A comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of Fraxinus mandshurica roots based on HPLC-DAD-MS, GC-MS and UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS

Molecular networking: An efficient tool for discovering and identifying natural products

Natural products (NPs), play a crucial role in drug development. However, the discovery of NPs is accidental, and conventional identification methods lack accuracy. To overcome these challenges, an increasing number of researchers are directing their attention to Molecular networking (MN). MN based on secondary mass spectrometry has become an important tool for the separation, purification and structural identification of NPs. However, most new tools are not well known. This review started with the most basic MN tool and explains it from the principle, workflow, and application. Then introduce the principles and workflows of the remaining eight new types of MN tools. The reliability of various MNs is mainly verified based on the application of phytochemistry and metabolomics. Subsequently, the principles and applications of 12 structural annotation tools are introduced. For the first time, the scope of 9 kinds of MN tools is compared horizontally, and 12 kinds of structured annotation tools are classified from the type of compound structure suitable for identification. The advantages and disadvantages of various tools are summarized, and make suggestions for future application directions and the development of computing tools in this review. MN tools are expected to enhance the efficiency of the discovery and identification in NPs.

Rapid Identification of Chemical Compounds in Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Combined With Multiple Data Processing Techniques

Danzhi Jiangtang capsule (DJC) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that has been clinically used to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. However, research on the chemical compounds present in DJC remains limited. In this study, an analytical strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed for the rapid and systematic characterization of chemical compounds in DJC. Firstly, a DJC self-built database was established, and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was applied for comprehensive profiling of DJC's chemical compounds. Then, R language combined with MZmine was used for data preprocessing to construct the ion information list and extract effective data. Finally, the compounds were identified by multiple data processing techniques (multiple-point screening mass defect filtering [MDF], extracted ion chromatogram [EIC], neutral loss filter [NLF], diagnostic fragment ion filtering [DFIF], and direct identification method [including retention time, fragment behavior and reference substances]). Eventually, 137 compounds were characterized from DJC, including 19 monoterpenoids, 26 triterpenoids, 8 flavonoids, 12 iridoids, 7 phenylethanoid glycosides, 8 acetophenones, 23 organic acids, 2 violet ketones, 13 cyclic peptides, 8 alkaloids, 2 fatty acids, and 9 other compounds. Among these, 16 compounds were verified using reference substances. The study indicated that the analytical strategy established in this study effectively supports the in-depth study of DJC's chemical constituents and provides essential data for subsequent in vivo studies.

Multi-Component Characterization and Quality Evaluation Strategy of Sarcandrae Herba by Combining Dual-Column Tandem HPLC Fingerprint and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

A dual-column tandem mode was used to establish the fingerprints of Sarcandrae herb from different origins, and their chemical compositions were characterized by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, which provided an experimental basis for the establishment of a rapid and efficient method for the overall quality control of Sarcandrae herba. For the first time, nine common components were identified from the Sarcandrae herba herbs of 24 origins, which were neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, eleutheroside B1, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide, neoastilbin, astilbin, isofraxidin, and rosmarinic acid, respectively. A total of 92 compounds were identified by liquid mass spectrometry. The quality of the Sarcandrae herb from 24 origins was analyzed by similarity evaluation, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis, and the chemical components of Sarcandrae herba were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The results showed that the overall analysis based on fingerprinting and mass spectrometry could differentiate the origins of the herbs.

The genus Fraxinus L. (Oleaceae): A review of botany, traditional and modern applications, phytochemistry, and bioactivity

Fraxinus L., a member of the Oleaceae family with approximately 60 species worldwide, is widely distributed in the warm temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. It is not only used as a folk medicine for treating various illnesses but is also documented in medical books. The traditional Chinese medicine "Qin Pi" originated from this genus and is known for its efficacy in treating conditions such as intestinal inflammation, redness and pain in the eyes, abomination of redness and leucorrhoea, and bacterial infections. This paper aims to fill the gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the Fraxinus genus plant. The discussion in this paper covers various aspects of the plant, including its botany, traditional and modern applications, phytochemistry, bioactivity, role in ecosystems, phytogenetic evolution, economic benefits, and future challenges. By synthesizing this information, the review aims to offer valuable insights for the advancement, utilization, and further research of the Fraxinus spp.. Phytochemical studies have identified a total of 281 chemical constituents in Fraxinus spp., including secoiridoids, coumarins, and flavonoids. These Fraxinus spp. plants exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, this paper delves into potential research directions within the genus and addresses the challenges associated with achieving a comprehensive understanding of Fraxinus spp. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Fraxinus spp., highlighting their bioactivity mechanism and the opportunity to facilitate the advancement of new pharmaceuticals.

Mid-Level Data Fusion Techniques of LC-MS and HS-GC-MS for Distinguishing Green and Ripe Forsythiae Fructus

Forsythia suspensa is a crucial plant resource due to its considerable edible and medicinal value. Its fruit, named Forsythiae Fructus (FF), has been widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to the fruit maturity stage, FF is categorized into GFF (green Forsythiae Fructus) and RFF (ripe Forsythiae Fructus). In this study, metabolomics based on UPLC-Q/Orbitrap MS and HS-GC-MS, combined with chemometric methods, was employed to differentiate GFF from RFF and identify potential differential metabolites. Additionally, the mid-level data fusion method was employed to integrate data from both techniques, and the performance of the OPLS-DA model (R2Y = 0.986, Q2 = 0.974) surpassed that of the single HS-GC-MS technique (R2Y = 0.968, Q2 = 0.930). Moreover, using the criteria of VIP > 1 and p-value < 0.05, 30 differential compounds were selected via mid-level data fusion, compared to the initial 61 differential compounds identified by single techniques, effectively reducing data noise and eliminating irrelevant variables. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of volatile and non-volatile compounds in FF, offering valuable insights into quality control and clinical differentiation between GFF and RFF. The findings highlight the potential use of multi-technology metabolomics in the quality control of TCM and offer new perspectives for future research on medicinal plants.

New Utilization of Fraxinus mandshurica Leaves: As a Safe and Promising Natural Antioxidant

In this paper, an in-depth study on Fraxinus mandshurica (FM) was conducted, focusing on the chemical constituents, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of flavonoids, acute oral toxicity testing, network pharmacology, and molecular docking in the leaves of FM. The in vitro antioxidant results revealed that the total flavonoid extract (TFE), kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin exhibited similar antioxidant activities, with TFE demonstrating significantly better scavenging ability against hydroxyl radical compared to the other flavonoids. Moreover, in vivo antioxidant findings indicated that TFE led to a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities along with a decrease in malondialdehyde levels in the liver tissues of mice in an ethanol-induced oxidative stress model, outperforming quercetin. The acute oral toxicity test established 5000 mg/kg of bw as the LD50 for TFE in rats. Through network pharmacological analysis, it was observed that all seven flavonoids in FM exhibited spontaneous binding to their respective key targets, reinforcing their potential antioxidant properties. Consequently, based on the experimental outcomes, TFE appears to be a safe and promising antioxidant source, indicating its potential as a new natural antioxidant resource.

Characterization, multivariate analysis and bioactivity evaluation of coumarins in the bark of Fraxinus mandshurica

The bark of Fraxinus mandshurica is a traditional folk herb used to clear heat and dry dampness. To investigate the differences in coumarins content in the bark of F. mandshurica, 24 batches of samples from four origins were collected and analyzed. Eight coumarins were obtained by traditional natural product extraction, isolation and identification techniques and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array (HPLC-DAD). The quantitative results showed that the overall content of compound 30 (Fraxinol) was higher at 100.23 mg/g, while the overall content of compound 23 (Cichoriin) was lower, which may be related to environmental factors in different regions. The method validation showed that the linear range of the eight standards was between 10 and 2500 μg/mL with correlation coefficient (R2) values >0.9991; the relative standard deviation (RSD, %) values of intra-day precision were between 0.35 and 1.38, while the RSD values of inter-day precision were between 0. 29-1.78; the RSD (%) values for the reproducibility experiments ranged from 0.29 to 1.87, while the RSD (%) values for the stability experiments ranged from 0.22 to 2.33; the spiked recovery of the samples ranged from 98.65 to 101.34%, and the RSD (%) values ranged from 0.22 to 1.96. The method validation results showed that the instrument used for the analysis had good precision, the reproducibility and stability of the samples were good, and the accuracy of the experimental method was high. In addition, a total of 54 chemical components were identified from F. mandshurica bark by ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Based on this, fingerprinting, heatmap and multivariate analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), were established for 24 batches of samples, and four marker compounds that could be used to distinguish different origins of F. mandshurica were screened. To further investigate the bioactivities of the eight coumarins, in vitro enzyme activity inhibition studies were performed, and the results showed that they all exhibited different degrees of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and α-glucosidase, thus having potential applications in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, blemish whitening and anti-diabetes, and becoming a new source of natural enzyme activity inhibitors. This study established an identification and evaluation method applicable to plants of different origins, which provides a strong reference for quality control, origin evaluation and clinical application of traditional medicinal plants.