Quality analysis of hawthorn leaves (the leaves of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var major N.E.Br) in different harvest time

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of chemical components in different parts of Marsdenia cavaleriei

Species of the genus Marsdenia have a long history of medicinal use in China, with C21 steroids serving as the principal bioactive constituents. Marsdenia cavaleriei remains an unexplored phytochemical resource, particularly regarding the material basis in different plant parts. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) analytical method was developed to thoroughly characterize the chemical constituents of this plant. A total of 68 compounds were identified, 48 of which were tentatively identified as novel. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were employed to screen 18 potential chemical markers, elucidating compositional differences across various plant parts. Quantification of Tenacissoside H was conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detection (UHPLC-CAD), revealing its absence in the leaves. The average content of Tenacissoside H in the roots (0.281 %) exceeded that in the stems. A semi-quantitative analytical method was developed under identical gradient conditions with inverse gradient compensation. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the average response factors for five references was 2.46 %. The semi-quantitative analysis of nine primary C21 steroids showed that Tenacigenoside K and Tenacissoside A were most abundant in the leaves, Tenacissoside A and Marsdenoside H dominated in the stems, and Marsdenoside H and Tenacissoside D were the most prevalent in the roots. This study presents a comprehensive approach for qualitative and quantitative analysis, thereby enhancing our understanding of the chemical composition of M. cavaleriei across its various parts and providing a foundation for its broader application.

Variation in the Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant, Antihyperglycemic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Leaves of Cotoneaster zabelii during Growing Season

Cotoneaster zabelii is a medicinal plant that is beneficial due to its polyphenol-rich leaves. In the course of optimizing the harvest time for C. zabelii cultivated in Poland, the leaf samples were collected monthly during the annual plant vegetation season, and the hydromethanolic leaf extracts were evaluated for their phenolic composition and model biological activities, including antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. The phenolic profiles were analyzed using UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS3, HPLC-PDA, and spectrophotometric methods (total phenolic content, TPC) to understand their seasonal variability and its correlation with bioactive properties. The identified phenolic compounds included caffeic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols (especially (-)-epicatechin and procyanidins B-type), and flavonoids like quercetin mono- and diglycosides. Leaves harvested in July and October contained the highest polyphenolic levels and demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in most tests. The leaves harvested in July, September, and October showed optimal anti-inflammatory effects, whereas the highest antihyperglycemic activity was observed in the leaves collected from June to July. Regarding polyphenolic levels and bioactivity, the summer and autumn months appear to be the most advantageous for harvesting leaf material of optimal quality for phytotherapy.

Chemical composition, biological activities, and quality standards of hawthorn leaves used in traditional Chinese medicine: a comprehensive review

Hawthorn leaves also known as crataegi foilum, are a combination of botanical drugs used commonly in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hawthorn, the plant from which hawthorn leaves are prepared, is distributed in Northeast China, North China, and other regions in China. Hawthorn leaves are known to activate blood circulation and eliminate stasis, invigorating Qi, eliminating turbidity, and reducing the levels of lipids. So far, over a hundred compounds have been isolated from hawthorn leaves, including flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, organic acids, and nitrogenous compounds. Hawthorn leaves are used for the treatment of hypertension, protecting against ischemic injury, angina, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and certain other conditions. Several of the currently available clinical preparations also use hawthorn leaves as raw materials, such as Yixintong capsules, Xinan capsules, etc. The present report systematically reviews the chemical composition, biological activities, and quality standards of hawthorn leaves, to provide a scientific basis and reference for detailed research on hawthorn leaves.

Qualitative and quantitative studies on two commercial specifications of Polygonatum odoratum

The rhizoma of Polygonatum odoratum (PO) is used to treat yin injuries of the lung and stomach in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical constituents of this herb are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavanones, and alkaloids. Xiangyuzhu (XPO) and Guanyuzhu (GPO) are available in the market as two specifications of the commodity. Nonetheless, systematic research on the identification and comparison of chemical constituents of these two commercial specifications is yet lacking. Herein, an integrated method combing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection (UHPLC-CAD) was employed for the comprehensively qualitative and quantitative analyses of PO. A total of 62 compounds were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, among which 13 potential chemical markers were screened out to distinguish two commercial specifications. Subsequently, the absolute determination method for polygodoraside G, polygonatumoside F, and timosaponin H1 was established and validated by UHPLC-CAD. The contents of the three compounds were 13.33-236.24 μg/g, 50.55-545.04 μg/g, and 13.34-407.83 μg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of timosaponin H1/polygodoraside G could be applied to differentiate the two specifications. Samples with a ratio <2 are considered XPO and >5 are considered GPO. Therefore, the above results provide a valuable means for the quality control of PO.