Wenyuan Liu

Wogonoside inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo via toll-like receptor 4 signal transduction

Wogonoside, one flavonoid derived from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been reported for its anti-inflammation activity; however, whether it can inhibit inflammation-induced angiogenesis is still unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of wogonoside on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Wogonoside suppressed the LPS-stimulated migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as well as microvessel sprouting from rat aortic rings in vitro. Moreover, wogonoside also inhibited LPS-stimulated vessel growth of Chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in vivo. The mechanism revealed that wogonoside inhibited LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) up-regulation and its downstream mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation, by decreasing the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. The results suggest that wogonoside inhibits LPS-induced angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, and that it might have a therapeutic potential for the diseases associated with the development of both inflammation and angiogenesis progress.

Systematic identification and quantification of tetracyclic monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids in Uncaria rhynchophylla and their fragmentations in Q-TOF-MS spectra

Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) is a species of Uncaria that is distributed mainly in China and Japan. In this study, the chemical constituents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and quinic acids, in UR have been systematically identified and quantified by a developed method of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS). Tetracyclic monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids (TMOAs) are characteristic compounds in this herb, and their fragmentations in Q-TOF-MS have been investigated. Diagnostic fragmentation ions (DFIs) were first delineated for isorhynchophylline-type (7S, C20-ethyl) and corynoxeine-type (7R, C20-vinyl) TMOAs, and these were used for identification of these alkaloids in UR. In this study, a total of 29 compounds, comprising 18 alkaloids, six flavonoids, and five quinic acids, were identified. Among them, there are four novel TMOAs, named as 22-O-β-glucopyranosyl isorhynchophyllic acid (10), 22-O-β-glucopyranosyl rhynchophyllic acid (11), 9-hydroxy isocorynoxeine (16), and 9-hydroxy corynoxeine (20), which have not been reported previously. Furthermore, eight marker compounds, namely chlorogenic acid (3), catechin (8), epicatechin (9), isocorynoxeine (24), rhynchophylline (25), isorhynchophylline (27), vincoside lactam (28), and corynoxeine (29), have been simultaneously quantified. The developed method has been validated and successfully applied to analyze three samples of UR from Jiangxi Province. The contents of the marker compounds have been detected and compared.

Subchronic toxicity and plasma pharmacokinetic studies on wogonin, a natural flavonoid, in Beagle dogs.

AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate subchronic toxicity and pharmacokinetic of wogonin using Beagle dog and to provide foundation for clinical applications of this promising anticancer agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS Wogonin was administered via intravenous infusion at dosages of 60, 30 and 15 mg/kg per day for 90 days followed by subchronic toxicity studies including general body parameters, hematological, plasma biochemical, histopathological, and viscera examinations. Dogs were given single intravenous injection of 20mg/kg wogonin followed by pharmacokinetic parameters estimating. RESULTS Dogs treated with wogonin showed no significant changes in organs compared with controls in the toxicological study. An innocuous dose was established to be 60 mg/kg, which was approximately 38.5 (body surface area) times higher than the dose (50mg/60 kg) used for human trials. The area under concentration-time curve (AUC(infinity)) was estimated to be 2137.9+/-231.4 ngh/ml, while the elimination half-life (t(1/2)) was 1.51+/-0.43 h in dogs treated with 20mg/kg wogonin. CONCLUSIONS Wogonin offered a wide margin of safety and had no organ toxicity for a long time intravenous administration in dogs.

Comparative analysis of three Callicarpa herbs using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and electrospray ionization-trap mass spectrometry method.

Three Callicarpa species, namely Callicarpa nudiflora Hook. et Arn., Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. and Callicarpa kwangtungensis Chun. are astringency and hemostasis herbs in the traditional Chinese medical systems. Despite their wide use in Chinese medicine, no report on system comparison on their chemical constituents is available so far. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and electrospray ionization trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-Trap MS) technique was used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the three Callicarpa herbs. Phenylpropanoid glycosides, flavonoids and organic acids were identified by comparing with reference standards or according to their MS/MS fragmentation behaviors. A total of 33 compounds were identified identified or tentatively identified, and 23 of them were reported from these herbs for the first time. Phenylpropanoid glycosides were featured in the three species with their types and contents presenting significant differences. Furthermore, quantitative analysis was conducted by determining four marker phenylpropanoid glycosides (forsythoside B (14), acteoside (15), poliumoside (19), isoacteoside (21)) and two flavonoids (luteolin (30), apigenin (32)). Three flavonoid glucuronides (luteolin-diglucuronide-glucuronide (5), luteolin-diglucuronide (12), apigenin-7-O-β-glucuronide (24)) were semi-quantified according to their corresponding aglycones. The total contents of the nine major compounds in the three species varied significantly from 8.92 to 40.89 mg/g.

Two new triterpenoid saponins from the root of Ilex pubescens

Two new triterpenoid saponins, named ilexsaponins B4 (1) and C (2), have been isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens. Their structures have been established as ilexgenin B 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(2 → 1)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(2 → 1)-β-d-xylopyranoside (1) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl spathodic acid 28-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2) by means of spectral and chemical methods.

Chemical constituents of Meconopsis horridula and their simultaneous quantification by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Meconopsis horridula Hook.f. Thoms has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to clear away heat, relieve pain, and mobilize static blood. In this study, a reliable method based on high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was established for the identification of components in this herb. A total of 40 compounds (including 17 flavonoids, 15 alkaloids, and eight phenylpropanoids) were identified or tentatively identified. Among them, 17 components were identified in the herb for the first time. Compound 39 appears to be a novel compound, which is confirmed as 3-(kaempferol-8-yl)-2,3-epoxyflavanone by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Moreover, seven major constituents were simultaneously quantified by the developed high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry method. The quantitative method was validated and quality parameters were established. The study provides a comprehensive approach for understanding this herbal medicine.

Analysis of the traditional medicine YiGan San by the fragmentation patterns of cadambine indole alkaloids using HPLC coupled with high-resolution MS.

YiGan San (YGS) has long been used in traditional Japanese and Chinese folk medicine and serves as a potent and novel therapeutic agent to treat Alzheimers disease. In the present study, a rapid and sensitive method based on HPLC coupled with diode-array detection and quadrupole TOF MS (Q-TOF-MS) was designed to reveal the chemical constituents of YGS. Thirty-six compounds were identified and assigned in YGS, including 14 alkaloids, nine γ-lactones, six flavonoids, three triterpenoid saponinares, two small molecular organic acids, and two other types of compounds. In addition, the accurate fragment weight and MS/MS fragmentation reactions of a subtype indole alkaloid in Uncariae ramulus cum uncis were summarized for the first time to realize rapid identification without reference substances. For the first time, 11 major constituents were comprehensively quantified with a HPLC coupled with triple-quadrupole MS method. A three-section switch was used to realize such multicomponent identification. The contents of saikosaponin B2 and isoliquiritin, which produce anti-inflammatory and antidepressant-like effects, were extremely different, up to 700 times, in two sources of YGS. The developed qualitative and quantitative method was proved to be precise, accurate, and reproducible.

Rapid characterization of caged xanthones in the resin of Garcinia hanburyi using multiple mass spectrometric scanning modes: The importance of biosynthetic knowledge based prediction

Although the anticancer activities of the resin of Garcinia hanburyi have been well demonstrated, the chemical composition of this medicinal plant is still not fully understood. In this study, a highly effective qualitative method was developed for rapidly profiling the target and non-target caged xanthones in the resin of G. hanburyi. This method mainly involves three steps as follows: (1) prediction of the possible unknown caged xanthones in the resin of G. hanburyi according to the structure characters of the known ones and some well established biosynthetic knowledge; (2) structure classification according to the diagnostic fragment ions (DFIs) of the known caged Garcinia xanthones; (3) detection and characterization of the target and non-target caged xanthones in the resin of G. hanburyi using multiple mass spectrometric (MS) scanning modes. By use of such procedures, mass spectrometric data can be used for confirming the rationally predicted chemical structure rather than sophisticated and time-consumed de novo structure elucidation of a completely unknown component. Finally, a total of 34 caged xanthones including 18 likely new ones from the resin of G. hanburyi were rapidly detected and characterized within one working day.

Characterization and simultaneous quantification of multiple constituents in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS

Abstract Aim To develop a sensitive and accurate analytical method for the profiling, identification and simultaneous quantification of the chemical constituents in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts. Methods A high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) method was established for the characterization and quantification of multi-constituents in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C 18 column using a detailed gradient program with 2% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Mass spectrometry was in the negative mode for identification, and a diode array detector was set at 283 nm for quantification. Results Eighteen compounds were identified, or tentatively identified, by comparing their retention times, UV and MS spectra with those of authentic compounds or literature data, including 12 flavonoids, 5 coumarins and a limonoid in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts. Twelve of the major compounds were determined simultaneously by HPLC-DAD. The fragmentation pathways of the authentic references were also investigated for the structural identification of the constituents in the extracts. There have been no reports on the simultaneous and comprehensive analysis of both the major and minor compounds in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts. Conclusions The method validation indicated that the developed analysis method could be employed as a rapid, effective technique for the structural characterization and simultaneous quantification of multi-constituents in this botanical extract. This work is expected to provide comprehensive information for the quality evaluation of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus extracts, which should be a valuable support for the further study and development of this raw material and its related medicinal products.

Simultaneous quantification of two canthinone alkaloids of Picrasma quassioides in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a rat pharmacokinetic study.

Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn. is used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation. Characteristic components of the medicinal extract are canthinone alkaloids. In this study, a sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for simultaneous quantification of two major canthinone alkaloids, 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one and 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, in rat plasma after oral administration of P. quassioides extract (200 mg/kg). The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column using acetonitrile-aqueous 0.1% formic acid (90:10, v/v) as the mobile phase. Plasma samples were prepared for analysis using a simple liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Analytes were detected using tandem mass spectrometry in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Method validation revealed excellent linearity over the range 1.25-900 ng/mL for 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one and 0.5-800 ng/mL for 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one with satisfactory intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy and recovery. Samples were stable under the conditions tested. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the analytes in rats showed that both canthinones were rapidly absorbed and that 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one was eliminated faster than 5-hydroxy-4-methoxycanthin-6-one.