A Discovery-Based Metabolomic Approach Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Reveals Potential Antimalarial Compounds Present in Artemisia annua L.

In 1972, Nobel laureate Youyou Tu's research team conducted clinical trials on the dried material of Artemisia annua L. from Beijing extracted by ether and then treated with alkali (called "ether neutral dry"), which showed that artemisinin was not the only antimalarial component contained. The biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids in A. annua has increased exponentially after unremitting cultivation efforts, and the plant resources are now quite different from those in the 1970s. In consideration of emerging artemisinin resistance, it is of great theoretical and practical value to further study the antimalarial activity of A. annua and explore its causes. The purpose of this study is to clarify scientific questions, such as "What ingredients are synergistic with artemisinin in A. annua?", and "Are there non-artemisinin antimalarial ingredients in A. annua?". In this paper, Beijing wild A. annua was used as a control and two representative cultivation species of A. annua were selected to evaluate the antimalarial activity of the herbal medicine. The antimalarial activity of different extracts on mice was studied using the Peters' four-day suppressive test. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to obtain mass spectrum data for all samples, and a UNIFI platform was used for identification. A multivariate statistical method was used to screen the different compounds with positive correlations. The antimalarial activity of different components from the ether extract and alkali treatments was determined and antimalarial components other than artemisinin were obtained. A total of 24 flavonoids, 68 sesquiterpenoids and 21 other compounds were identified. Compounds associated with differential antimalarial activity were identified. The material basis for the antimalarial activity of A. annua was clarified. The antimalarial components of A. annua include two categories: first, artemisinin and non-artemisinin antimalarial active components, of which the non-artemisinin antimalarial active components may include 5α-hydroperoxy-eudesma-4(15),11-diene; second, several antimalarial synergistic ingredients in A. annua, including arteanniun B, arteanniun B analogues and polymethoxy flavonoids.

Safety evaluation of Semen Sojae Preparatum based on simultaneous LC-ESI-MS/MS quantification of aflatoxin B1 , B2 , G1 , G2 and M1.

Semen Sojae Preparatum (SSP) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines, and is also a functional food. However, contamination with aflatoxins may occur in the fermentation process. To evaluate its safety, an accurate and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of AFB1 , AFB2 , AFG1 , AFG2 and AFM1 in SSP. After a simple ultrasonic extraction of SSP samples, chromatographic separation was achieved on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3.5 µm) with a flow rate of 0.50 mL/min. The gradient elution program was performed using a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% formic acid. Detection of five aflatoxins was based on triple quadrupole mass spectrometry using a multiple reaction monitoring mode with an electrospray ionization source. SSP is likely to be contaminated by aflatoxins in the processes of fermentation, storage, transportation and usage, and it is necessary to strictly monitor it. Artemisia annua L. and Morus alba L. may inhibit the production and growth of AFB1 - and AFB2 -producing fungi, which has a certain detoxification effect on contamination with aflatoxins in SSP.

Simultaneous Quantification of Five Sesquiterpene Components after Ultrasound Extraction in Artemisia annua L. by an Accurate and Rapid UPLC⁻PDA Assay.

Objective: To develop an accurate and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with a photodiode array (PDA) method for the simultaneous determination of artemisinin (Art), arteannuin B (Art B), arteannuin C (Art C), dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) and artemisinic acid (AA) in Artemisia annua L. Methodology: Chromatography separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 Column with isocratic elution; the mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A) and acetonitrile (B) (A:B = 40:60, v/v). Data were recorded at an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength of 191 nm for Art, Art C, DHAA and AA, and 206 nm for Art B. Results: The calibration curves of the five sesquiterpene components were all linear with correlation coefficients more than 0.9990. The linear ranges were 31.44-1572 µg/mL, 25.48-1274 µg/mL, 40.56-2028 µg/mL, 31.44-1572 µg/mL and 26.88-1396 µg/mL for Art, Art B, Art C, DHAA and AA, respectively. The precision ranged from 0.08% to 2.88%, the stability was from 0.96% to 1.66%, and the repeatability was all within 2.42% and had a mean extraction recovery of 96.5% to 100.6%. Conclusion: The established UPLC-PDA method would be valuable for improving the quantitative analysis of sesquiterpene components in Artemisia annua L.

[History of processing of Sojae Semen Praeparatum].

Sojae Semen Praeparatum (SSP) is commonly used as a type of dietetic Chinese herb. By collecting and analyzing ancient and recent literatures, a textual criticism was conducted on the historical evolution of the processing of SSP. Fermented soybean was recorded in Shijing, and relevant rational processing was described in Qimin Yaoshu. In the early time, fermented soybean included the type of "salty" and "light". After the Ming Dynasty, "light" fermented soybean or SSP was recognized as a better medicinal matter than salty fermented soybean, and the fermentation processing was recorded more clearly. In modern time, many characteristic methods for processing SSP have been developed. Today, the processing of SSP is mainly based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which records soybean as a main ingredient and Artemisiae Annuae Herba, Mori Folium as excipients.

Oral Bioavailability Comparison of Artemisinin, Deoxyartemisinin, and 10-Deoxoartemisinin Based on Computer Simulations and Pharmacokinetics in Rats.

Deoxyartemisinin, a compound separated from Artemisinin annua L., shows anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities. 10-Deoxoartemisinin is a novel compound with a strong antimalarial effect derivatized from artemisinin. Compared to the famous antimalarial natural compound artemisinin, deoxyartemisinin lacks the peroxide bridge structure, while 10-deoxoartemisinin remains this special peroxide bridge group but loses the 10-position keto group. To clarify their pharmacological differences, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) properties of artemisinin, deoxyartemisinin, and 10-deoxoartemisinin were first predicted using QikProp software. Also, their pharmacokinetic behaviors in rats were further evaluated by a rapid, sensitive, and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method after oral and intravenous administration of each compound, in which deoxyartemisinin and 10-deoxoartemisinin were first evaluated for their pharmacokinetics. All parameters about ADME properties calculated by software met the criteria and the ADME performance order was 10-deoxoartemisinin > deoxyartemisinin > artemisinin. The oral bioavailability of artemisinin was calculated to be 12.2 ± 0.832%, which was about 7 times higher than that of deoxyartemisinin (1.60 ± 0.317%). For 10-deoxoartemisinin, its bioavailability (26.1 ± 7.04%) was superior to artemisinin at a degree of more than twice. Considering their chemical structures, losing the peroxide bridge might decrease the absorption rate of deoxyartemisinin in the gastrointestinal tract, while retaining the peroxide bridge but losing the 10-position ketone might improve the bioavailability of 10-deoxoartemisinin.