指纹图谱技术的中药质量控制

定量指纹图谱技术是中药指纹图谱技术与多指标成分定量分析相结合的中药质量控制模式。定量指纹图谱技术的发展包括定量组分的制备、过程控制的指纹图谱技术和产品含量测定3个主要部分。本文以丹参为例,通过水提、醇沉、过膜、大孔树脂分离和工业色谱分离5个工艺流程制备了丹参定量组分,对各个工艺步骤以指纹图谱技术考察其稳定性和重复性。对丹参定量组分中的原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸、丹酚酸B 3个成分进行含量测定。3个成分的含量总和大于50%。定量组分的制备以现有的活性成分为目标,经过去粗存精的工艺过程,其质量标准得到了有效的提高。     

中药粉体物理指纹图谱研究进展

中药(TCM)粉体是中药口服固体制剂的重要中间体或产品,粉体的物理性质不仅影响制剂成型,而且直接或间接影响产品质量.中药粉体种类众多、尺度各异,采用物理指纹图谱可从物理状态层面整体评价中药粉体质量,并可将其作为对中药粉体含量测定或HPLC指纹图谱评价的补充,这为中药粉体全面质量控制提供了新的工具和思路.该文系统梳理了中...     

灰色系统理论在中药色谱指纹图谱模式识别中的应用研究

建立了基于灰色系统理论的中药色谱指纹图谱模式识别模型。运用基于范数与信息熵赋权法的灰色关联分析,求出各待比较图谱特征变量数据序列与理想图谱特征变量数据序列之间的灰色关联度,并依据模糊匹配中的“最大匹配度”原则进行判断,从而达到品种识别和质量评价的目的。该模型在56批次不同品种化橘红药材样品的高效液相色谱分析中取得较满意的结果: 熵权与范数的灰色关联分析均能准确识别出毛橘红与光橘红两个品种,克服了传统相似度或灰色关联在化橘红色谱指纹图谱分析中的误判问题;对药材中化学成分的种类与含量十分接近的毛橘红不同栽培品种的识别率超过92.85%。此外,该模型计算量较少,整个模式识别过程通过计算机编程实现,操作简单。实验结果显示,灰色系统理论在中药色谱指纹图谱模式识别中有良好的适应性。     

Chemometrics and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine

Development of chromatographic fingerprinting and its related chemometric methods in the research of quality control of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) are discussed. The quality control methods for guarantying the authentication and stability of products and semi-products of TCMs are firstly assessed. The technique based on chromatographic fingerprinting is essentially a kind of high-through put and integral tools to explore the complexity of herbal medicines. In order to further control the comprehensive quality of TCMs,confirmation and identification of their important chemical components are necessary. Some new strategies are proposed to trace the chemical changes of chromatographic fingerprints both in product processing and/or after their administration by modern chromatographic techniques and chemometrics. Combined with systems biology and bioinformatics,it seems possible for one to reveal the working mechanism of TCMs and to further control their intrinsic quality comprehensively.     

荧光光谱法对中药注射液热稳定性的研究

采用荧光光谱法对中药注射液热稳定性进行了初步探讨。发现在恒温（40℃、80℃）条件下、不同中药注射液随时间变化的荧光强度和荧光谱图，呈现出类似规律性的变化，但又有各自的特点。通过对其谱图和荧光强度的分析，能够反映出中药注射液在受热条件下，随时间变化的荧光谱的差异，不同温度对谱峰强度的差异性影响及不同注射剂热稳定性变化曲线的差异，从而提示中药注射液受热变质中组分变化的一些特点。找出了不同温度下不同中药注射液荧光强度减弱10％的时间。     

穿山甲色谱指纹谱的建立及其在基源鉴别和质量等级区分方面的应用

中药穿山甲为鳞鲤科动物穿山甲的鳞甲,常用于治疗乳汁不通、痈肿疮毒、风湿痹痛等症,饮片来源上经常存在基源不清、等级不明的问题。针对以上问题,目前已发展出了多种分析方法,包括薄层色谱、质谱和DNA检测,但由于特异性低、设备成本高、步骤繁琐等不足,以上方法均不适合作为穿山甲质量监测的常规手段,而色谱指纹谱技术恰好可以弥补以上不足。该文旨在建立穿山甲的色谱指纹谱,并探讨其在等级及基源鉴别方面的可行性。穿山甲粉末经1 mol/L HCl加热水解得供试液,色谱柱采用Waters Symmetry 300 C18,以0.1%(v/v)三氟乙酸/水、0.1%(v/v)三氟乙酸/乙腈为流动相,280 nm为检测波长,采用梯度洗脱获得穿山甲指纹谱。经考察,该方法的精密度、日内日间重复性及样品稳定性均表现良好(RSD<5%)。以12批中华穿山甲一等品的平均指纹谱为对照指纹谱,同时确认17个共有峰,继而以共有峰绝对峰面积为原始数据,计算样品指纹谱与对照指纹谱的相似度。结果表明,中华穿山甲与其他动物来源穿山甲的相似度不高于0.776,体现了相似度评价在基源鉴别上的有效性;但不同等级穿山甲之间交叉严重,表明...     

Primary study on the application of Serum Pharmacology in Chinese traditional medicine

In the paper, two main methods, which are Serum Pharmacology and Traditional Pharmacology, were adopted to study Chinese traditional medicine, such as Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), ginsenosides (GS) and compound GG (GBE + GS), pharmacology in vitro. The results showed that there were evident difference between the results of Serum Pharmacology and that of Traditional Pharmacology. There was no significant difference between the drug effect of crude GS on nitric oxide (NO) production in ECV304 and that of crude GBE, and the drug effect of GG was superior to that of GS and GBE, respectively. But, compared with GBE serum, the GS serum up-regulation of NO production in ECV304 increased significantly, and the GG serum up-regulation of the NO production in ECV304 was inferior to that of GS serum and GBE serum significantly. The results suggested that Serum Pharmacological study should be adopted in the pharmacological investigation on the Chinese traditional medicine and the drug screening of the Chinese traditional medicine.     

Metabonomics study of the effects of traditional Chinese medicine formula Ermiaowan on hyperuricemic rats

To explore the global mechanism of Ermiaowan on hyperuricemia regulation, the holistic function of Ermiaowan for hyperuricemia in rats was firstly assessed by the urinary metabonomics method which was based on ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The urinary targeted metabonomics approach combined with the serum biochemical analysis and histological assay was conducted to verify the research result. As a result, the significant differences in metabolic profiles were observed from Ermiaowan‐treated group, model group, and healthy control group by using multivariate statistical approaches. Twenty therapeutic related metabolites were identified in response to the therapeutic effects of Ermiaowan, which were mainly associated with purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and tyrosine metabolism. In addition, the urinary targeted metabonomics study showed that Ermiaowan can better restore the disturbed pathways than Phellodendri cortex and Atractylodis rhizome. The biochemical assay and histopathological assay confirmed that Ermiaowan could significantly reduce uric acid and fibrosis areas of kidney. These results provided new insights into the mechanism of Ermiaowan on hyperuricemia.     

高效液相色谱-线性指纹定量法评价人参归脾丸的三波长指纹图谱

以样品指纹向量与对照指纹向量的多元化学组分间存在线性函数关系为基础,引入相关系数r、斜率a、截距b及线性定性相似度S_L、线性定量相似度M_L等概念,建立线性指纹定量法(linearly quantified fingerprint method, LQFM)模型以定性、定量控制中药质量。用高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测法(HPLC-DAD)同时测定了10批人参归脾丸(Renshen Guipi Wan, RSGPW)分别在203、228和326 nm下的高效液相色谱指纹图谱,运用LQFM理论模型,鉴定RSGPW质量。LQFM能显著区别不同来源的产品,同一厂家产品质量控制一致。鉴定结果与已知的系统指纹定量法评价结果对比,LQFM对中药多元化学成分的复杂系统能实现客观的定性、定量评价。多波长指纹图谱能最大限度地兼顾中药各成分的紫外吸收特征,对中药质量控制具有更全面和可靠的特点。     

Monitoring quality consistency of Liuwei Dihuang Pill by integrating the ultraviolet spectroscopic fingerprint,a multi‐wavelength fusion fingerprint method,and antioxidant activities

Liuwei Dihuang Pill, a classical traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat kidney yin deficiency in China for hundreds of years. Little attention, however, has been paid to quality control methods for this formulation. In the present study, we aimed to establish a comprehensive and practical quality evaluation system for Liuwei Dihuang Pill. Thus, ultraviolet spectroscopic fingerprints and multi‐wavelength fusion fingerprints have been proposed for quality consistency evaluation of the popular patent. The similarity analysis of Liuwei Dihuang Pill samples was evaluated by systematic quantitative fingerprint method from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The results showed that 26 batches of samples were classified into five grades for fusion fingerprints and three grades for ultraviolet spectroscopic fingerprints. Moreover, the fingerprint–efficacy correlation was also established and confirmed through the partial least squares model to visualize the antioxidant activity of Liuwei Dihuang Pill in vitro. In conclusion, these results indicated that integrating ultraviolet spectroscopic fingerprints and multi‐wavelength fusion fingerprints coupled with antioxidant activities provide a rapid and effective approach to monitor the quality consistency of Liuwei Dihuang Pill.     

超声波和微波对中药提取的促进和影响

本文主要讨论超声波、微波在中药有效成分提取中的作用机理,探讨频率、强度、时间、占空比对提取率的影响,介绍现代检测技术与超声波、微波相结合的方法。证明超声波、微波作用于药物提取具有提取率高、可靠性强、操作简便、大大缩短提取时间等优点。     

中药组方指纹图谱研究方法和思路

中药组方就是将单味中药按照一定的规律配伍成方,因剂量配伍差异会导致组方理化性质的改变,从而导致组方功效强弱、性质方面发生变化,甚至产生新的化学成分。中药组方鉴别与质量控制一直是困扰中药工作者的一个难题。指纹图谱技术具有宏观、准确、稳定等优点,已被广泛用于中药领域。中药组方指纹图谱是解决中药合理组方配伍的最有效手段,其对中药质量控制已经得到普遍关注和重视。由于指纹图谱具有整体定量功能和特征性鉴别作用,对于成分复杂的中药组方能够全面地定性与定量评价。本文就中药组方指纹图谱的研究意义与目的进行了综述,并详细阐述了组方指纹图谱的研究方法与思路,以此为中药及其组方指纹图谱研究提供参考。     

Total detection of Tianma Toutong tablets for quality consistency by a five‐wavelength fusion fingerprint and chemometrics

A fingerprint method was developed and combined with chemometrics for quality evaluation of Tianma Toutong tablets, which are herbal medicine tablets used to treat migraine. Samples were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography, where five single‐wavelength profiles (203, 232, 254, 280 and 310 nm) were fused to generate a five‐wavelength fusion fingerprint and were also used for the quantitative analysis of seven chemical markers (gastrodin, caffeic acid, hesperidin, isoimperatorin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and imperatorin). A systematic quantitative fingerprint method and principal component analysis were used to analyze the generated data. Samples could be well distinguished from different manufacturers by analyzing the chromatographic data sets. In addition, the partial least squares model can serve as an antioxidant activity evaluation of Tianma Toutong tablets, as well as a reference for the selection of active constituents to analyze the spectrum–activity relationship. In summary, the integrated use of the fingerprint and chemometric analysis provides a reliable method for the identification of markers and the quality control of Tianma Toutong tablets.     

Concentrating the extract of traditional Chinese medicine by direct contact membrane distillation

This study applies direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) to concentrating the extract of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The trans-membrane flux under various operation conditions was measured in real-time during concentration process. By decoupling the factors affecting the trans-membrane flux decline, it was found that the observed flux decline throughout the process could be attributed to the membrane fouling, the reduction of water vapor pressure and the increase of transport resistance at feed side. Analysis of the combined factors was given to show in detail the mechanism of flux decline. Factors that may affect the flux level, such as feed velocity, feed temperature and pretreatment were experimentally examined. Gas bubbling or sparging was introduced into DCMD system for reducing membrane fouling, and it was found that both gas–liquid two-phase flow at the feed side and gas back-washing within membrane module are effective ways to control membrane fouling.     

Quality assessment of raw and baked Aucklandia lappa Decne. by color measurement and fingerprint analysis

Aucklandia lappa Decne. has been used as a traditional Chinese herb for thousands of years in treating various kinds of disorders. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are two kinds of processed products, raw and baked Aucklandia lappa Decne., which have different therapeutic effect in clinical application. In this study, based on color measurement and fingerprint analysis, the method to assess the quality of these two processed products was established. In color measurement, the reference ranges of color parameters (L^*, a^*, and b^*), standard color difference values, and mathematical prediction functions of these two processed products were obtain after the color was measured by a spectrophotometer. Meanwhile, high‐performance liquid chromatography fingerprints of these two processed products were established, where there were 12 peaks recognized as the common peaks in both processed products, in which two peaks were identified as costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone, and these two processed products were classified with chemometrics analysis subsequently. Furthermore, the correlation between color parameters and sample compositions was explored and the contents of costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone were determined simultaneously by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Consequently, an integral method including color measurement, high‐performance liquid chromatography fingerprint with chemometrics analysis, and quantitative determination was established.     

Rapid analysis of traditional Chinese medicine Pinellia ternata by microchip electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has long enjoyed the reputation of the world's most advanced system of natural medicine. Pinellia ternata is one of the most commonly used herbs in the traditional Chinese medical science. In this study, five representative ingredients of Pinellia ternata guanosine, methionine, glycine, 3,4‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde, and homogentisic acid, were assayed using simple derivatization procedures. Under optimized experimental condition, five analytes in Pinellia ternata were rapidly separated and detected using microchip electrophoresis, affording the benefits of speed, minimal sample requirements, and sensitive on‐the‐chip electrochemical detection, in 5 min with linearity over a concentration of 20–500 μM (R² = 0.994) with nearly complete recovery (95.6–98.5%).     

色谱及相关技术在中药质量评价中的应用

对中药物质基础的研究方法——化学物质组学,以及中药质量评价的关键技术——指纹图谱技术做了介绍,并在此基础上综述了中药化学信息获取的关键技术——色谱及相关技术在中药质量评价中的应用。论述的结果表明,以化学物质组学为指导,结合色谱及相关技术获取指纹图谱信息及多指标成分定量信息的研究模式,对中药质量评价体系的建立具有指导意义。     

Novel strategy for quality consistency evaluation of Chinese medicine “YIQING” tablet that combines the simultaneous quantification and screening of ten bioactive constituents

The UV characteristics for different categories compounds in complex traditional Chinese medicines and herbal preparations usually vary. Thus, to achieve the integral analysis of multiwavelength fingerprint characteristics, we introduced a novel strategy of multiwavelength total fusion profiling. The simultaneous separation and quantification of multiple components by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection was developed in an effective, accurate, and reliable way. Furthermore, a 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay was set up to detect and screen the bioactivity of similar‐structure constituents (aloe‐emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, baicalein, wogonin, baicalin, wogonoside, berberine hydrochloride, and jatrorrhizine hydrochloride). Moreover, the high‐performance liquid chromatography DPPH assay was developed to monitor the relationship between the biological activity and the spatial structure, the number of hydroxyl groups, the concentration of the analytes in samples. The result of qualitative classification for 15 batches of “YIQING” tablets using principle component analysis was consistent with the quantitative fingerprint assessment using the average linear quantitative fingerprint method. Therefore, chemometrics, multiwavelength total fusion profiling in conjunction with average linear quantitative fingerprint method and antioxidant activity can control the quality of traditional Chinese medicines/herbal preparations comprehensively and practically.