Metabolite profiling of Zi-Shen pill in rat biological specimens by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

Exploring the transformation of chemical components and the discovery of anti-tumor active components in the fruit of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

Introduction

The fruit of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (FSH) is derived from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying, a plant belonging to the family Berberidaceae of the order Ranunculaceae. It is mainly distributed in the Himalayan alpine region, and born in the understory of forests, and wetlands at the edge of forests, thickets or grasses. FSH grows at an altitude of 2,200-4,300 meters above sea level. Its main pharmacological activities include anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, analgesia, heat clearing and detoxification. In the current experiment, ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was adopted for investigating the chemical components contained in FSH, their transformation patterns in vivo and the potential anti-tumor components, so as to provide an experimental basis for the utilization and development of the resources of FSH.

Methods

The chemical components of FSH and their transformation patterns in vivo were investigated by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and the potential anti-tumor active components were predicted from the in vivo transformed components of FSH by using a network pharmacology approach.

Results

Totally 85 chemical components were identified in FSH, among which, 61 were flavonoids and 24 were lignans. The above components were transformed in vivo, including 36 prototype components and 13 transformed products. As revealed by the results of network pharmacology on the prediction of anti-tumor components of FSH, 17 compounds such as Kaempferol, Uralenol, and 8-Prenylquercetin in FSH were used as the potential anti-tumor components.

Conclusion

In this study, the chemical composition, in vivo transformed components of FSH and their metabolites are investigated, and the in vivo transformed components are predicted to have potential anti-tumor pharmacological activities. This study provides the experimental bases for the utilization and development of the resources of FSH.

AR/PCC herb pair inhibits osteoblast pyroptosis to alleviate diabetes-related osteoporosis by activating Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Osteoporosis is a prevalent complication of diabetes, characterized by systemic metabolic impairment of bone mass and microarchitecture, particularly in the spine. Anemarrhenae Rhizoma/Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (AR/PCC) herb pair has been extensively employed in Traditional Chinese Medicine to manage diabetes; however, its potential to ameliorate diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) has remained obscure. Herein, we explored the protective efficacy of AR/PCC herb pair against DOP using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat diabetic model. Our data showed that AR/PCC could effectively reduce the elevated fasting blood glucose and reverse the osteoporotic phenotype of diabetic rats, resulting in significant improvements in vertebral trabecular area percentage, trabecular thickness and trabecular number, while reducing trabecular separation. Specifically, AR/PCC herb pair improved impaired osteogenesis, nerve ingrowth and angiogenesis. More importantly, it could mitigate the aberrant activation of osteoblast pyroptosis in the vertebral bodies of diabetic rats by reducing increased expressions of Nlrp3, Asc, Caspase1, Gsdmd and IL-1β. Mechanistically, AR/PCC activated antioxidant pathway through the upregulation of the antioxidant response protein Nrf2, while concurrently decreasing its negative feedback regulator Keap1. Collectively, our in vivo findings demonstrate that AR/PCC can inhibit osteoblast pyroptosis and alleviate STZ-induced rat DOP, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for mitigating DOP.

Evaluation of raw and processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex using the quality marker analysis strategy by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS and multivariate statistical analysis

Introduction: Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex is a necessary part of healthcare for its significant clinical efficacy. Raw and processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex is both documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015). After processing, the therapeutic effects are believed to differ according to traditional Chinese medicine theories. However, the chemical mechanism responsible for this processing, according to traditional Chinese medicine theories, is still not clear. Methods: In this study, the therapeutic effects of various ions were examined based on traditional Chinese medicine theories by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS) coupled with multivariate statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), to comprehensively compare the differences between raw and processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex for the first time. Results: A total of 48 compounds were screened, out and 10 of them simultaneously transformed with significant variation in processed products compared with raw materials. It was illustrated that the contents of berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, menisperine, phellodendrine, tetrahydrojatrorrhizine, and tetrahydropalmatine decreased, while the compounds of berberrubine and fernloylquinic acid methyl ester newly appeared in processed herbs. This is likely to be related to the conversion of ingredients during processing. Discussion: Altogether, the fact that quality markers have been successfully identified to differentiate processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex from raw materials suggests that this approach could be used for the investigation of chemical transformation mechanisms involved in the processing of herbal medicine.

Comparative analysis of absorbed ingredients and metabolites, and pharmacokinetic studies of Zhimu-Huangbai herb pair in the plasma of normal and type 2 diabetes mellitus rats by UHPLC-linear trap quadrupole-orbitrap MS and LC-MS/MS

A new rapid ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear trap quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry method was established for the qualitative analysis of absorbed ingredients and metabolites of Zhimu-Huangbai herb pair, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 16 absorbed ingredients and 11 metabolites were identified in normal and type 2 diabetes mellitus rats, respectively. Such findings indicated that the diabetic model had no effect on the type of components in plasma. Seven absorbed ingredients and 11 metabolites were first identified after the oral administration of Zhimu-Huangbai herb pair. Thereafter, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear trap quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-API4000⁺ triple quadrupole mass spectrometer methods were established and validated for pharmacokinetic comparative studies of seven major bioactive components in normal and type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. Partial pharmacokinetic parameters in the plasma of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats were significantly different from those in normal rats. To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of absorbed ingredients and metabolites of Zhimu-Huangbai herb pair, and its use in pharmacokinetic studies between normal and type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. Ultimately, our findings provide insights into the clinical usage of Zhimu-Huangbai herb pair.

Rapid Screening of Chemical Constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Combined with Data Postprocessing Techniques

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is the dried rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. (Anemarrhena Bunge of Liliaceae). The medicine presents anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, sedative, and diuretic effects. The chemical constituents of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae are complex and diverse, mainly including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, benzophenones, and alkaloids. In this study, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used in combination with data postprocessing techniques, including characteristic fragments filter and neutral loss filter, to rapidly classify and identify the five types of substances in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. On the basis of numerous literature reviews and according to the corresponding characteristic fragments produced by different types of compounds in combination with neutral loss filtering, we summarized the fragmentation patterns of the main five types of compounds and successfully screened and identified 32 chemical constituents in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. The components included 18 steroidal saponins, 6 flavonoids, 4 phenylpropanoids, 2 alkaloids, and 2 benzophenones. The method established in this study provided necessary data for the study on the pharmacological effects of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and also provided the basis for the chemical analysis and quality control of TCMs to promote the development of a method for chemical research on TCMs.