Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry coupled with three-step data post-processing techniques for comprehensive profiling of the multiple components in Fufang Xianzhuli Ye

Identification of the chemical constituents in the leaves and twigs of Nerium oleander by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen flowering tree and is distributed widely in China. Various parts of N. oleander have been used medicinally and are reported to possess a wide range of biological activities, including cardiotonic, cytotoxic, and central nervous system depressant activities. However, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the chemical constituents in various parts of N. oleander.

METHODS

An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) method was developed for the qualitative analysis of the chemical constituents in the leaves and twigs of N. oleander.

RESULTS

As a result, 50 compounds, including phenolic derivatives, flavonoids, cardenolides, and triterpenoids, were identified in N. oleander. Among them, 50 compounds were identified in the leaves of N. oleander, whereas 25 compounds were identified in the twigs of N. oleander. It is noteworthy that 16 phenolic derivatives and 4 flavonoids were first detected in this plant and 10 cardenolides were deduced as potential new compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided an effective method for comprehensively analyzing the complex system of medicinal plants and enriched the chemical compositions in N. oleander.

Advanced data post-processing method for rapid identification and classification of the major triterpenoids of Alismatis rhizoma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

INTRODUCTION

Alismatis rhizoma (AR), a distinguished diuretic traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is widely used for the treatment of diarrhea, edema, nephropathy, hyperlipidemia, and tumors in clinical settings. Most beneficial effects of AR are attributed to the major triterpenoids, whose contents are relatively high in AR. To date, only 25 triterpenoids in AR have been characterized by LC-MS because the low-mass diagnostic ions are hardly triggered in MS, impeding structural identification. Herein, we developed an advanced data post-processing method with abundant characteristic fragments (CFs) and neutral losses (NLs) for rapid identification and classification of the major triterpenoids in AR by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E .

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to establish a systematic method for rapid identification and classification of the major triterpenoids of AR.

METHODS

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E coupled with an advanced data post-processing method was established to characterize the major triterpenoids of AR. The abundant CFs and NLs of different types of triterpenoids were discovered and systematically summarized. The rapid identification and classification of the major triterpenoids of AR were realized by processing the data and comparing with information described in the literature.

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 44 triterpenoids were identified from AR, including three potentially new compounds and 41 known ones, which were classified into six types.

CONCLUSION

The newly established approach is suitable for the chemical profiling of the major triterpenoids in AR, which could provide useful information about chemical constituents and a basis for further exploration of its active ingredients in vivo.

Biotransformation of Platycosides, Saponins from Balloon Flower Root, into Bioactive Deglycosylated Platycosides

Platycosides, saponins from balloon flower root (Platycodi radix), have diverse health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tussive, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, and whitening activities. Deglycosylated platycosides, which show greater biological effects than glycosylated platycosides, are produced by the hydrolysis of glycoside moieties in glycosylated platycosides. In this review, platycosides are classified according to the chemical structures of the aglycone sapogenins and also divided into natural platycosides, including major, minor, and rare platycosides, depending on the content in Platycodi radix extract and biotransformed platycosides. The biological activities of platycosides are summarized and methods for deglycosylation of saponins, including physical, chemical, and biological methods, are introduced. The biotransformation of glycosylated platycosides into deglycosylated platycosides was described based on the hydrolytic pathways of glycosides, substrate specificity of glycosidases, and specific productivities of deglycosylated platycosides. Methods for producing diverse and/or new deglycosylated platycosides are also proposed.