Quantitative determination of atractylenolide III in rat plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Atractylenolides, essential components of Atractylodes-based traditional herbal medicines: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties

The rhizome of the plant Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz is the major constituent of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Baizhu, frequently used to treat gastro-intestinal diseases. Many traditional medicine prescriptions based on Baizhu and the similar preparation Cangzhu are used in China, Korea and Japan as Qi-booster. These preparations contain atractylenolides, a small group of sesquiterpenoids endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Atractylenolides I, II and III also display significant anticancer properties, reviewed here. The capacity of AT-I/II/IIII to inhibit cell proliferation and to induce cancer cell death have been analyzed, together with their effects of angiogenesis, metastasis, cell differentiation and stemness. The immune-modulatory properties of ATs are discussed. AT-I has been tested clinically for the treatment of cancer-induced cachexia with encouraging results. ATs, alone or combined with cytotoxic drugs, could be useful to treat cancers or to reduce side effects of radio and chemotherapy. Several signaling pathways have been implicated in their multi-targeted mechanisms of action, in particular those involving the central regulators TLR4, NFκB and Nrf2. A drug-induced reduction of inflammatory cytokines production (TNFα, IL-6) also characterizes these molecules which are generally weakly cytotoxic and well tolerated in vivo. Inhibition of Janus kinases (notably JAK2 and JAK3 targeted by AT-I and AT-III, respectively) has been postulated. Information about their metabolism and toxicity are limited but the long-established traditional use of the Atractylodes and the diversity of anticancer effects reported with AT-I and AT-III should encourage further studies with these molecules and structurally related natural products.

A High Throughput Three-step Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method to Study Metabolites of Atractylenolide-III

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (AMK) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in the treatment of various diseases, especially spleen deficiency. As the principle active constituents of AMK, however, the metabolites of Atractylenolide-III (A-lactone-III) have not been identified in rats yet. In this study, a three-step high throughput method based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS-MS was developed to profile and characterize the metabolites of A-lactone-III in rat feces, urine and plasma. The initial step was a full-scan that utilized a multiple mass defect filter (MMDF) combined with dynamic background subtraction (DBS). PeakView®1.2 and Metabolitepilot™1.5 software was then used to obtain data and seek possible metabolites. Finally, MS-MS spectra of the parent drug and possible metabolites were compared by the fragment ion peaks and retention times, which enabled metabolites to be identified. As a result, 53 metabolites were characterized in rats in vivo. The metabolic pathways of A-lactone-III were identified as including methylation, oxidation, hydroxylation, dihydroxylation, hydrogenation, glycosylation, sulfonation, and glucuronide, cysteine and N-acetylcysteine conjugation.

Atractylodes lactone compounds inhibit platelet activation

Platelets play a crucial role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis-thrombosis and, therefore, antiplatelet drugs are widely used in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Moreover, advances in understanding the biological functions of natural plant products can provide new pharmacological strategies aimed at promoting cardiovascular health. Atractylenolide I (ATL-1), ATL-2, and ATL-3 are the major bioactive components of a Qi tonifying medicinal herb Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Atractylodes macrocephala), which is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). These components possess well-documented anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, but their effects on platelet activation are still unknown. In this study, the effects of ATL on platelet function in vitro and in vivo were investigated, and the underlying mechanism was explored. We found that ATL-2 and ATL-3 but not ATL-1 diminished agonist-induced platelet aggregation and diminished adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from dense granules. The levels of phospho-Akt (Ser473) and phospho-p38 MAPK were downregulated in the presence of ATL-2 and ATL-3. We also found that ATL-2 and ATL-3 have a similar inhibitory effect on platelet activation as acetylsalicylic acid in response to agonists. Furthermore, ATL-2 and ATL-3 diminished the spreading of human platelets on immobilized fibrinogen (Fg), delayed clot retraction in platelet-depleted plasma containing human platelets, extended first occlusion time in a mouse model of ferric chloride (FeCl₃)-induced carotid arterial thrombosis, and prolonged the bleeding time. These observations suggest that ATL-2 and ATL-3 are potential candidate therapeutic drugs for the prevention of thrombosis.

Validated method for the quantification of atractylenolide III in different processed products of rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae

INTRODUCTION

Rhizoma Atractylodes Macrocephalae (RAM) contains several sesquiterpene compounds including atractylenolide III (AO-III). This bioactive compound may be used as a chemical marker for the quality control of different processed RAM products.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate an RP-HPLC method for the quantitative determination of AO-III in RAM and in a variety of processed RAM products.

METHODOLOGY

HPLC was carried out using a Kromssil C(18) RP-column eluted with methanol-water (70:30) at a flow rate of 1.0  mL/min and with UV detection at 220  nm. Full validation was performed using standard methods.

RESULTS

The linear range of AO-III was 5-50  µg/mL; the regression equation was y = 10210x + 11194 (r = 0.9994) and the average recovery was 101.08% (RSD = 0.98%). The detection and quantification limits for AO-III were determined to be 0.005 and 0.018  µg/mL at signal-to-noise ratios of approximately 3:1 and 10:1, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The described HPLC method is appropriate for quality assurance and differentiation of AO-III in RAM and different processed products.

Simultaneous analysis of glycyrrhizin, paeoniflorin, quercetin, ferulic acid, liquiritin, formononetin, benzoic acid and isoliquiritigenin in the Chinese proprietary medicine Xiao Yao Wan by HPLC

A high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode-array detection method was developed for simultaneous determination of glycyrrhizin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, quercetin, ferulic acid, formononetin, liquiritin and isoliquiritigenin in the Chinese proprietary medicine "Xiao Yao Wan" (XYW). The analysis was performed by reverse phase gradient elution, using an aqueous mobile phase (containing 0.1% phosphoric acid) modified by acetonitrile and detection made simultaneously at four wavelengths. The method was validated for accuracy, precision and limits of detection and quantification. Ten batches of XYW obtained from different pharmaceutical companies were analyzed and found to contain different amounts of the eight bioactive markers. This method could be used for quality assessment of this herbal medicine.