Application of HPLC Fingerprint Combined with Chemical Pattern Recognition and Multi-Component Determination in Quality Evaluation of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench

Experimental design approach for the quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker and HPLC fingerprinting of Thunbergia laurifolia aqueous extract

INTRODUCTION

Thunbergia laurifolia is used in traditional Thai medicine to reduce fever and treat mouth ulcers. However, the quantitative analysis of chemical markers has not yet been officially defined.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a design of experiment (DoE) for the quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker (QAMS) and fingerprinting of the T. laurifolia aqueous extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Critical variables were screened using a two-level fractional factorial design, followed by the optimization of the selected variables using a central composite design. The validated method was applied for quality assessment based on QAMS and fingerprinting of the extract.

RESULTS

Optimum conditions of DoE for the analysis of caffeic acid, vicenin-2, and rosmarinic acid were determined. The relative correction factors for caffeic acid and vicenin-2 were calculated using rosmarinic acid as an internal reference standard, and their contents in 30 samples were determined. The differences between the external standard method (ESM) and QAMS were compared. No significant difference was observed in the quantitative determination, proving the consistency QAMS and ESM. HPLC fingerprints of T. laurifolia were established with 8 of 12 characteristic peaks that were structurally characterized using HPLC-diode array detection-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry. The similarity of the fingerprints in all samples was ≥0.74, and the pattern recognition of the characteristic peaks was satisfied.

CONCLUSION

The proposed method efficiently detected multiple components of the T. laurifolia extract. Thus, the method is beneficial in providing references for enhancing the quality control of other herbal medicines.

A rapid localization and analysis method for isoquinoline alkaloids with fluorescence in Coptis chinensis Franch. By fabricating the nano-silver sol as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

BACKGROUND

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) directly impacts their clinical efficacy and drug safety, making standardization a critical component of modern TCMs. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an effective physical detection method with speed, sensitivity, and suitability for large sample analyses. In this study, a SERS analysis method was developed using a nano-silver sol as the matrix to address the interference of fluorescence components in TCMs and overcome the limitations of traditional detection methods.

RESULTS

The higher sensitivity and efficiency of SERS was used, enabling detection of a single sample within 30 s. Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCF) was chosen as the model medicine, the nano-silver sol was used as the matrix, and CCF's fourteen main fluorescent alkaloids were tested as index components. Typical signal peaks of the main components in CCF corresponded to the bending deformation of the nitrogen-containing ring plane outer ring system, methoxy stretching vibration, and isoquinoline ring deformation vibration. Through SERS detection of different parts, the distribution content of the main active components in the cortex of CCF was found to be lower than that in the xylem and phloem. Additionally, rapid quality control analyses indicated that among the nine batches of original medicinal materials purchased from Emei and Guangxi, the main active ingredient showed a higher content.

SIGNIFICANCE

A SERS-based method for the rapid localization and analysis of multiple components of TCMs was established. The findings highlight the potential of SERS as a valuable tool for the analysis and quality control of TCMs, especially for fluorescent components.

Qinteng Tongbi Decoction Medicated Serum Exerts Regulates the Proliferation, Migration, and Apoptosis of Synovial Fibroblasts in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis Rats Model via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B Signaling Pathway

Background

Qinteng Tongbi decoction (QTTBD) was an empirical prescription that could effectively prevent and treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but there was no report of pharmacological studies on this prescription. The purpose of this paper was to report the effects of QTTBD on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts in adjuvant arthritis model rats, and to reveal its anti-RA regulatory mechanism.

Methods

To divide the fibroblast-like synovial (FLS) cells of experimental rats into 6 groups (blank control group, model control group, positive drug group, QTTBD high, medium, and low dose groups) and cultured with serum-containing drugs. And using Cell Counting Kit-8 to detect the proliferation rate of FLS cells, flow cytometry to detect the apoptosis of FLS cells, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Western Blot to detect phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT1, p-AKT1, Bax and Bcl-2 gene and protein expression.

Results

Experimental results showed that QTTBD-containing serum could effectively inhibit the proliferation of FLS cells ( p <0 .05), induce the apoptosis of FLS cells, reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α ( p <0 .05), reduce expression of PI3K, AKT1, p-AKT1, and Bax ( p <0 .05), while the Bcl-2 expression increased ( p <0 .05).

Conclusion

QTTBD could effectively regulate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of FLS cells in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, and its mechanism might be related to regulating the level of inflammatory factors and intervening in the PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway.