Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry coupled with three-step data post-processing techniques for comprehensive profiling of the multiple components in Fufang Xianzhuli Ye.

INTRODUCTION: Fufang Xianzhuli (FXZL) Ye, a classical formula of traditional Chinese medicine, is composed of Succus Bambusae, Houttuyniae herba, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Eriobotryae Folium, Platycodonis Radix, and peppermint oil. For many years, FXZL has been primarily utilised in China to treat cough and phlegm. The chemical composition of FXZL has not been reported, which seriously affects the safety of the clinical application. OBJECTIVE: To establish a systematic method for rapidly classifying and recognising the chemical constituents in the FXZL for the safety of the clinical application. METHODS: An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry coupled with a three-step data post-processing strategy was developed to screen the chemical constituents of FXZL. RESULTS: In this experiment, the diagnostic ions in FXZL were classified into six main compounds. A total of 106 compounds were unambiguously identified in FXZL based on their retention times, accurate masses, and tandem mass spectrometry data. These include 11 chlorogenic acids, three flavonoids, eight sesquiterpenoids, six organic acids, 65 triterpenoid saponins, and 13 other compounds. CONCLUSION: The chemical composition of FXZL was identified and summarised, providing useful information for quality control and a basis for further exploration of its active ingredients in vivo.

Protective effects of scutellarin against cerebral ischemia in rats: evidence for inhibition of the apoptosis-inducing factor pathway.

Scutellarin (Scu) is the major active principle (flavonoid) extracted from Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz, a Chinese herbal medicine. In this paper, we investigated the effects of Scu on brain injury through the inhibition of AIF-mediated apoptosis induced by transient focal brain ischemia in rats. Rats were treated with Scu for 7 d and then subjected to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 2 h of ischemia and 22 h of reperfusion, the infarct volume and the neurological deficit were determined by TTC staining and Longa's score. IN SITU end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragments (TUNEL) was employed to determine the degree of DNA fragmentation. NAD content and PARP activity in brain homogenate were determined. The expression of AIF in the nucleus was analyzed by Western blot. The present study showed that Scu significantly reduced the infarct volume and ameliorated the neurological deficit. An increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and a decrease in the NAD level were also observed after 2 h of ischemia and 22 h of reperfusion. At the same time, Scu (50 and 75 mg kg (-1), i. g.) treatment reversed brain NAD depletion and reduced DNA fragmentation. Scu also inhibited PARP overactivation and AIF translocation from the mitochondria to the nucleus following cerebral I/R. These findings suggested that the neuroprotective effects of Scu on brain ischemic injury-induced apoptosis might be associated with inhibition of PARP-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent translocation of AIF.