Chemical Profile Analysis of Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan Decoction by LC–QTOF MS and Simultaneous Determination of Nine Major Components Using QAMS Method

Overlooked Photochemical Risk of Antimicrobial Fragrances: Formation of Potent Allergens and Their Mechanistic Pathways

Antimicrobial fragrances, commonly found in household and personal care products, are frequently detected in water bodies, yet their environmental fate and transformation mechanisms remain inadequately explored. This study investigates the photochemical transformation of cinnamaldehyde (CA), a representative antimicrobial fragrance, and its consequence for toxicological effects. The results showed that under UV irradiation, 94.6% CA was eliminated within 60 min, with a degradation rate of 0.059 min-1. Laser flash photolysis, quenching experiments, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra identified O2•- and 3CA* as the important species, contributing 29.4% and 33.6%, respectively, to the transformation process. Additionally, singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and solvated electrons (eaq-) were involved in mediating the oxidation reactions. These species facilitated photoionization and oxidation, resulting in the formation of five major transformation products, including cis-cinnamyl aldehyde, cinnamic acid, styrene, 1aH-indeno [1,2-b]oxirene), and 1-Oxo-1H-indene. Most of these products were persistent, and exhibited considerable ecotoxicological risks. Specifically, the cinnamic acid and 1-Oxo-1H-indene caused severe skin irritation, while cinnamic acid induced significant eye irritation. Notably, the transformation products demonstrated sensitizing effects on human skin. This study underscores the overlooked ecotoxicological risks associated with the photochemical transformation of antimicrobial fragrances, revealing their potential to generate potent allergens and other harmful byproducts.

Comprehensive evaluation of Loblolly fruit by high performance liquid chromatography four wavelength fusion fingerprint combined with gas chromatography fingerprinting and antioxidant activity analysis

Loblolly fruit (LBF) is mainly used as raw material for beverage, but there are few researches on its quality evaluation or control. The aim of this study was to develop comprehensive evaluation methods for the quality control of Loblolly fruit. firstly, double wavelength coefficient ratio spectrum was used to identify the purity of chromatographic fingerprint peak. It is very important to identify the purity of fingerprint peaks because only the quantitative determination of pure chromatographic peaks is meaningful for its efficient quality control. Then, multi-wavelength fusion fingerprint was established to avoid one-sidedness of a single wavelength for further evaluation by systematically quantified fingerprint method (SQFM). According to the outcome of P_m, 25 batches of LBF were classified into two classifications by hierarchical cluster analysis, which was consistent with the SQFM evaluation results. Two active components, gallic acid (GAC) and ethyl gallate (EGA) in LBF, were quantitatively determined by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS). In addition, the fingerprint efficacy relationship was established using an off-line antioxidant system and partial least-squares model to explore the connection between chemical components and antioxidant activities. Finally, the evaluation results of high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were integrated by the mean algorithm, which could reduce the error caused by single method. The results showed that the proposed strategy could provide a method for quality evaluation of LBF and even other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

Comprehensive characterization and identification of chemical constituents in Yangwei decoction using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Yangwei decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat exogenous cold and internal injury with damp stagnation for many centuries. However, its systematic chemical profiling remains ambiguous, which has hampered the interpretation of pharmacology and the mechanism of its formula. In the present study, a ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry method was successfully established for the first time to separate and identify the complicated components of Yangwei decoction. The accurate mass data of the protonated molecules, deprotonated molecules, and fragment ions were detected in positive and negative ion modes. A total of 226 compounds in Yangwei decoction were tentatively identified and unambiguously characterized by comparing their retention times and mass spectrometry data with those of reference standards and literature, including 24 lignans, 18 alkaloids, 9 phenylpropanoid glycosides, 76 flavonoids, 59 triterpenoids, 17 organic acids, 7 gingerols, 8 lactones, and 8 other compounds. The present study provides a novel method of constituents characterization for well-known Chinese medicine prescriptions. The study aims to lay a robust foundation for future research, providing the holistic quality control and pharmacology of Yangwei decoction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Exploitation of HPLC Analytical Method for Simultaneous Determination of Six Principal Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Oviductus Ranae Based on Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Components by Single-Marker (QAMS)

As one of the featured products in northeast China, Oviductus Ranae has been widely used as a nutritious food, which contains a variety of bioactive unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). It is necessary to establish a scientific and reliable determination method of UFA contents in Oviductus Ranae. In this work, six principal UFAs in Oviductus Ranae, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (ARA), linoleic acid (LA) and oleic acid (OA), were identified using UPLC-MS/MS. The UFAs identified in Oviductus Ranae were further separated based on the optimized RP-HPLC conditions. Quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) method was implemented in content determination of EPA, ALA, DHA, ARA and OA, where LA was used as the internal standard. The experiments based on Taguchi design verified the robustness of the QAMS method on different HPLC instruments and chromatographic columns. The QAMS and external standard method (ESM) were used to calculate the UFA content of 15 batches of Oviductus Ranae samples from different regions. The relative error (r < 0.73%) and cosine coefficient showed that the two methods obtained similar contents, and the method validations met the requirements. The results showed that QAMS can comprehensively and effectively control the quality of UFAs in Oviductus Ranae which provides new ideas and solutions for studying the active components in Oviductus Ranae.