Roles of paeoniflorin and senkyunolide I in SiWu decoction on antiplatelet and anticoagulation activities

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complex system, which consists of numerous compounds with related mechanisms to maximize therapeutic efficacy with minimal adverse effects. Some new methods disclosing the contribution of these constituents as well as their relationship in the formula are necessary for elucidating the bio‐active constituents and the working mechanisms of TCM. In this study, depletion of target components using preparative HPLC followed by antiplatelet and anticoagulation activities evaluation was first applied to investigate the roles of paeoniflorin and senkyunolide I in a well‐known formula, SiWu decoction. The results showed that both paeoniflorin and senkyunolide I not only directly brought about some bio‐activities, but also indirectly made the contribution to the total bio‐activity reflection of SiWu decoction, especially the latter should deserve to be drawn attention to the research of complicated bio‐active constituents of TCM or its formula. So, the significant and effective approach will be very useful for the elucidation of the contribution of each different chemical constituent to the bio‐activity of a TCM formula. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the potential utilization of preparative HPLC in the research of TCM.     

LC-DAD-APCI-MS-based screening and analysis of the absorption and metabolite components in plasma from a rabbit administered an oral solution of danggui

A valid chromatographic fingerprint method using liquid chromatography-diode array detection-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in negative mode (LC-DAD-APCI-MS) is proposed for studying the absorption and metabolites of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Angelica sinensis (danggui) in rabbit plasma, after the rabbit is administered with danggui oral solution (DOS). More than thirty-two common components were detected in both DOS and rabbit plasma, which shows that the components in the DOS were absorbed into the body of the rabbit. Of these, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, Z-6,7-epoxyligustilide, 3-butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide, Z-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, Diels-Alder dimers of ligustilide, linolenic acid, linoleic acid and falcarindiol were tentatively identified from their MS, UV spectra and retention behavior by comparing the results with the published literature. At least ten components were found in rabbit plasma but not in DOS, indicating that these components must be metabolites of some of the components in the original extract. The results prove that the proposed method can be used to rapidly analyze multiple constituents in TCMs, and to screen for bioactive compounds by comparing and contrasting the chromatographic fingerprints of DOS and plasma samples.     

An HPLC/MS method for identifying major constituents in the hypocholesterolemic extracts of Chinese medicine formula 'Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction'

In this paper, HPLC-ESI-MS technique was used to analyze the hypocholesterolemic extracts of 'Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction', a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of six crude drugs (i.e. Paeonia lactiflora, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Citrus aurantium, Carthamus tinctorius, Prunus persica and Bupleurum falcatum). A total of 17 compounds were identified and their plant derivations were also distinguished. Nine compounds among them were unambiguously determined as oxypaeoniflorin, amygdalin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, naringin, hesperidin, senkyunolide I and neohesperidin by comparing the retention times (tR), UV spectra and m/z values with those of the reference compounds. The other eight compounds were tentatively identified as prunasin, 6-hydroxy-kaempferol 3,6-diglucoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol 3-rutinoside-6-glucoside, galloylpaeoniflorin, 6-hydroxy-kaempferol 3-glucoside, anhydrosafflor yellow B, narirutin and kaempferol 3-rutinoside by MS2 spectra and the comparison of their UV spectra and MS spectra with literature data.     

三岛柴胡种子化学成分分析

应用ＧＣ／ＭＳ技术对云南省文山县引种的日本三岛柴胡种子的挥发油和脂肪酸成分进行定性定量分析,检出５３个挥发油成分和２８个脂肪酸成分,挥发油以４,４,５－三甲基－２－乙烯、２,２,４－三甲基－３－戊烯－１－醇、２,３－二甲基丁烯－３－二甲基戊烷为主;脂肪酸以十八碳烯酸,十八烷酸,壬二酸和辛二酸为主。从种子的正丁醇提取部分还分离出８个皂甙,其中３个鉴定为柴胡皂甙ｄ,ｃ和６″－Ｏ－乙酰基柴胡皂甙ｄ。     

Identification of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine formula using HPLC coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap MS from high doses of medicinal materials to equivalent doses of formula: Study on Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules

High‐resolution mass spectrometry has been a powerful tool for the research of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. However, the chromatographic peaks were difficult to discriminate clearly in data collection or analysis because of the complexity and the greatly different content of the constituents in TCM formula, which increased the difficulty of identification. In this study, a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry based strategy focused on the comprehensive identification of TCM formula constituents was developed. Identification was carried out from a high dose of medicinal materials to equivalent dose of formula. Meanwhile, combined with mass spectrometry data, chromatographic behaviors, reference standards and previous reports, the identification of constituents in Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules was described. 169 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively characterized, mainly including flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenic acids, triterpene saponins, lactones, sesquiterpenoids and some other compounds. Among them, 11 compounds were unambiguously confirmed by comparing with reference standards. These results demonstrated that the method was effective and reliable for comprehensive identification of constituents of Xiang‐Sha‐Liu‐Jun‐Zi‐Jia‐Jian granules extracts and reveal the material basis of its therapeutic effects. This strategy might propose a research idea for the characterization of multi‐constituents in TCM formula.     

Development of high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprints for distinguishing Chinese Angelica from related umbelliferae herbs

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) fingerprint of Chinese Angelica (CA) was developed basing on the consistent chromatograms of 40 CA samples (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels). The unique properties of this HPLC fingerprints were validated by analyzing 13 related herbs including 4 Japanese Angelicae Root samples (JA, A. acutiloba Kitagawa and A. acutiloba Kitagawa var. sugiyame Hikino), 6 Szechwan Lovage Rhizome samples (SL, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and 3 Cnidium Rhizome samples (CR, Cnidium officinale Makino). Both correlation coefficients of similarity in chromatograms and relative peak areas of characteristic compounds were calculated for quantitative expression of the HPLC fingerprints. The amount of senkyunolide A in CA was less than 30-fold of that in SL and CR samples, which was used as a chemical marker to distinguish them. JA was easily distinguished from CA, SL and CR based on either chromatographic patterns or the amount of coniferyl ferulate. No obvious difference between SL and CR chromatograms except the relative amount of some compounds, suggesting that SL and CR might have very close relationship in terms of chemotaxonomy. Ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide were unequivocally determined whilst senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A, butylphthalide, E-ligustilide, E-butylidenephthalide, Z-butylidenephthalide and levistolide A were tentatively identified in chromatograms based on their atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) MS data and the comparison of their UV spectra with those published in literatures.     

A New Cyclopropyl‐Triterpenoid from Ochradenus arabicus

One new cyclopropyl‐triterpenoid ( 1 ), along with four known constituents including octacosan‐1‐ol ( 2 ), pentacosanoic acid ( 3 ), β‐sitosterol ( 4 ), and β‐sitosterol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Ochradenus arabicus for the first time. These compounds were isolated by repeated column chromatography followed by further purification through recycling HPLC. The structure of the new secondary metabolite 1 was established on the basis of UV, IR, 1D‐ (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐) and 2D‐NMR (HMBC and HSQC), and MS spectral data. The molecular mass was determined by HR‐MS, and hence the molecular formula was deduced. The configurations of stereogenic centers in the molecule were assigned by NOESY experiments, along with biogenetic considerations. The structures of the known compounds were confirmed by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with those reported in literature.     

Rapid and global detection and characterization of the constituents in ShengMai San by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-HDMS) method was developed for detection and characterization of the chemical constituents in ShengMai San (SMS), a traditional Chinese medical formula (TCMF). The full-scan LC-MS/MS data sets combined with extra mass were acquired within 14 min using UPLC-HDMS in the MS(E) mode in a single injection. As a result, 92 compounds were identified by comparing the accurate mass and fragments information with that of the authentic standards as well as by MS analysis and the correlative references data. These constituents included ginsenosides, lignans, steroidal saponins and homoisoflavanones. Among them, 25-hydroxyginsenosides were discovered in SMS for the first time. Compare with the previous studies, our research detected more compounds and presented more rapid by applying UPLC-HDMS. It is concluded that a rapid and effective method has been established based on UPLC-HDMS with the utilization of MS(E) , which shows high sensitivity and resolution that is suitable for identifying the constituents of SMS, and this method could be applied to other TCMF.     

三岛柴胡种子中的柴胡皂甙(英文)

利用溶剂萃取、正相硅胶柱层析及RP -8硅胶柱层析 ,从伞形科柴胡属植物三岛柴胡的种子中分离出三种柴胡皂甙 ,即 :柴胡皂甙c ,柴胡皂甙d ,6″-乙酰基柴胡皂甙d。它们的结构通过IR、UV、MS、1HNMR、13CNMR等现代波谱技术以及与标准样品对照确定。     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicinal formula Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF), a famous traditional Chinese medicine formula, has efficient effects on treatment of the diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS), a disease with high incidence worldwide. However, the active principles for this complex formula have not been fully explored so far. In this paper, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS) was applied for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of major chemical constituents in TXYF. Two monoterpene glycosides, one chromone and five polymethoxylated flavones were tentatively characterized based on the retention times, UV spectra and MS data. Fifteen compounds were unambiguously identified by comparison with reference standards. Constituents such as lactone and steroidal, which could not be found by single HPLC method due to the low content in the formula, were identified in this paper. Seven compounds (gallic acid, prim-O-β-D-glucosylcimifugin, paeoniflorin, cimifugin, naringin, hesperidin and 4'-O-β-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol) were quantified by HPLC-DAD using a C18 column and gradient elution with acetonitrile and water-0.1% formic acid. The method exhibited intra- and inter-day precision of less than 2.35% and 3.14%, respectively. The LODs and the LOQs for the analytes were less than 0.47 and 1.82 μg ml(-1), respectively. The overall recoveries ranged from 96.82% to 102.47%, with the R.S.D. ranging from 1.17% to 3.94%. These results demonstrated that our present method was effective and reliable for comprehensive quality evaluation of TXYF. Meanwhile, the study might provide the chemical evidence for revealing the material basis of its therapeutic effects.     

Analysis of the traditional medicine YiGan San by the fragmentation patterns of cadambine indole alkaloids using HPLC coupled with high‐resolution MS

YiGan San (YGS) has long been used in traditional Japanese and Chinese folk medicine and serves as a potent and novel therapeutic agent to treat Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, a rapid and sensitive method based on HPLC coupled with diode‐array detection and quadrupole TOF MS (Q‐TOF‐MS) was designed to reveal the chemical constituents of YGS. Thirty‐six compounds were identified and assigned in YGS, including 14 alkaloids, nine γ‐lactones, six flavonoids, three triterpenoid saponinares, two small molecular organic acids, and two other types of compounds. In addition, the accurate fragment weight and MS/MS fragmentation reactions of a subtype indole alkaloid in Uncariae ramulus cum uncis were summarized for the first time to realize rapid identification without reference substances. For the first time, 11 major constituents were comprehensively quantified with a HPLC coupled with triple‐quadrupole MS method. A three‐section switch was used to realize such multicomponent identification. The contents of saikosaponin B₂ and isoliquiritin, which produce anti‐inflammatory and antidepressant‐like effects, were extremely different, up to 700 times, in two sources of YGS. The developed qualitative and quantitative method was proved to be precise, accurate, and reproducible.     

Recognition and identification of active components from Radix Bupleuri using human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells

The aim of the study was to screen active components of Radix Bupleuri (a traditional Chinese herb) and discover novel anti‐schizophrenic candidate drugs using human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells. SH‐SY5Y cells were used for preparation of the stationary phase in the cell membrane chromatography model. Retention components by the SH‐SY5Y/CMC model were collected and then analyzed by GC/MS under the optimized conditions in offline conditions. After investigating the suitability and reliability of the SH‐SY5Y/CMC method using amisulpride and haloperidol as standard compounds, this method was applied to screening active components from the extracts of Radix Bupleuri. Retention components of SH‐SY5Y/CMC model were saikosaponin A, saikosaponin B1, saikosaponin B2, saikosaponin C and saikosaponin D, which were identified by the GC/MS method. In vitro pharmacological trials‐MTT, saikosaponin B1, saikosaponin B2 and saikosaponin C could protect SY5Y cells. The protective effects of saikosaponin B1 and saikosaponin C were concentration dependent. Saikosaponin A and saikosaponin D inhibited cell viability at concentrations >30 µg/mL (p < 0.05). Via SH‐SY5Y/CMC method and SH‐SY5Y MTT trial, we rapidly detected target components from Radix Bupleuri, accurately identified them and determined their different effects on SH‐SY5Y cells. Saikosaponin B1, saikosaponin B2 and saikosaponin C may be anti‐schizophrenic candidate drugs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid chromatographic–electrospray mass spectrometric study of the phthalides of Angelica sinensis and chemical changes of Z-ligustilide

High-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry has been applied to analyze the chemical constituents of Danggui (the rhizome of Angelica sinensis) and to study chemical changes of Z-ligustilide. Twelve phthalides were unambiguously identified as senkyunolide I (3), senkyunolide H (4), sedanenolide (8), butylphthalide (9), E-ligustilide (13), Z-ligustilide (14), Z-butylidenephthalide (15), Z,Z′-6.8′,7.3′-diligustilide (16), angelicide (17), levistolide A (18), Z-ligustilide dimer E-232 (19) and Z,Z′-3.3′,8.8′-diligustilide (20) in Danggui extract. The existence of 12 other phthalides (2, 5–7, 11, 12, 22–27), ferulic acid (1) and coniferyl ferulate (10) in Danggui extract has also been demonstrated. Phthalides 3, 4, 16–18 and 20 were determined to be the products from chemical change of Z-ligustilide. This is the first report of the existence of 16 compounds (2–8, 10–12, 20, 22–25 and 27) in Danggui extract.     

南海软珊瑚Sarcophyton molle化学成分的研究

从中国南海软肉芝软珊瑚(Sarcophyton molle)中分离到七个化合物, 经紫外光谱(UV), 红外光谱(IR), 质谱(MS)和核磁共振光谱(1H NMR, 13C NMR)分析, 确定了其化学结构。它们是: 异新西松烯(1), (E, E, E)-7, 8-环氧-1-异丙基-4, 8, 12-三甲基-十四环-1,3, 11-三烯(2), 正十八烷酸(3), 鲨肝醇(4), 神经酰胺(5), 胸腺嘧啶(6), 胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷(7)。其中化合物(2)为新化合物。本文是第一次报道软珊瑚Sarcophyton molle的化学成分。     

The Chemical Constituents from Fruits of Catalpa bignonioides Walt. and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity and Insulin Secretion Effect

Catalpa pod has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in South America. Studies on the constituents of Catalpa species have shown that it is rich in iridoids. In the present study, three previously undescribed compounds (2–4), including two secoiridoid derivatives along with twelve known compounds, were isolated from the fruits of Catalpa bignonioides Walt. In addition, fully assigned ¹³C-NMR of 5,6-dihydroxy-7,4’-dimethoxyflavone-6-O-sophoroside (1) is reported for the first time in the present study. The structures of compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR, mass spectroscopy, and CD spectroscopic data. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Among the tested compounds, compounds 2, 3, and 9 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase enzyme assay. Meanwhile, the effect of compounds 2, 3, and 9 on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was measured using pancreatic β-cells. Compounds 2, 3, and 9 exhibited non-cytotoxicity-stimulated insulin secretion in INS-1 cells. The expression levels of proteins associated with β-cell function and insulin secretion such as phosphorylation of total insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, activated pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) were increased in INS-1 cells after treatment with compounds 2, 3, and 9. The findings of the present study could provide a scientific warrant for their application as a potential antidiabetic agent.     

Chemical Constituents from Bletilla ochracea Schltr.

To study the chemical constituents in Bletilla ochracea Schltr.,repeated column chromatographies and preparative TLC were used for the isolation of compounds,and spectroscopic techniques(NMR,IR,UV and MS)were used for their structural identification.Seven compounds,2,7-bis(allyloxy)-5-methoxy-3-methyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene(1),gastrodin(2),gastrodigenin(3),β-sitosterol(4),stigmasterol(5),4-hydroxybenzaldehyde(6),and daucosterol(7)were obtained from the roots of B.ochracea Schltr.Compound 1 is structurally illustrated as a novel compound,and the others are isolated from the title plant for the first time.     

四(对烷氧苯基)卟啉及其金属络合物的光谱分析

利用IR、UV、1HNMR、MS、元素分析研究确证了38个卟啉类化合物及其金属络合物的结构。总结了卟啉类配体与金属络合的IR、UV、1HNMR判据。     

Pharmacokinetics screening for multi-components absorbed in the rat plasma after oral administration traditional Chinese medicine formula Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang by ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with pattern recognition methods

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in many oriental countries for thousands of years and played an indispensable role in the prevention and treatment of diseases, especially the complicated and chronic ones. It is a very complex mixture containing hundreds or thousands of different components. Pharmacokinetic study on active constituents in TCM preparations is a good way for us to explain and predict a variety of events related to the efficacy and toxicity of TCM. A selective and sensitive method of ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was first developed to screen the potentially bioactive components in vivo, using the semi-quantitative determination of multicomponents in the rat plasma after a single oral administration of Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang (YCHT), a famous TCM formula for liver disorders. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were built to evaluate the differences of pharmacokinetic behaviors (time-course) of the absorbed components of YCHT. Here, we report that the developed method was successfully applied to monitoring the pharmacokinetic time-course of 21 compounds in rat plasma, and were grouped in 3 separate clusters using pattern recognition approaches (both HCA and PCA). Comparing the body dynamics of each composition, the initial choice of the following 9 compounds as the candidate components was: 7-methoxycoumarin-6-hydroxyl sulfate, genipingentiobioside, geniposide, 6,7-dimethylesculetin, peak 16, chimaphylin, 6-dementhoxycapillarisin, capillarisin, rhein. Pharmacokinetics based-UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with HCA and PCA approaches can provide a reliable and suitable means of identifying and screening potentially bioactive components contributing to pharmacological effects of TCM, further prospecting natural products in the search for new leads in drug discovery.     

New Constituents from the Leaves of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) of Saudi Origin

The phytochemical analysis of the butanolic extract from the leaves of date palm of Saudi origin resulted in the isolation of three major constituents, oleanolic acid (1), vanillyl alcohol (2), and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (3), which had not been isolated from this plant or previously reported. Together, compounds 1 and 2 account for 1.0% of the butanol extract, which represents 0.4% of the mass of the dried leaves. The isolation of other known compounds for this plant such as fatty acids, lutein, and sucrose was also achieved in this study. The characterization and identification of the isolated compounds were conducted on the basis of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses. The findings of the current study will definitely increase the knowledge about the contribution of the constituents of this plant to its well-known nutrition, corrosion inhibition, and antimicrobial properties.     

Bioactivity‐based ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐coupled quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for NF‐κB inhibitors identification in Chinese Medicinal Preparation Bufei Granule

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations have become effective treatments for many diseases. However, their active ingredients are still uncertain and difficult to identify. In this study, we propose a strategy that integrates ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS) and bioactive (NF‐κB inhibitor) luciferase reporter assay systems for the rapid determination of various anti‐inflammatory compounds of TCM preparations. In this way, Bufei Granule (BFG), a TCM preparation used for the clinical therapy of asthma, was analyzed by the two ways of component identification and activity detection. Potential anti‐inflammatory constituents were screened by NF‐κB activity assay systems and simultaneously identified according to the mass spectrometry data. Three structural types of NF‐κB inhibitors (caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids and Pentacyclic triterpenes) were characterized. Further cytokine detection confirmed the anti‐inflammatory effects of the potential NF‐κB inhibitors. Compared with conventional chromatographic separation and inhibitory activity detection, integrating UPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS identification and virtual validation was more convenient and more reliable. This strategy clearly demonstrates that MS data‐based fingerprinting is a meaningful tool not only in identifying constituents in complex matrix but also in directly screening for powerful trace ingredients in TCM preparations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.