Species Differentiation and Quality Evaluation for Atractylodes Medicinal Plants by GC/MS Coupled with Chemometric Analysis

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry fingerprints combined with chemometrics for comprehensive evaluation and identification of raw and bran-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma

The quality and therapeutic properties of Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR) can be significantly influenced by processing methods such as bran frying. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate and identify raw and bran-fried AR using FT-IR, HPLC-DAD, and GC/MS fingerprints combined with chemometric analysis. FT-IR provided characteristic spectra for qualitative analysis, while HPLC-DAD and GC/MS revealed significant differences in chemical profiles, respectively. FT-IR spectra, coupled with chemometric methods such as genetic algorithm-based backpropagation neural network (GA-BPNN), effectively distinguished between raw and bran-fried samples. Preprocessing the original spectra with second-order derivative and VISSA resulted in 100 % accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score in the test set. HPLC fingerprint, combined with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), successfully differentiated raw AR from its processed products. The results indicated that bran frying significantly increased the levels of atractylenolide I and atractylenolide III, while decreasing the levels of atractylon. The GC/MS fingerprint, combined with a counter propagation-artificial neural network model, effectively distinguished between raw and bran-fried products, identifying characteristic volatile markers. This study highlights the potential of combining various advanced techniques for the quality evaluation and identification of AR and its processed products, providing valuable insights for quality control and therapeutic application.

E-Nose and HS-SPME-GC-MS unveiling the scent signature of Ligusticum chuanxiong and its medicinal relatives

Introduction

To explore the origin and evolution of Ligusticum Chuanxiong, we conducted a component analysis of Ligusticum Chuanxiong and its medicinal relatives.

Methods

This study encompassed seven species from various origins, including Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.), Gansu Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong cv. Gansu), Yunnan Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong cv. Yunnan), Japanese Chuanxiong (Cnidium officinale Makino), Fuxiong (Ligusticum sinense 'Fuxiong'), Gaoben (Ligusticum sinense), and Liaogaoben (Ligusticum jeholense), comprising 27 distinct materials. We employed headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) to identify various odor profiles from these species using electronic nose technology (E-nose). The method effectively identified volatile constituents in the leaves of these seven species.

Results

Results indicated that odor differences between L. chuanxiong and its medicinal relatives were predominantly observed in sensors W1W and W1S. Linear discriminant factor analysis (LDA) successfully distinguished five of the relatives; however, L. chuanxiong and L. sinense exhibited high odor similarity, limiting complete differentiation in some samples. HS-SPME-GC-MS identified a total of 118 volatile constituents, with eight differential volatiles identified: trans-Neocnidilide, β-Caryophyllene, β-Selinene, 5-Pentylcyclohexa-1,3-diene, (E)-Ligustilide, Butylphthalide, Neophytadiene, and Senkyunolide. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) grouped L. chuanxiong, L. sinense, L. jeholense, and L. chuanxiong cv. Gansu together, highlighting the close relationship between L. chuanxiong and L. sinense. Joint analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between sensor W1W and the differential volatile component β-Caryophyllene, suggesting its potential for distinguishing closely related species.

Discussion

This study provides a foundational understanding of volatile components in the leaves of L. chuanxiong and its medicinal relatives using E-nose combined with HS-SPME-GC-MS, contributing to the discussion on their interspecific odor characteristics and relationships.

Using hyperspectral reflectance to detect changes in photosynthetic activity in Atractylodes chinensis leaves as a function of decreasing soil water content

Application of hyperspectral reflectance technology to track changes in photosynthetic activity in Atractylodes chinensis (A. chinensis) remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hyperspectral reflectance and photosynthetic activity in the leaves of A. chinensis in response to a decrease in soil water content. Results demonstrated that the reflectance in both the visible light and near-infrared bands increased in conjunction with reduced soil water content. The derived vegetable indices of photochemical reflection index (PRI) and the pigment-specific simple ratio of chlorophyll b (PSSRb) gradually decreased. In contrast, the normalized difference in water index (NWI) and water index (WI) increased. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between PRI, PSSRb, WI, and NWI and photosynthetic activity indices, namely photosynthetic rate and total performance index. Consequently, hyperspectral reflection represents a productive approach for evaluating the influence of water deficit on photosynthetic activity in A. chinensis leaves.

Research Progress with Atractylone as an Antitumor Agent

Atractylone is a sesquiterpenoid compound extracted from Rhizoma Atractylodis. As one of the main active components in the volatile oil of the Atractylodes genus, it has exhibited certain therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antiallergic, antiangiogenic, and neuroprotective activities, among others. With further research on the chemical constituents and pharmacology of sesquiterpenes, research on the antitumor activity of Atractylone has also been further expanded. Much of the current literature pays particular attention to the antitumor activity of Atractylone, which was found to inhibit the apoptosis of tumor cells and prevent growth, invasion, and migration through different apoptosis pathways and signaling pathways. Due to its promising potential for cancer prevention, it may play a role in reducing the incidence of malignant tumors. In this paper, the antitumor activity and mechanism of Atractylone are reviewed, providing a reference to inform future research on the tumor treatment, clinical application, and further development and utilization of this plant genus.

Multivariate approach to assess the bioactive compounds of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz in different harvest periods

BACKGROUND

The Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz (A. chinensis) Chinese herb possesses numerous therapeutic properties and is extensively utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. Its quality is closely associated with the harvest periods. However, the optimal quality and harvest periods of A. chinensis remain elusive.

METHODS

The bioactive compounds of perennial A. chinensis were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap/MS) metabolomics, and differentially abundant compounds were selected by multivariate statistical analysis. Then, variations in the content of differential compounds in samples harvested at different periods were analyzed, while correlation analysis was carried out on the differential compounds to determine the suitable harvest period for distinct components.

RESULTS

A total of 61 bioactive compounds were detected in all samples, grouped into 9 known classes. The results revealed that the chemical compositions of A. chinensis at different harvest periods were significantly different. The volatile oil content in the four-year-old and five-year-old samples was relatively high, at 31.92 mg/g and 32.42 mg/g, respectively. There were also significant differences in the content of the six active ingredients, for example, the five-year-old sample had the highest content of atractylodin (4.38 mg/g). Indeed, the harvest period was correlated with the abundance of most bioactive compounds. Specifically, quinquennial samples were significantly negatively correlated with the abundance of organic acids and aliphatics while moderately positively correlated with the abundance of other classes of bioactive compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results, the ideal harvest time for atractylenolide Ⅲ was 3 years. Regarding organic acids, the optimal harvest time was around 2-3 years. Taken together, these results offer valuable insights to producers for optimizing the harvest period for A. chinensis.

Chemometrics-based Chemical Analysis of Myrrh and Its Vinegar-processed Products by UPLC-MS/MS

Myrrh is widely used in clinical practice but accompanied by obvious toxicity. According to traditional Chinese medicines theory, processing with vinegar can effectively reduce its toxicity. However, the detoxification processing technology of Myrrh and the corresponding mechanism have been unclear. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze the variation in chemical composition of raw Myrrh and its processed products using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS coupled with chemometrics. A total of 75 compounds including 56 sesquiterpenoids, 2 diterpenoids, 15 triterpenoids and 2 other types were identified. Raw Myrrh and its processed products were divided into two major groups, and 14 chemical markers were selected out by principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis. Additionally, the exact content of 5 representative chemical markers was determined to be significantly reduced after vinegar-processing by UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis and the quantitative results comprehensively indicated that the optimized processing method was processing at a ratio of 200 : 5 (Myrrh:vinegar). This research provides not only a reliable foundation for the study of Myrrh, but also a scientific reference for clinical use of this herb.