UPLC-QTOF-MS-Based Metabolomics and Antioxidant Capacity of Codonopsis lanceolata from Different Geographical Origins.

Codonopsis lanceolata (C. lanceolata) has been commonly utilized as a therapeutic plant in traditional medicine. In this study, we examined variations in metabolites in C. lanceolata roots grown in different regions using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Multivariate analysis showed that the metabolite profiles of plants grown in Hoengseong and Jeongseon were more similar to each other than to that of C. lanceolata grown in Jeju. Most primary metabolites were present at higher levels in C. lanceolata grown in Jeju. In contrast, C. lanceolata grown in Hoengseong and Jeongseon had high levels of secondary metabolites such as phenylpropanoids and triterpenoid saponins, respectively. In addition, the bioactive compound content and antioxidant capacity of in C. lanceolata grown in Hoengseong and Jeongseon were observed to be higher than those of C. lanceolata grown in Jeju. This study suggests that metabolomics is an effective approach to investigate the difference of metabolite profiling in C. lanceolata from different geographical origins, and is useful for evaluating its pharmacological potential.

Metabolic Profiling of Chestnut Shell (Castanea crenata) Cultivars Using UPLC-QTOF-MS and Their Antioxidant Capacity.

The inner shell of the chestnut (Castanea crenata) has long been used in Asia as a medicinal herb for improving digestion and blood circulation, and treating diarrhea. However, most chestnut shells are now treated as waste materials in industrial peeling processes. In this study, we examined the metabolite variation among major cultivars of C. crenata shells using mass spectrometry. Among five representative cultivars, Okkwang, Porotan, and Ishizuuchi had higher levels of bioactive compounds, such as ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, flavonoids, and gallic acid derivatives. Their antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with their chemical composition. The byproducts (whole shells) from the industrial peeling process were re-evaluated in comparison with the inner shell, a rich source of phenolic compounds. The phenolic acids and flavonoid glucoside derivatives were significantly higher in the whole shells, whereas the levels of flavonoids were higher in the inner shells. In addition, the whole shell extracts significantly reduced cellular reactive oxygen species production compared to the inner shell extracts. This study demonstrated the different biochemical benefits of different C. crenata cultivars through metabolic profiling and suggests that the whole shell could be used as a functional ingredient, as it has the highest levels of bioactive products and antioxidant effects.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis pathway determines ferroptosis sensitivity in gastric cancer.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated necrosis mediated by lipid peroxidation. Cancer cells survive under metabolic stress conditions by altering lipid metabolism, which may alter their sensitivity to ferroptosis. However, the association between lipid metabolism and ferroptosis is not completely understood. In this study, we found that the expression of elongation of very long-chain fatty acid protein 5 (ELOVL5) and fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) is up-regulated in mesenchymal-type gastric cancer cells (GCs), leading to ferroptosis sensitization. In contrast, these enzymes are silenced by DNA methylation in intestinal-type GCs, rendering cells resistant to ferroptosis. Lipid profiling and isotope tracing analyses revealed that intestinal-type GCs are unable to generate arachidonic acid (AA) and adrenic acid (AdA) from linoleic acid. AA supplementation of intestinal-type GCs restores their sensitivity to ferroptosis. Based on these data, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis pathway plays an essential role in ferroptosis; thus, this pathway potentially represents a marker for predicting the efficacy of ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.

Metabolic Alterations in Two Cirsium Species Identified at Distinct Phenological Stages using UPLC-QTOF/MS.

INTRODUCTION: Cirsium chanroenicum and C. setidens are commonly used both in traditional folk medicine and as a food source. The quality of different species of Cirsium at different harvest times is a function of their metabolite composition, which is determined by the phenological stage. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the differences in the metabolite composition of two species of Cirsium during different phenological stages using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS). METHODOLOGY: Cirsium chanroenicum and C. setidens plants were collected at the floral budding and full flowering stages. Metabolic profiles of Cirsium extracts were determined using UPLC-QTOF/MS to characterise the differences between phenological stages, and the major metabolites were quantified using UPLC-QTOF/MS-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). RESULTS: At the full flowering stage, the levels of phenolic acids as well as components of the phenylpropanoid pathway were increased. Flavonoids predominated at the full flowering stage in both species. The levels of coumaric acid, kaempferol, and pectolinarigenin differed between the two species of Cirsium. Overall, these results suggest that components of the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway are upregulated in the full flowering stage in Cirsium, although we did observe some variation between the species. CONCLUSION: These results will help elucidate the metabolic pathways related to the different phases of the vegetative cycle, and may help determine the optimal season for the harvest of Cirsium with the highest levels of bioactive compounds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of green tea on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Green tea (GT) is a widely consumed beverage with health benefits, including antiobesity effects; however, the efficacy of GT on lipid levels associated with obesity is not clearly understood. Here, we examined the impact of GT consumption on lipid metabolism in the livers of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. We performed lipid profiling using ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in C57BL/6J mice fed a normal diet (ND), HFD and HFD with GT for 12 weeks. The partial least squares discriminant analysis score plot showed a difference among the groups and revealed that the levels of several lipid metabolites were altered in mice fed HFD with GT. The decreased levels of lysophospholipids (LPLs), such as lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylserine, in HFD mice compared to those of the ND group were recovered by supplementation of GT. In agreement with these lipid metabolites changes, hepatic lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2/4 was significantly increased in HFD mice. This study showed abnormal changes in lipid species associated with obesity, and these levels were attenuated by GT intake, suggesting a relationship between the reduction of hepatic LPL levels and inflammation in obesity.