Untargeted Metabolomics for Integrative Taxonomy: Metabolomics, DNA Marker-Based Sequencing, and Phenotype Bioimaging

Integrative taxonomy is a fundamental part of biodiversity and combines traditional morphology with additional methods such as DNA sequencing or biochemistry. Here, we aim to establish untargeted metabolomics for use in chemotaxonomy. We used three thallose liverwort species Riccia glauca, R. sorocarpa, and R. warnstorfii (order Marchantiales, Ricciaceae) with Lunularia cruciata (order Marchantiales, Lunulariacea) as an outgroup. Liquid chromatography high-resolution mass-spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS) with data-dependent acquisition (DDA-MS) were integrated with DNA marker-based sequencing of the trnL-trnF region and high-resolution bioimaging. Our untargeted chemotaxonomy methodology enables us to distinguish taxa based on chemophenetic markers at different levels of complexity: (1) molecules, (2) compound classes, (3) compound superclasses, and (4) molecular descriptors. For the investigated Riccia species, we identified 71 chemophenetic markers at the molecular level, a characteristic composition in 21 compound classes, and 21 molecular descriptors largely indicating electron state, presence of chemical motifs, and hydrogen bonds. Our untargeted approach revealed many chemophenetic markers at different complexity levels that can provide more mechanistic insight into phylogenetic delimitation of species within a clade than genetic-based methods coupled with traditional morphology-based information. However, analytical and bioinformatics analysis methods still need to be better integrated to link the chemophenetic information at multiple scales.

Antioxidant potential of various extracts from 5 common European mosses and its correlation with phenolic compounds

Introduction: This paper presents the results of research about the antioxidant properties of extracts from 5 moss species, namely Brachythecium rutabulum, Callicladium haldanianum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Orthodicranum montanum and Polytrichastrum formosum. The macerates of each above mentioned species in water and ethanol (50% and 96%) solutions were analysed.

Objective: Total phenolic acids, total flavonoids and total flavonols concentrations and content of carotenoids was determined. Also some phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC.

Methods: The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and the advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) formation inhibition were studied.

Results: The obtained results showed that the extracts prepared with 50% ethanol had the strongest radical scavenging activities. Every 50% ethanol extract also inhibited formation of AOPP. 96% ethanol extracts had the lowest free radical scavenging activities, although B. rutabulum extract strongly inhibited protein oxidation. Pearson’s correlation showed that the radical scavenging effects of water extracts and extracts prepared with 50% ethanol are dependent on the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids.

Conclusion: The results suggest the moss extracts as materials for potential use in pharmacy or cosmetology.

Recent Development of Quality Control Methods for Herbal Derived Drug Preparations

Pharmaceutical industries should apply rigorous QC (quality control) to ensure the consistency, safety, and efficacy of their herbal derived drug-preparations. QC must be performed at every stage of the production line i.e. incoming raw materials, extractions, in-process control, finished products and keeping samples. Due to the complex nature of the chemical content of herbal drugs, two approaches to QC should be taken, that is quantitative determination of the selected marker(s) compound(s), and metabolite profiling. Contamination of herbal medicines by heavy metals, pesticides, toxic metabolites, microbial toxins, pathogenic microorganisms and other foreign matter should also be evaluated. A combination of chemical profiling and multivariate analysis (MVA) is recommended as the QC tool for the botanical identification method (BIM) of herbs, extracts, herb materials, and herbal drug preparations. Microscopic methods, DNA profiling or chemical marker(s) are not recommended for use as the sole BIM due to the lack of specificity. Only markers that meet certain criteria i.e. quality active (QA) markers can be utilized as a QC tool. The limit specification range of markers used as QC tools should be described in the analytical target profile (ATP). To gain reliable results of any analysis that has been performed at any QC laboratory, the analysis method must be validated according to the newest guidance. Sample detection limit of any toxic compound(s) should be lower than its cut-off value and MPL. The reliability of any results of analysis of a QC laboratory must be evaluated by using QC-samples for each series of measurements.