Fengrui Song

Screening and Structural Characterization of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids Extract by Ultrafiltration LC-DAD-MSn and SORI-CID FTICR MS

In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assays and ultrafiltration liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ultrafiltration LC-DAD-ESI-MSn) were combined to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors from hawthorn leaf flavonoids extract (HLFE). As a result, four compounds were identified as α-glucosidase inhibitors in the HLFE, and their structures were confirmed to be quercetin-3-O-rha- (1-4)-glc-rha and C-glycosylflavones (vitexin-2″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside and vitexin) by high-resolution sustained off resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID) data obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS). Several other C-glycosylflavones (vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isooriention) and their aglycones apigenin and luteolin were evaluated by in vitro assays, and were found to possess strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activities as well. Moreover, the substituent groups on the flavones had a great impact on the enzyme inhibition activity. C-3′-OH of the B-ring of flavones in particular increased the α-glucosidase inhibition activity, whereas C-glycosylations at C-6 or C-8 of the A ring weakened the inhibition activity.

Rapid identification of saponins in plant extracts by electrospray ionization multi‐stage tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) and liquid chromatography coupled with on-line mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) were applied to characterize saponins in crude extracts from Panax ginseng. The MS(n) data of the [M - H](-) ions of saponins can provide structural information on the sugar sequences of the saccharide chains and on the sapogins of saponins. By ESI-MS(n), non-isomeric saponins and isomeric saponins with different aglycones can be determined rapidly in plant extracts. LC/MS/MS is a good complementary analytical tool for determination of isomeric saponins. These approaches constitute powerful analytical tools for rapid screening and structural assignment of saponins in plant extracts.

Studies on the aconitine-type alkaloids in the roots of Aconitum Carmichaeli Debx. by HPLC/ESIMS/MSn

Studies of aconitine-type alkaloids in the Chinese herb Aconitum Carmichaeli were performed by HPLC/ESIMS/MS(n) and FTICR/ESIMS in positive ion mode. The characteristic fragmentation pathways in the MS(n) spectra were summarized based on previously published research literature and further study. According to the fragmentation pathways of mass spectrometry, results from the analysis of standard compounds and reports from literature, 111 compounds were identified or deduced in a total of 117 found compounds in A. Carmichaeli. In the 11 monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids (MDA), 10 diesterditerpenoid alkaloids (DDA) and 81 lipo-alkaloids, the novel alkaloids including 1 MDA, 2 DDA and 48 lipo-alkaloids were detected. In addition, 1 DDA, 7 lipo-alkaloids and 2 alkaloids with small molecular weights that possess C19-norditerpenoid skeleton were reported in A. Carmichaeli for the first time.

Multi-residue method for fast determination of pesticide residues in plants used in traditional chinese medicine by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification and identification of 116 pesticide residues which were most widely used in plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in 15 min has been developed and validated. Samples were extracted and cleaned up with modified QuEChERS method and detected by UHPLC-MS/MS under multiple reactions monitoring mode, and quantified by matrix-match calibration. The validation study was carried out on five different matrixes following DG SANCO/2007/3131 of the European Quality Control Guidelines. The linearity of the calibration was good between 5 and 100 ng ml⁻¹ concentration ranges, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) less than 0.01 mg/kg for most pesticides. The mean recoveries of almost all pesticides were in the range from 70% to 120% at three concentration levels ranging from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.1mg/kg with relative standard deviations (RSD) better than 15%. The method was applied on 138 real samples from 102 different kinds of Chinese herbal medicine. 95 positive samples were detected. This method is fast, robust, accurate, selective, sensitive and easy to operate.

Studies on principal components and antioxidant activity of different Radix Astragali samples using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry

The principal components, isoflavonoids and astragalosides, in the extract of Radix Astragali were detected by a high-performance liquid chromatography couple to electrospray ionization ion trap multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-IT-MS(n)) method. By comparing the retention time (t(R)) of HPLC, the ESI-MS(n) data and the structures of analyzed compounds with the data of reference compounds and in the literature, 17 isoflavonoids and 12 astragalosides have been identified or tentatively deduced. By virtue of the extracted ion chromatogram (EIC) mode, simultaneous determination of isoflavonoids and astragalosides could be achieved when the different components formed overlapped peaks. And this method has been utilized to analyze the constituents in extracts of Radix Astragali from Helong City and of different growth years. Then the antioxidant activity of different samples has been successfully investigated by HPLC-ESI-MS method in multiple selected ion monitoring (MIM) mode, applying the spin trapping technology, and the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay was applied to support the result. The correlations of the isoflavonoids and astragalosides components and the antioxidant activities of Radix Astragali were summarized. The present paper demonstrates that HPLC-ESI-MS(n) is a powerful method for the characterization of the principal components and evaluation of the antioxidant activity of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Structural characterization and identification of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans in Fructus Schisandrae using electrospray ionization ion trap multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry.

The electrospray ionization ion trap multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR-MS(n)) have been applied successfully to the direct investigation of a number of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan constituents from the methanol extracts of the Fructus Schisandrae in the positive ion mode. The detailed structural characterization of the same skeleton and different peripheral substituents had been studied and the precise elemental compositions of ions at high mass resolution had been obtained. So the fragmentation mechanisms could be clarified. And the lignan components in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. fruits (SCF) and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. fruits (SSF) were identified by comparing the structural information and fragmentation mechanisms. Then a pair of isobaric compounds was differentiated. Meanwhile these two similar fruits were distinguished. The research results demonstrated that ESI-MS(n) technique is a sensitive, selective and effective tool for the direct analysis and rapid determination of constituents in complex mixtures from nature products. And these should be useful for the identification of similar compounds and differentiation of similar species from Chinese herbs.

Fingerprint analysis of Radix Aconiti using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/ tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI/MSn) combined with stoichiometry

A fingerprinting approach was developed by means of UPLC-ESI/MS(n) (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry) for the quality control of processed Radix Aconiti, a widely used toxic traditional herbal medicine. The present fingerprinting approach was based on the two processing methods recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia for the purpose of reducing the toxicity and ensuring the clinical therapeutic efficacy. Similarity evaluation, hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed to evaluate the similarity and variation of the samples. The results showed that the well processed, unqualified processed and the raw Radix Aconiti could be clustered reasonably corresponding to the contents of their constituents. The loading plot shows that the main chemical markers having the most influence on the discrimination amongst the qualified and unqualified samples were mainly some monoester diterpenoid aconitines and diester diterpenoid aconitines. Finally, the UPLC-UV and UPLC-ESI/MS(n) characteristic fingerprints were established according to the well processed and purchased qualified samples. At the same time, a complementary quantification method of six Aconitine-type alkaloids was developed using UPLC-UV and UPLC-ESI/MS. The average recovery of the monoester diterpenoid aconitines was 95.4-99.1% and the average recovery of the diester diterpenoid aconitines was 103-112%. The proposed combined quantification method by UPLC-UV and UPLC-ESI/MS allows the samples analyzed in a wide concentration range. Therefore, the established fingerprinting approach in combination with chemometric analysis provides a flexible and reliable method for quality assessment of toxic herbal medicine.

Rapid quality assessment of Radix Aconiti Preparata using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry

This study presents a novel and rapid method to identify chemical markers for the quality control of Radix Aconiti Preparata, a world widely used traditional herbal medicine. In the method, the samples with a fast extraction procedure were analyzed using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART MS) combined with multivariate data analysis. At present, the quality assessment approach of Radix Aconiti Preparata was based on the two processing methods recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia for the purpose of reducing the toxicity of Radix Aconiti and ensuring its clinical therapeutic efficacy. In order to ensure the safety and effectivity in clinical use, the processing degree of Radix Aconiti should be well controlled and assessed. In the paper, hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed to evaluate the DART MS data of Radix Aconiti Preparata samples in different processing times. The results showed that the well processed Radix Aconiti Preparata, unqualified processed and the raw Radix Aconiti could be clustered reasonably corresponding to their constituents. The loading plot shows that the main chemical markers having the most influence on the discrimination amongst the qualified and unqualified samples were mainly some monoester diterpenoid aconitines and diester diterpenoid aconitines, i.e. benzoylmesaconine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, neoline, benzoylhypaconine, benzoylaconine, fuziline, aconitine and 10-OH-mesaconitine. The established DART MS approach in combination with multivariate data analysis provides a very flexible and reliable method for quality assessment of toxic herbal medicine.

Screening and Determination for Potential α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors from Leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms by Using UF‐LC/MS and ESI‐MSn

INTRODUCTION Acanthopanax senticosus Harms is a typical Chinese herb with flavonoids existing in all parts of the plant but with the largest content in leaves. However, leaves have been neglected in past research. To investigate the potential use of leaves of A. senticosus Harms for discovering lead compounds to treat type 2 diabetes, the herb leaves were selected for screening the potential of α-glucosidase inhibitors. OBJECTIVE To screen for candidates of α-glucosidase inhibitors from leaves of A. senticosus Harms and evaluate the structure-activity relationship of the α-glucosidase inhibitors. METHODOLOGY Ultrafiltration liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UF-LC/MS) assay was developed for screening candidates of α-glucosidase inhibitors from leaves of A. senticosus Harms. The interesting compounds were identified by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and electrospray ionisation multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n) ), and confirmed by using electrospray ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance multiple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR-MS(n)). Furthermore, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the compounds detected was estimated using in vitro assays. RESULTS Eight compounds that might bind to α-glucosidase were screened and seven of them were identified successfully. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the related compounds in leaves of A. senticosus Harms was determined. CONCLUSION The results obtained provided new information for the discovery of potential α-glucosidase inhibitors and the potential anti-diabetic application of the leaves of A. senticosus Harms.

Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry inhibitors fishing assay: A novel method for simultaneously screening of xanthine oxidase inhibitor and superoxide anion scavenger in a single analysis

Xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitors and superoxide anion scavengers play an important role in the treatment of gout and the inhibition of many diseases related to superoxide anion. The respective quantitation of uric acid and superoxide anion by traditional spectroscopic methods is routine in XOD inhibitors and superoxide anion scavengers screening at laboratories worldwide. In the present study, we established an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TQ-MS) method of higher accuracy and speed that combines screening of superoxide anion scavenger and XOD inhibitor in a single analysis by adding WST-1 (2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium sodium salt) to the enzymatic reaction. We applied the established method to determine the XOD inhibitory activities and superoxide scavenging activities of some herbal extracts and compounds from natural products, which could be classified into six groups based on the results of the assay. Our innovative protocol is fast, accurate and robust. Moreover, it can eliminate false positive and false negative results which may occur in the traditional spectroscopic methods.