Phytochemical Analysis最新文献

Introduction: Terpenes, which are found in high concentrations in the essential oil fraction of the Cannabis sativa flower, have demonstrated potential in many therapeutic and industrial applications.

Objectives: This work reports on a method developed for quantifying 18 terpenes in C. sativa essential oil obtained through hydrodistillation. The following method has been evaluated for specificity, selectivity, accuracy, linearity, precision, stability, limit of detection, and limit of quantification.

Materials and methods: Samples were prepared by separating the essential oil fraction through hydrodistillation and then diluting with ethyl acetate containing a 100 μg/mL solution of n-tridecane and octadecane as internal standards. Analysis was performed on a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM).

Results: The developed method enabled quantification of isomers of nerolidol and ocimene and several coeluting compounds, with recoveries of 87.35%-116.61%. Two cultivars of C. sativa flower were evaluated, and the dominant terpene compounds in both cultivars were β-myrcene (5.85-8.62 mg/g dried plant) and β-caryophyllene (3.89-4.69 mg/g), followed by α-humulene (1.35-1.99 mg/g), limonene (0.91-1.33 mg/g), and α-bisabolol (0.66-0.68 mg/g).

Conclusion: This method provides an accurate and reliable procedure for separating and quantifying the major terpene compounds in C. sativa flower using hydrodistillation and GCMS with SIM. The simplicity and solvent-free nature of the hydrodistillation extraction, combined with the specificity and accuracy of using SIM and external standards, enables the determination of total and individual terpenes concentrations within plant material and supports numerous industrial and therapeutic applications.

Introduction: The quality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a prerequisite for clinical efficacy. However, the existing quality evaluation methods are not strongly correlated with efficacy, and they are unable to adequately reflect the quality grade of Changii Radix (CR).

Objectives: In this study, a biology-related chemical indicator quality grading prediction model was developed to predict the quality grade of CR.

Materials and methods: Firstly, the quality grade of CR was pre-classified based on immunological activity. Subsequently, one-way analysis of variance, gray correlation analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to identify the chemical indicators associated with immunological activity. Finally, separately using chemical indicators as independent variables and quality grades as dependent variables, the logistic regression model and a multi-index weighted quality comprehensive evaluation index (QCEI) were constructed to predict the quality grade of CR.

Results: The results indicated that 27 batches of CR samples could be divided into three grades of I, II, and III. The gray correlation degrees and Pearson correlation coefficients between water-soluble extractives, polysaccharide, amino acid, and immunological activity all exceeded 0.8 and 0.4 (p < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, both the logistic regression model and QCEI could effectively predict the quality grade of CR, with the logistic regression model showing superior performance.

Conclusion: This study is the first to establish a chemistry-biology integrated strategy for evaluating the quality grade of CR, providing a novel insight into the assessment of TCM quality grade.

Introduction: Berberis fortunei Lindl. (BF) is a medicinal plant widely utilized in East Asia. However, the chemical components present in its roots, stems, and leaves have not been systematically analyzed and compared. The specific active ingredients that inhibit HT29 colorectal cancer cells are still unclear.

Objective: The aim of this study is to comprehensively analyze the chemical compositions of BF's roots, stems, and leaves and to evaluate their biological function against HT29 cells.

Methodology: GC-IMS and LC-QTOF-MS were employed to analyze the volatile and nonvolatile components of BF, respectively. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of extracts and compounds from BF on HT29 cells. A network analysis based on molecular docking was conducted to identify the potential targets of compounds.

Results: A total of 77 volatile components and 116 nonvolatile components were identified in the roots, stems, and leaves of BF. The inhibitory activity of different parts of BF against HT29 cells followed the order: roots > stems > leaves. Protoberberine-type alkaloids showed more pronounced effects at 24 h, whereas bisbenzylisoquinoline-type alkaloids demonstrated stronger activity at 48 h. Network analysis based on molecular docking revealed significant differences in the pathways targeted by the two types of alkaloids.

Conclusion: This study not only comprehensively analyzed the compositions of BF but also examined its biological function in inhibiting HT29 cells, laying a theoretical foundation for its further development and application. The findings provide diverse lead compounds for the subsequent development of drugs against colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Despite significant advances in analytical methods, the quality evaluation and adulteration detection of chemically complex traditional Chinese medicines continues to be a major challenge.

Objectives: We developed a custom diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) approach for the qualitative analysis of precious Calculus Bovis (CB) and detection of its adulterants.

Methods: Using Artificial Calculus Bovis as an example, we focused on the effects of NMR spectrometers, solvent viscosity, matrices, matrix concentration, and temperature on separation efficiency of DOSY. The optimal conditions also successfully applied for the identification of Natural Calculus Bovis, Calculus Bovis Sativus, and adulterated samples. The accuracy of DOSY was verified by ¹³C NMR.

Results: Via inspection of NMR spectrometers, solvents, matrices, matrix concentration, and temperature, the optimal conditions for DOSY experiments of CB were found to be using methanol-d₄ as the solvent, adding 4 mg of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the matrix, and a temperature of 298 K. Under these conditions, five types of compounds, cholic acid (CA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), taurine-conjugated bile acids (tBAs), and glycine-conjugated bile acids (gBAs), were unequivocally identified in three types of CB. ¹³C NMR validated the accuracy of the DOSY results. As for the sugar-adulterated CB, the signals of sugar could be clearly identified on the DOSY spectrum.

Conclusions: This study verified the feasibility of DOSY for the quality evaluation of CB and provided a reference point for future qualitative and quantitative analysis of other complex traditional Chinese medicines, as well as the characterization of adulterated samples.

Introduction: Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), also known as Chenpi in Chinese, is the dry mature peel of Citrus reticulata Blanco or its cultivated varieties. CRP as the health-care food and dietary supplement has been widely used in various diseases. The quality of CRP can be affected by various factors, which are closely related to the metabolite composition of CRP.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis on the chemical profiling of 51 C. reticulata samples of eight medicinal varieties, grown in different areas, and provide a methodological reference for the study of pharmacodynamic material bases and quality control of C. reticulata.

Methodology: Initially, a comprehensive characterization was performed using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and a heatmap visualization was employed for clarifying the distribution of the annotated active ingredients. Furthermore, obtained chemical profiles data were employed in multivariate statistical methods, comprising principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least-squares-discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA).

Results: A total of 42 chemical components were annotated in positive ion mode. The relative contents were evident differences in the active ingredients of medicinal varieties of C. reticulata; mostly, polymethoxy flavones (PMFs) in C. reticulata "Dahongpao" were more abundant; among them, nobiletin and tangeretin are the main active ingredients in CRP. In addition, the relative contents of chemical constituents of C. reticulata "Dahongpao" and C. reticulata "Unshiu" from different areas were less variable. Compared with production origins, the varieties of C. reticulata had a greater impact on quality.

Conclusion: This work obtains a better understanding of the chemical profiles of medicinal varieties of C. reticulata, facilitated the reasonable applicability and quality control of medicinal varieties of C. reticulata.

Introduction: Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) varies widely due to varying concentrations of phytochemicals and geographical origin. Rapid non-invasive quality and traceability assessment techniques ensure a sustainable value chain.

Objective: The objective of this study is the development of suitable machine learning models to estimate the concentration of 6-gingerol and check traceability based on the spectral fingerprints of dried ginger samples collected from Northeast India and the Indian market using near-infrared spectrometry.

Methods: Samples from the market and Northeast India underwent High Performance Liquid Chromatographic analysis for 6-gingerol content estimation. Near infrared (NIR) Spectrometer acquired spectral data. Quality prediction utilized partial least square regression (PLSR), while fingerprint-based traceability identification employed principal component analysis and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). Model performance was assessed using RMSE and R² values across selective wavelengths and spectral fingerprints.

Results: The standard normal variate pretreated spectral data over the wavelength region of 1,100-1,250 nm and 1,325-1,550 nm showed the optimal calibration model with root mean square error of calibration and R² _C (coefficient of determination for calibration) values of 0.87 and 0.897 respectively. A lower value (0.24) of root mean square error of prediction and a higher value (0.973) of R² _P (coefficient of determination for prediction) indicated the effectiveness of the developed model. t-SNE performed better clustering of samples based on geographical location, which was independent of gingerol content.

Conclusion: The developed NIR spectroscopic model for Indian ginger samples predicts the 6-gingerol content and provides geographical traceability-based identification to ensure a sustainable value chain, which can promote efficiency, cost-effectiveness, consumer confidence, sustainable sourcing, traceability, and data-driven decision-making.

Introduction: Codonopsis Radix is a beneficial traditional Chinese medicine, and triterpenoid are the major bioactive constituents. Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen (CPM) is a precious variety of Codonopsis Radix, which is distributed at high mountain areas. The environment plays an important role in the synthesis and metabolism of active ingredients in medicinal plants, but there is no report elaborating on the effect of altitude on terpenoid metabolites accumulation in CPM.

Objectives: This study aims to analyse the effects of altitude on triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways and secondary metabolite accumulation in CPM.

Material and methods: The untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and 10 triterpenoids based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method were analysed at the low-altitude (1480 m) and high-altitude (2300 m) CPM fresh roots. The transcriptome based on high-throughput sequencing technology were combined to analyse the different altitude CPM triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways.

Results: A total of 17,351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 55 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected from the different altitude CPM, and there are significant differences in the content of the 10 triterpenoids. The results of transcriptome study showed that CPM could significantly up-regulate the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes in the triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway.

Conclusions: The CPM at high altitude is more likely to accumulate triterpenes than those at low altitude, which was related to the up-regulation of the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes. These results expand our understanding of how altitude affects plant metabolite biosynthesis.

Introduction: Licorice, the dried roots and rhizomes of the Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., holds a prominent status in various formulations within the realm of Chinese medicinal practices. The traditional processing methods of licorice hinder quality assurance, thus prompting Chinese medicine researchers to focus on the fresh processing methods to enhancing processing efficiency and quality.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the differential compounds of licorice between traditional and fresh processing methods and provide a scientific basis for the fresh processing of licorice and for further research on the processing mechanism.

Methodology: A methodology integrating ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical analysis was employed to characterize the differential compounds present in licorice between traditional processing and fresh processing.

Results: The results derived from principal component analysis and heat map analyses underscored significant differences in the content of bioactive compounds between the two processing methods. By applying conditions of VIP > 1.5 and p < 0.05, a total of 38 differential compounds were identified through t tests, and the transformation mechanisms of select compounds were illustrated.

Conclusion: The adoption of fresh processing techniques not only improved processing efficiency but also significantly enhanced the preservation of bioactive compounds within licorice. This research has established a rapid and efficient analytical method for the identification of differential compounds present in differently processed licorice products.

Introduction: Determining the bittering profile of hops is a prerequisite for their use in beer making industry. To fully grasp the brewing potential of Corsican hops, it is therefore essential to perform a precise quantification of the molecules responsible for their bittering power.

Objective: The aim of this study is highlighting of the bittering profile of Corsican hops.

Methodology: A method for the characterization and quantification of α-acids, β-acids, and phenolic compounds in Corsican hops using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed. In addition to the six α- and β-acids commonly quantified in hops, seven others hop acids were identified using a new methodology based on the analysis of their fragmentation pattern in full-scan detection mode. The compounds were then quantified as humulone or lupulone equivalents. Subsequently, a metabolomic analysis of hop cones was conducted using the method of molecular networking.

Results: A total of 28 compounds were quantified. The influence of both annual climate variations and transplantation on the chemical composition of hops extractives was highlighted. The molecular network elucidation led to the identification of 34 compounds. Among them, eight were previously undescribed in hops, including one previously unknown to the literature.

Conclusion: The methodologies developed in this study have shed light on the "bittering" potential of Corsican hops which represents a significant economic opportunity for the local brewing industry potentially establishing a new, sustainable, and profitable hops market. This work focuses extensively on the phenolic compounds and the bittering acids of Corsican hops, aiming to highlight their unique organoleptic characteristics and the influence of the Corsican terroir on their chemical composition and abundance.

Introduction: Fructus Gardeniae (ZZ), a traditional Chinese herb, has been used in treating patients with jaundice, inflammation, etc. When mixed with ginger juice and stir-baked, ginger juice-processed Fructus Gardeniae (JZZ) is produced, and the chemical compositions in ZZ would be changed by adding the ginger juice.

Objective: To illuminate the differential components between ZZ and JZZ.

Methods: HPLC, UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and Heracles NEO ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose were applied to identify the differential components between ZZ and JZZ.

Results: HPLC fingerprints of ZZ and JZZ were established, and 24 common peaks were found. The content determination results showed that the contents of shanzhiside, geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside and geniposide increased, while the contents of crocin I and crocin II decreased in JZZ. By UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS, twenty-six possible common components were inferred, among which 11 components were different. In further investigation, eight components were identified as the possible distinctive non-volatile compounds between ZZ and JZZ. By Heracles NEO ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose, four substances were inferred as the possible distinctive volatile compounds in JZZ.

Conclusion: Shanzhiside, caffeic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide, rutin, crocin I, crocin II, and 4-Sinapoyl-5-caffeoylquinic acid were identified as the possible differential non-volatile components between ZZ and JZZ. Aniline, 3-methyl-3-sulfanylbutanol-1-ol, E-3-octen-2-one, and decyl propaonate were inferred as the possible distinctive volatile compounds in JZZ. This experiment explored a simple approach with objective and stable results, which would provide new ideas for studying decoction pieces with similar morphological appearance, especially those with different odors.