Identification of major alkaloids and steroidal saponins in rat serum by HPLC-diode array detection-MS/MS following oral administration of Huangbai-Zhimu herb-pair Extract

Huangbai-Zhimu herb-pair (HBZMHP) is a widely used Chinese traditional medicine formula in treating various diseases; however, its active components have remained unknown. In this paper, serum chemistry and combined high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), diode-array detection and mass-spectrometry (MS) techniques were used to study the constituents of HBZMHP extract absorbed into rat serum after oral administration. A total of nine characteristic HPLC peaks in the TIC chromatograms were identified as magnoflorine (1), menisperine (2), palmatine (3), berberine (4), timosaponin N or timosaponin E1 (5), timosaponin D (6), timosaponin BIII, anemarsaponin C or xilingsaponin B (7) timosaponin BII (8) and timosaponin AIII (9). All of the identified peaks were constituents of HBZMHP extract. The results narrow the range of active compounds to be found in HBZMHP extract, and pave the way for the follow-up action mechanism research.     

Detection and identification of diterpenoid alkaloids, isoflavonoids and saponins in Qifu decoction and rat plasma by liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometric (LC-TOFMS) method has been developed for analysis of components in Qifu decoction (QFD), a traditional Chinese medical formula consisting of Radix Astragali and Acontium carmichaeli, and in rat plasma after oral administration. Based on accurate mass measurements within 3 ppm error for each molecular ion and subsequent fragment ions of TOFMS, as well as matching of empirical molecular formulae with those of published components in the in-house chemical library, a total of 44 major components including 21 diterpenoid alkaloids, 12 flavonoids and 11 saponins were identified in QFD. After oral administration of QFD, 22 components in rat plasma were detected and identified by comparing and contrasting the constituents measured in QFD with those in the plasma samples. The results provided valuable chemical information for further pharmacology and active mechanism research on QFD. LC-TOFMS was also applied for the comparison of relative peak area of major active components between QFD and the single herb extracts. The concentration ratios of major saponins detected in the crude herb Radix Astragali were found to be different from those in QFD. The experimental data indicated that the decocting process could result in differences in the amounts of active components.     

Chemical Identification of Specialized Metabolites from Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) Collected in Southern Italy

Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) is a biennal forage legume originated from the Mediterranean basin and used for animal feeding due to its high forage quality and palatability. Several species of Hedysarum have been considered for their nutritional, pharmaceutical, and biological properties, and different applications have been reported, both for human consumption and animal nutrition. Although a systematic investigation of the chemical constituents of Hedysarum spp. has been performed in order to provide chemotaxonomic evidences for the genus and to support the pharmacological application of several species within the genus, few data are available on the chemical constituents of H. coronarium, and only the content of condensed tannins and flavonoids in leaves has been previously reported. In the present paper, results from a detailed chemical analysis of the extracts from the leaves and flowers of H. coronarium grown wild in southern Italy are presented. Identification of the main specialized metabolites within the chemical classes of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and saponins, is described, including considerations on their content in the two plant organs. Information acquired from this study expands the knowledge on H. coronarium as a source of valuable phytochemicals for different applications in human and animal health and nutrition.     

高效液相色谱-电喷雾飞行时间质谱分析娑罗子中皂苷类成分

采用高效液相色谱/电喷雾飞行时间质谱联用技术(HPLC/ESI-TOF/MS),研究4种七叶皂苷的分子结构与裂解规律间的关系,并对娑罗子中的七叶皂苷类化合物进行鉴定。实验采用反相C18色谱柱,以乙腈-0.2%乙酸溶液为流动相,二元线性梯度洗脱,通过与电喷雾飞行时间质谱联用获得娑罗子中各皂苷成分的精确分子量和分子式;采用质谱碰撞诱导解离技术获得各化合物碎片裂解信息,结合文献对娑罗子中的14种皂苷类化合物进行了初步鉴定。研究表明,高效液相色谱-电喷雾飞行时间质谱联用技术是娑罗子中皂苷类化合物鉴别的有效工具。     

Optimization of extraction process of Dioscorea nipponica Makino saponins and their UPLC-QTOF-MS profiling,antioxidant, antibacterial and anti- inflammatory activities

Dioscorea nipponica Makino exhibits many biological activities, including relieving cough, eliminating phlegm and preventing asthma. The present study extensively evaluated the extraction process, major components, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of total saponins extraction from Dioscorea nipponica Makino. In this study, the optimal extraction process of total saponins extract was optimized by single-factor test and response surface methodology as follows: extraction time 25 min, ethanol concentration 50 % and liquid to material ratio 55:1 ml/g, and the extraction rate was 1.72 %. Eighteen components were initially analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS method. Although total saponins extract exhibited mild antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus, and antioxidant activities against ferric-ion, ABTS and DPPH radicals, the perfect anti-inflammatory activity of TSE was demonstrated by significantly reducing the content of NO and the phagocytic activity in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells, which provided a theoretical basis for the research and development of new anti-inflammatory Chinese medicine.     

Simultaneous determination and pharmacokinetics study of three triterpenoid saponins in rat plasma by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry after oral administration of Astragalus Membranaceus leaf extract

A selective and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of three triterpenoid saponins isolated from Astragalus membranaceus leaf extract. In this article, a method for simultaneous determination of Huangqiyenin A, Huangqiyenin E, and Huangqiyenin K was established for the first time. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of Astragalus membranaceus leaf extract after oral administration. Liquid–liquid extraction was applied to plasma sample preparation. Multiple reaction monitoring mode with an electrospray ion source in positive electrospray ionization was chosen to quantify the analytes. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters HSS T3 column, using gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 5 mM ammonium acetate/water. The pharmacokinetic results showed that all three compounds had the characteristics of rapid absorption-slow metabolism trend. The time of maximum plasma concentration of Huangqiyenin A is higher than Huangqiyenin E and Huangqiyenin K. And the maximum plasma concentration of Huangqiyenin A is higher as well. The pharmacokinetic results revealed the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the three analytes in rat plasma, which could provide a helpful reference for the further study of Astragalus membranaceus leaf extract.