Hongmei Wu

RP-HPLC Characterization of Lupenone and β-Sitosterol in Rhizoma Musae and Evaluation of the Anti-Diabetic Activity of Lupenone in Diabetic Sprague-Dawley Rats

With the aim of characterizing the active ingredients lupenone and β-sitosterol in Rhizoma Musae samples a reversed-phase HPLC method for the separation of these two compounds in Rhizoma Musae samples was developed (regression coefficient > 0.9996). The method was further applied to quantify lupenone and β-sitosterol content in Rhizoma Musae samples cultured in different growth environments. Different variables such as geographical location, growth stage, and harvest time, demonstrated differential effects on lupenone and β-sitosterol levels. Moreover, we determined the optimum conditions for cultivation and harvesting of Rhizoma Musae herbs. Lupenone administration caused a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in diabetic rats at doses of 1.78, 5.33, and 16.00 mg·kg−1·day−1 for 14 days, the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of diabetic rats also significantly reduced at doses of 5.33, and 16.00 mg·kg−1·day−1, indicating a robust antidiabetic activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an optimized HPLC method successfully applied to quantify lupenone and β-sitosterol, and its applicability in optimizing Rhizoma Musae growth. Animal experiments also showed for the first time that lupenone from Rhizoma Musae has anti-diabetic activity.

Determination of lupenone and β-sitosterol in Rhizoma Musae by UPLC with DAD and ELSD.

Rhizoma Musae has been used for centuries in Miao medicine practice in China, and it usually uses for treating diabetes and bruises. In this study, lupenone and β-sitosterol in Rhizoma Musae were separated by reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography (RP-UPLC) and simultaneously detected by a diode array detector (DAD) and an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) using methanol and 0.1% aqueous acetic acid (100 : 4, v/v) as a mobile phase in 20 min. The flow rate of 0.1 mL/min was set with isocratic, the temperature of column compartment maintained at 50°C and ultraviolet detection set at 206 nm wavelength. The injection volume was 1.0 µL. The parameter for the ELSD was set to a probe temperature of 45°C, and the nebulizer for nitrogen gas was adjusted to 1.5 L/min. The RP-UPLC method was validated for accuracy, precision, limit of detection and limit of quantification. It applied to the quantification of the active chemical constituents of Rhizoma Musae, and results indicated that both DAD and ELSD were suitable for the determination of lupenone and β-sitosterol, and the DAD has a better sensitivity than the ELSD.

Beneficial health effects of lupenone triterpene: A review

There are a large number of new structure compounds with good pharmacological activity in the natural plants, can be applied to the treatment of human diseases. Finding active ingredients from the plants is one of the important ways to develop new drugs. Triterpenes are widespread in plants, and lupenone belongs to lupane type triterpenoids. Lupenone is very common natural ingredient distributed in multi-family plants including Asteraceae, Balanophoraceae, Cactaceae, Iridaceae, Musaceae, Urticaceae, Leguminosae, Bombacaceae, etc., but its distribution has no regular. The consumption of lupenone in vegetarian diet is high in human life. Pharmacological screening of lupenone revealed various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-virus, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, improving Chagas disease without major toxicity. Based on these important pharmacological activities, this review provides detailed account of pre-clinical studies conducted to determine the utility of lupenone as a therapeutic and chemopreventive agent for the treatment of various diseases.

Determination of the Volatile Constituents in Banana Flowers and Bracts by Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry

The volatile constituents in banana flowers and banana bracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, coupled with headspace solid-phase microextraction. A quantitative analysis in percent was performed by peak area normalization measurements. 31 compounds were identified in banana flowers accounting for 97.78% of the total volatiles and 16 compounds were identified in banana bracts accounting for 93.54% of the total volatiles. Nonanal was the highest ingredient in banana flowers and banana bracts (72.67% and 48.77 %, respectively). The two herbs have 11 mutual compounds, accounting for 91.79% and 90.62% of total volatile components in banana flowers and bracts, respectively. Some of volatile compounds in two herbs with high concentration were hexanal, 2-pentyl-furan, octanal, isoamyl butyrate, nonanal. The study could provide a method to indentify and compare the difference of the volatile components in the flowers and bracts.

GC--MS analysis of Japanese Banana Flower without pollen and Pollen

The Japanese banana flower and pollen were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique, coupled with head-space solid micro-extraction (HS-SPME). The relative percentage of compounds were measured by retention index and peak area normalization method. A total of 48 volatiles were identified in Japanese banana flower without pollen. Forty volatiles were identified in Japanese banana pollen.There were 20 compounds we found in both flower and pollen, accounting for 34.35% and 49.99% of thetotal volatiles, respectively. It can be seen the compounds between flowers andpollen were different apparently. This is the first ever report revealing the differences of volatile components between the Japanese banana flower without pollen and pollen.

Determination of the Volatiles in Opuntia dillenii by Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

In China, fresh and dried Opuntia dillenii are treated as two different herbal products. Since volatile compounds are often responsible for medicinal properties, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with solid-phase microextraction was employed for the determination of these components in fresh and dried Opuntia dillenii. In fresh Opuntia dillenii, a total of 43 volatiles were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, and alkanes. Twenty-one volatiles were determined in dried Opuntia dillenii. Thirty compounds were present in both fresh and dried material, accounting for 78.30% and 68.44% of the volatiles, respectively. The volatiles present at the highest concentrations were hexanal, nonanal, and (E)-2-decenal.