Investigation of bioactive components and metabolic pathways of Zhen-wu-tang in rat plasma and renal tissue by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

INTRODUCTION

Zhen-wu-tang (ZWT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for the treatment of several kidney diseases. However, due to the complexity of the TCM formula, there is a lack of accurate knowledge of the chemical constituents of ZWT and its bioactive components, as well as in vivo metabolic pathway studies.

OBJECTIVES

The chemical composition of ZWT and its bioactive components along with the metabolic pathways were investigated by a combination of chemical profiling and serum pharmacochemistry.

METHODS

High-resolution ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical components of ZWT and its bioactive components and metabolites in vivo.

RESULTS

As a result, a total of 110 chemical components were identified from ZWT solution, mainly amino acids, alkaloids, gingerols, monoterpene glycosides and terpenoids, and so on. In addition, 24 prototype components and 36 metabolites were detected in rat plasma. Meanwhile, 8 prototype components were detected in rat kidney tissue but no metabolites. Interestingly, 4 of the 28 bioactive components were detected in both plasma and renal tissue, which were atractylenolide III, trimethoxyaconitane, methyl gallate, and paeoniflorin. The metabolic pathways mainly involved Phases I and/or II metabolic reactions such as hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction and hydration, methylation/demethylation, sulphation, glucuronidation, acetylation, and glutathione conjugation.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the present study has comprehensively elucidated the chemical composition of ZWT and its potential bioactive components and metabolites, which provides a basis for the basic study of its pharmacodynamic substances and a reference for the study of the bioactive components of TCM formulae.

A systematic comparative analysis of ginger-related varieties from three dimensions based on HS-SPME-GC-Q-TOF MS and UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS

Ginger is extensively utilized in culinary and traditional medicine worldwide. This study presents a comparative analysis on ginger-related varieties from different species, growth stages, processing methods and geographical origins using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-Q-TOF MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography linear-ion-trap-quadrupole orbitrap MS (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS). A total of 120 volatiles and 377 non-volatiles were annotated. Metabolomics revealed 44 differential components to discriminate six Zingiberaceae species. Among them, ginger contained the highest levels of chemical components. Additionally, 44 components were found to completely distinguish two growth stages and four processing forms of ginger. As ginger matures, changes in volatiles become more pronounced, while significant differences in non-volatiles were observed across processing stages. Moreover, ginger from three regions was compared, and ginger from Western was found to have more abundant non-volatiles and a higher qualification rate (Yunnan 100 % vs. Fujian 33 %, Henan 15 %). This study maps the chemical profile of ginger and related varieties, providing insights for development of novel products and informing decisions in cultivation, production, and purchasing.

Root Exudates of Ginger Induced by Ralstonia solanacearum Infection Could Inhibit Bacterial Wilt

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) is one of the most important diseases found in ginger; however, the disease resistance mechanisms dependent on root bacteria and exudates are unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the changes in the composition of rhizobacteria, endobacteria, and root exudates during the pathogenesis of bacterial wilt using high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Rs caused bacterial wilt in ginger with an incidence of 50.00% and changed the bacterial community composition in both endosphere and rhizosphere. It significantly reduced bacterial α-diversity but increased the abundance of beneficial and stress-tolerant bacteria, such as Lysobacter, Ramlibacter, Pseudomonas, and Azospirillum. Moreover, the change in rhizobacterial composition induced the changes in endobacterial and root exudate compositions. Moreover, the upregulated exudates inhibited ginger bacterial wilt, with the initial disease index (77.50%) being reduced to 40.00%, suggesting that ginger secretes antibacterial compounds for defense against bacterial pathogens.