Simultaneous Determination of 32 Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Two Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations by UPLC-MS/MS.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) constitute a class of phytotoxin which demonstrates strong hepatotoxicity. In China, many plants containing PAs are used as traditional medicines or medicinal preparations, which could harm human health and safety. Xiaoyao Tablet (XYT) is an antidepressant drug registered in the European Union (EU), Compound Danshen Dropping Pills (CDDP) is a commonly used drug for coronary heart disease, and phase III clinical study is ongoing in the United States. The purpose of this study is to provide data to support the use of Chinese medicine preparations internationally and to establish analytical methods for 32 PAs in XYT and CDDP. The extraction parameters that were optimized include solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, extraction method, and extraction solvent. Then ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole linear ion-traptandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed to effectively and efficiently quantify the 32 PAs of the XYT and CDDP. The analytical methods for XYT and CDDP were verified respectively. For XYT, the analytical method for 32 PAs was linear, and the correlation coefficient r was greater than 0.994; the recovery (REC%) at 10-2000 µg/kg was 73.3%-118.5%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) was 2.1%-15.4%. The CDDP REC% was 71.8%-112.0%, and the RSD% was 2.0%-17.1%. This study provides technical and data support for the registration of Chinese patented medicines in the EU, controls quality and ensures safety, and is committed to the internationalization and standardization of Chinese patented medicines.

Traditional use and safety evaluation of combination Traditional Chinese Medicine in European registration: with XiaoYao Tablets as an example.

Mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia caused by COVID-19 have attracted worldwide attention. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been proven to be a safe and effective option for treating mental health disorders. Recently, after assessing its efficacy and safety fully, the Netherlands Medicines Evaluation Board approved XiaoYao Tablets as a traditional herbal medicinal product (THMP), indicated for an alternative self-care for patients in Europe to relieve the symptoms of mental stress and exhaustion. Despite the fact that TCMs have gradually become one of the therapeutic choices worldwide, to-date, only a few TCMs have been successfully registered in the European Union (EU) as THMPs, and XiaoYao Tablets is the first successfully registered combination TCM from China. In this article, traditional use efficacy and clinical safety of XiaoYao Tablets in the treatment of mental health disorders were summarized and analyzed from the perspective of traditional use registration (TUR). Additionally a safety evolution pathway of combination TCMs was established. This article will not only seek to enhance our understanding about traditional use efficacy and clinical safety of XiaoYao Tablets, but also summarize the experience of XiaoYao Tablets as the first successfully registered combination TCM from China, which could serve as role model for the others to overcome registration difficulties in the EU.

[Study of intelligent manufacturing quality digitalization of traditional Chinese medicine and practice on Compound Danshen Dripping Pills].

China healthcare industry has gradually developed the consumer-centric integrated service model. To satisfy consumers' increasing demands on pluralistic, personalized and transparent healthcare services, pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises must provide high-quality, precise and flexible medicines. This can be achieved by accelerating implementation of intelligent manufacturing, which is the core competitiveness of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises. According to the authors' intelligent manufacturing projects in a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) factory, study and industrial practice on intelligent manufacturing were presented in this paper. First, the quality digitalization-based intelligent manufacturing methodology of TCM was proposed in this paper. The methodology mainly included three digitalized technologies in process and quality design, manufacturing process control and product batch evaluation. Next, the architectural design of intelligent manufacturing systems in one TCM factory was introduced, and the functional modules and data transmission relationships covering seedling, cultivation, herbal slices, preparation, storage and quality management systems were described. Finally, these technologies were fully used, and an integrated quality digitalization system was successfully established in the production workshop of a TCM product Compound Danshen Dripping Pills. The actual operation and application of process analyzers, supervisory control and data acquisition(SCADA), manufacturing execution system(MES), data analysis system, and enterprise resource planning system(ERP) were introduced. This paper provides reference for technical path planning and systematic architecture of TCM intelligent manufacturing.

[Intelligent and lean manufacturing for Chinese medicine:theory and its applications].

To cope with the " six major scientific problems" and the " five major technical challenges" of intelligent manufacturing and lean production of Chinese medicine( CM),we systematically proposed strategies,methods and the engineering theory of intelligent and lean manufacturing for CM by integrating the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine and the concepts inspired from international advanced pharmaceutical technology. Moreover,the translational research of the theory and methods was successfully applied to six CMs such as Xuesaitong Injection. Several intelligent production lines were designed and built on the basis of the theory and methods,which greatly accelerated the digitalization,networking,and intelligence manufacture for CM. As a conclusion,the theory and applications provide technical demonstration for technical upgrading and high-quality development of CM industry.

[Monitoring method of extraction process for Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus based on near infrared spectroscopy and multivariate statistical process control].

To establish an on-line monitoring method for extraction process of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, the formula medicinal material of Yiqi Fumai lyophilized injection by combining near infrared spectroscopy with multi-variable data analysis technology. The multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) model was established based on 5 normal batches in production and 2 test batches were monitored by PC scores, DModX and Hotelling T2 control charts. The results showed that MSPC model had a good monitoring ability for the extraction process. The application of the MSPC model to actual production process could effectively achieve on-line monitoring for extraction process of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, and can reflect the change of material properties in the production process in real time. This established process monitoring method could provide reference for the application of process analysis technology in the process quality control of traditional Chinese medicine injections.

Nontargeted metabolomics approach for the differentiation of cultivation ages of mountain cultivated ginseng leaves using UHPLC/QTOF-MS.

The adulteration or falsification of the cultivation age of mountain cultivated ginseng (MCG) has been a serious problem in the commercial MCG market. To develop an efficient discrimination tool for the cultivation age and to explore potential age-dependent markers, an optimized ultra high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS)-based metabolomics approach was applied in the global metabolite profiling of 156 MCG leaf (MGL) samples aged from 6 to 18 years. Multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to compare the derived patterns between MGL samples of different cultivation ages. The present study demonstrated that 6-18-year-old MGL samples can be successfully discriminated using two simple successive steps, together with four PLS-DA discrimination models. Furthermore, 39 robust age-dependent markers enabling differentiation among the 6-18-year-old MGL samples were discovered. The results were validated by a permutation test and an external test set to verify the predictability and reliability of the established discrimination models. More importantly, without destroying the MCG roots, the proposed approach could also be applied to discriminate MCG root ages indirectly, using a minimum amount of homophyletic MGL samples combined with the established four PLS-DA models and identified markers. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which 6-18-year-old MCG root ages have been nondestructively differentiated by analyzing homophyletic MGL samples using UHPLC/QTOF-MS analysis and two simple successive steps together with four PLS-DA models. The method developed in this study can be used as a standard protocol for discriminating and predicting MGL ages directly and homophyletic MCG root ages indirectly.

Salvianolic Acids for Injection (SAFI) suppresses inflammatory responses in activated microglia to attenuate brain damage in focal cerebral ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory reactions induced by microglia in the brain play crucial roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) cerebral injuries. Microglia activation has been shown to be closely related to TLR4/NF-κB signal pathways. Salvianolic acids for injection (SAFI) have been used in clinical practice to treat ischemic stroke with reported neuroprotective effects; however, the underlying mechanisms are still uncertain. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: First, we studied the effect of SAFI on inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Then, to discover whether the beneficial in vitro effects of SAFI lead to in vivo therapeutic effects, an MCAO (Middle cerebral artery occlusion) rat model was further employed to elucidate the probable mechanism of SAFI in treating ischemic stroke. Rats in the SAFI group were given SAFI (23 or 46mg/kg) before I/R injury. RESULTS: The results showed that SAFI treatment significantly decreased neuroinflammation and the infarction volume compared with the vehicle group. Activation of microglia cells was reduced, and TLR4/NF-κB signals, which were markedly inhibited by SAFI treatment in ischemic hemisphere, were accompanied by reduced expression and release of cytokines IL-1ß and IL-6. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that SAFI effectively protects the brain after cerebral ischemia, which may be caused by attenuating inflammation in microglia.

[Construction of NIRS-based process analytical system for production of salvianolic acid for injection and relative discussion].

Currently, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been considered as an efficient tool for achieving process analytical technology(PAT) in the manufacture of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products. In this article, the NIRS based process analytical system for the production of salvianolic acid for injection was introduced. The design of the process analytical system was described in detail, including the selection of monitored processes and testing mode, and potential risks that should be avoided. Moreover, the development of relative technologies was also presented, which contained the establishment of the monitoring methods for the elution of polyamide resin and macroporous resin chromatography processes, as well as the rapid analysis method for finished products. Based on author's experience of research and work, several issues in the application of NIRS to the process monitoring and control in TCM production were then raised, and some potential solutions were also discussed. The issues include building the technical team for process analytical system, the design of the process analytical system in the manufacture of TCM products, standardization of the NIRS-based analytical methods, and improving the management of process analytical system. Finally, the prospect for the application of NIRS in the TCM industry was put forward.

[Plant metabolomics approach for age discrimination of mountain cultivated ginseng using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS].

Growth year is one of the important factors for the quality of mountain cultivated ginseng (MCG). For age differentiation of MCG, rhizome extracts of ginseng aged from 11 to 15 years were analyzed using a non-targeted approach with ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)-based on plant metabolomics technique. Multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to compare the derived patterns among the samples. The results showed that the chemical constituents of MCG rhizome extracts of ginseng aged from 11 to 15 years were different. The data set was subsequently applied to metabolite selection by variable importance in the projection (VIP) for sophisticated classification with the optimal number of metabolites. The OPLS-DA model of MCG has a high interpretability and predictive capability, which established by selecting metabolites of MCG aged from 11 to 15 years. By this approach, MCG samples aged from 11 to 15 years, which are the most in demand in the Chinese ginseng market, can be precisely differentiated on the basis of selected metabolites. This proposed analytical method is fast, accurate, and reliable for discriminating the growth year of MCG. Moreover, this study supplies a new method for the age discrimination of other Chinese medicinal materials.

[Monitoring method for macroporous resin column chromatography process of salvianolic acids based on near infrared spectroscopy].

To study and establish a monitoring method for macroporous resin column chromatography process of salvianolic acids by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) as a process analytical technology (PAT).The multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) model was developed based on 7 normal operation batches, and 2 test batches (including one normal operation batch and one abnormal operation batch) were used to verify the monitoring performance of this model. The results showed that MSPC model had a good monitoring ability for the column chromatography process. Meanwhile, NIR quantitative calibration model was established for three key quality indexes (rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid and salvianolic acid B) by using partial least squares (PLS) algorithm. The verification results demonstrated that this model had satisfactory prediction performance. The combined application of the above two models could effectively achieve real-time monitoring for macroporous resin column chromatography process of salvianolic acids, and can be used to conduct on-line analysis of key quality indexes. This established process monitoring method could provide reference for the development of process analytical technology for traditional Chinese medicines manufacturing.

[Application of metabolomics approach to study of different parts of Mountain Cultivated Ginseng using UHPLC-QTOF/MS].

In present study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS)-based plant metabolomics approach was established to investigate the metabolic profiles of the leaves, main root, branch root, and rhizome of Mountain Cultivated Ginseng (MCG). The UHPLC-QTOF/MS data were subjected to principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis(OPLS-DA) to find the potential characteristic components of the four parts of MCG in a quick way. The four different parts could be separated into four different groups of phytochemicals according to the PCA scores. The chemical constituents in four parts of MCG were obviously different. The identities of 81 major peaks that were detected in the four parts of MCG and the potential markers were identified by comparison with the reference compounds or were tentatively assigned by matching the retention time, empirical molecular formula and fragment ions with those of the published compounds of the Panax species. This proposed analytical method is fast, accurate, and reliable for differentiating the different parts of MCG. Moreover, this study supplied a new method for the quality evaluation of other Chinese medicinal materials.

[Optimization of extraction technology from Paeoniae Radix Alba using response surface methodology].

To ensure the stability of chemistry components and the convenience of operation, ultrasound method was chosen to study in this investigation. As the total common peaks area in chromatograms was set to be evaluation index, the influence on the technology caused by extraction time, ethanol concentration and liquid-to-solid ratio was studied by using single factor methodology, and the extraction technology of Paeoniae Radix Alba was optimized by using response surface methodology. The results showed that the extracting results were most affected by ethanol concentration; liquid-to-solid ratio came the second and extraction time thirdly. The optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were as follow: the ultrasonic extraction time was 20.06 min, the ethanol concentration in solvent was 72.04%, and the liquid-to-solid ratio was 53.38 mL · g(-1), the predicted value of total common peaks area was 2.1608 x 10(8). Under the extraction conditions after optimization, the total common peaks area was 2.1422 x 10(8), and the relative deviation between the measured and predicted value was 0.86%, so the optimized extraction technology for Paeoniae Radix Alba is suitable and feasible. Besides, for the purpose of extracting more sufficiently and completely, the optimized extraction technology had more advantages than the extraction method recorded in the monogragh of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which will come true the assessment and utilization comprehensively.

[Study on chemical components distribution in Paeoniae Radix Alba and its processing methods].

After studying the discipline of chemical components distribution in peony root, it was found that the content distribution of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol was inhomogeneous in different parts of peony root, as same as in different roots belonging to a same plant. Therefore, in order to minimize the effects of different qualities of materials on experimental result, the content changing percentages of four chemical components was chosen as indicators to study processing method of Paeoniae Radix Alba. The processing technique of Paeoniae Radix Alba was put peony roots in the boiled water for at most ten minutes, and cut them into 2-3 mm slices after peeling the root bark, finally dry them in a oven under 55 degrees C, which was similar to the traditional processing method used in Bozhou. And the peeling, boiling and drying methods would affect the contents of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol on several levels.

[Determination of chemical components of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces and its quality evaluation].

OBJECTIVE: An UPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality of Paeoniae Radix by simultaneously determining four components, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol in Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces. METHOD: The UPLC chromatographic column was ACQUITY UPLC® HSS T3. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid water with gradient elution. The column temperature was 30 °C and detection wavelength was 230 nm with a flow rate of 0.4 mL · min(-1). A linear model was obtained through principal component analysis (PCA), and PCA scores were used to evaluate the quality of Radix Paeoniae Alba decoction pieces comprehensively. RESULT: Paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol could be well separated from other components, and the results of specificity, precision, repeatability, linearity, recovery rate and stability reached the standards, respectively. The content of paeoniflorin in 9 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces was below the standard given by Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). Using the comprehensive scoring method with principal component analysis, the results showed that the samples from Zhejiang province have better quality than those from Anhui and Shandong provinces. CONCLUSION: The method established in this study can effectively determine the content of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol, which could be used for quality control of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Salvianolic acid Y: a new protector of PC12 cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced injury from Salvia officinalis.

Salvianolic acid Y (TSL 1), a new phenolic acid with the same planar structure as salvianolic acid B, was isolated from Salvia officinalis. The structural elucidation and stereochemistry determination were achieved by spectroscopic and chemical methods, including 1D, 2D-NMR (1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC) and circular dichroism (CD) experiments. The biosynthesis pathway of salvianolic acid B and salvianolic acid Y (TSL 1) was proposed based on structural analysis. The protection of PC12 cells from injury induced by H2O2 was assessed in vitro using a cell viability assay. Salvianolic acid Y (TSL 1) protected cells from injury by 54.2%, which was significantly higher than salvianolic acid B (35.2%).

[Influlance of different drying methods on quality of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of different drying methods on the quality of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus and thus provide useful reference for its proper drying methods. METHOD: Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus was processed by eight drying methods including vacuum freeze drying, natural drying in the shade, drying in the sun, oven drying and vacuum drying under different temperature. The contents of the functional ingredients includes chisandrin, gomisin D, gomisin J, schisandrol B, angeloylgomisin H, angeloylgomisin Q, gomisin G, schisantherin A, deoxyschisandrin, schisandrin B, schisandrin C, 5-HMF, total aids and total sugars. The main components change after drying were analyzed by HPLC, ultraviolet spectrophotometry and potentiometric titration. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out by SPSS software to evaluate the quality of different processed products from Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus. RESULT: All these results are in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia published in 2010, the contents of schisandrin and total eleven lignans were the highest using vacuum drying, and 5-HMF were the lower, oven drying made little difference but with lower schisandrin and higher 5-HMF as the heat increased. CONCLUSION: Different drying methods have significant influence on the quality of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus. Oven drying under 5°C should be adopted to substitute drying in the sun according to the China Pharmacopoeia published in 2010 for Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus by comprehensive analysis of the cost, content and practicality.

[Study on hydrolysis kinetics of ginsenoside-Ro in alkaline medium and structural analysis of its hydrolyzate].

The ginsenoside-Ro is sensitive to be hydrolyzed in an alkaline medium. This paper investigated the hydrolysis kinetics of ginsenoside-Ro under different pH and temperature values. The results showed ginsenoside-Ro in alkaline solution followed pseudo-first-order reaction. Hydrolysis kinetics of ginsenoside-Ro has not been reported previously. The hydrolysis rate was independent of initial concentration. On the basis of UFLC-MS/MS, NMR, as well as chemical evidence,the structure of hydrolyzate was assigned as 3-O- [beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl- (1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl] -oleanolic acid.

[Quality evaluation of red ginseng in different transplating systems].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of red ginseng in different transplanting systems, and thus provide the basis for ginseng cultivation and processing. METHOD: Based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literature relating to red ginseng, the ten ginsenosides, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, volatile oil, ether extract and total protein of red ginseng in different transplanting systems were studied or determined. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The content of total ash and acid-insoluble ash in red ginseng was less than 5.0%, 0.3%, respectively. The content of three ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1) was in accordance with the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia version 2010, and the content of ten ginsenosides was significant different.

[Comparison on appearance and non-ginsenoside composition in Panax ginseng and its products processed from different producing areas in northeast China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the appearance and moisture, ash content, extract, volatile oil of Panax ginseng and its processed products from different producing areas of northeast China, and thus provide the useful reference data for its quality standard establishment and standardized cultivation. METHOD: Base on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literatures relating to P. ginseng, the content of moisture, ash, extract, volatile oil in P. ginseng and its processed products from northeast 10 different producing areas were measured, and data analysis of these various indicators was carried out by DTOPSIS. RESULT: The samples from Changbai, Jian Kangmei and Fusong reached the standard of Chinese pharmacopoeia and national standard, and in addition comprehensive evaluation indicators of them were higher than others samples. CONCLUSION: The quality of ginseng from different producing areas appears very different. Some samples failed to reach the standard of Chinese pharmacopoeia and national standard. Ginseng samples from those 3 producing areas of GAP planting bases showed good quality, which reflects the importance of GAP for ginseng cultivation.

[Evaluation methods for quality volatility about yiqi fumai freeze-dried powder used for injection based on bio-thermodynamics exosyndrome].

Yiqi Fumai freeze-dried powder for injection was used as a model drug to establish an evaluation method mainly based on bio-thermodynamics profile detection. Fischer function was used to analyze the chemical and biological data In general, chemical chromatogram can distinguish the expired sample and thermal spectrum of biological activity can distinguish special samples exactly. Thus, we established the evaluation method regarding the quality volatility of Yiqi Fumai freeze-dried powder for injection. The method can be used as a useful supplement in quality control as, and it could provide some technical information for quality control of other varieties of traditional Chinese medicine for injection.