Chemical characterization and comparative analysis of different parts of Cocculus orbiculatus through UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC. (C. orbiculatus) is a medicinal herb valued for its dried roots with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, and other therapeutic properties. Despite its traditional applications, chemical investigations into C. orbiculatus remain limited, focusing predominantly on alkaloids and flavonoids. Furthermore, the therapeutic use of C. orbiculatus predominantly focuses on the roots, leaving the stems, a significant portion of the plant, underutilized. This study employed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) with in-house and online databases for comprehensive identification of components in various plant parts. Subsequently, untargeted metabolomics was employed to analyze differences in components across different harvest periods and plant sections of C. orbiculatus, aiming to screen for distinct components in different parts of the plant. Finally, metabolomic analysis of the roots and stems, which contribute significantly to the plant's weight, was conducted using chemometrics, including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and heatmaps. A total of 113 components, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and organic acids, were annotated across the root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit, along with numerous previously unreported compounds. Metabolomic analyses revealed substantial differences in components between the root and stem compared to the leaf, flower, and fruit during the same harvest period. PLS-DA and OPLS-DA annotated 10 differentiating components (VIP > 1.5, P < 0.05, FC > 2 or FC < 0.67), with 5 unique to the root and stem, exhibiting lower mass spectrometric responses. This study provided the first characterization of 113 chemical constituents in different parts of C. orbiculatus, laying the groundwork for pharmacological research and advocating for the enhanced utilization of its stem.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharide from Paeoniae Radix alba: Extraction optimization, structural characterization and antioxidant mechanism in vitro.

Paeoniae Radix alba is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, immunomodulatory, cancer, and other diseases. In the current study, the yield of Paeoniae Radix alba polysaccharide (PRP) was significantly increased with optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction compared to hot water extraction. Further, an acidic polysaccharide (PRP-AP) was isolated from PRP after chromatographic separation and was characterized as a typical pectic polysaccharide with side chains of arabinogalactans types I and II. Moreover, it showed antioxidant effects on LPS-induced damage on IPEC-J2 cells determined by qRT-PCR and ELISA, including decreasing the pro-inflammatory factors' expressions and increasing the antioxidant enzymes activities, which was shown to be related to the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway modulated by PRP-AP. The metabolites change (such as itaconate, cholesterol sulfate, etc.) detected by untargeted metabolomic analysis in cells was also shown to be modulated by PRP-AP, and these metabolites were further utilized and protected cells damaged by LPS. These results revealed the cellular active mechanism of the macromolecular PRP-AP on protecting cells, and supported the hypothesis that PRP-AP has strong benefits as an alternative dietary supplement for the prevention of intestinal oxidative stress by modulating cellular metabolism.

Characterization and prebiotic activity in vitro of inulin-type fructan from Codonopsis pilosula roots.

The inulin-type fructan was obtained by DEAE anion exchange chromatography from C. pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen, after optimized extract condition, which was established by response surface methodology, designed using Box-Behnken factorial design and the optimum condition were: extracting 2.5 h with ratio of solvent to material 40 mL/g at 100 °C, twice. The maximum extraction yield was 20.6 ±â€¯0.2%. It was confirmed as ß-(2-1) linkage fructan, with terminal glucose, and with a degree of polymerization of 2-17 (DPav = 6), shown by the results of methanolysis, methylation, nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular weight determination. The prebiotic activity was proven on account of stimulation effect on Lactobacillus and pH reduction of medium in vitro. The results indicated that the inulin from C. pilosula could be used as a potential natural source of prebiotics.

[Study on Quality Evaluation of Ophiopogonis Radix in Sichuan].

Objective: To evaluate the quality of Ophiopogonis Radix from produce area, circulation link and clinical application in Sichuan, and to provide the theoretical basis for the quality control of Ophiopogonis Radix in Sichuan. Methods: 105 samples were collected from different produce area, market, factory of decoction pieces, drugstore in Sichuan. The content of moisture,total ash, extractum, total saponin, heavy metal, harmful element, pesticide residues, sulfur dioxide were measured by the methods which recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeia. The content of ophiopogonin D, methylophiopogonanone A, methylophiopogonanone B were measured by HPLC. Results: The content of moisture, total ash, extractum, total saponin in 105 samples Ophiopogonis Radix in Sichuan were at 5. 7%~ 17. 9%,0. 9% ~ 3. 4%,68. 7% ~ 95. 1%,0. 12% ~ 0. 57%,respectively. Over standard rate of sulfur dioxide was 23. 81%. The content of heavy metal and harmful element was conform to the limitation requirement of Chinese pharmacopoeia. Three kinds of organic pesticide had not been checked out. The content of ophiopogonin D, methylophiopogonanone A,methylophiopogonanone B were at 0. 04~ 0. 30 mg/kg,0. 0170 ~ 0. 0837 mg/kg,0. 0049 ~ 0. 0370 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: The quality of 105 samples are up to the requirement with the provisions of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Actually,the mandatory standard was not perfect, especially lack of standard in security. It is suggested that strengthening supervision of sulfur dioxide and paclobutrazol residual according to the actual situation for ensuring the safe and effective of Ophiopogonis Radix in clinical application.

[HPLC simultaneous determination of contents of 5 saponin constituents in Ophiopogonis Radix].

This research is to establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of ophiopogonin D, ophiopogonin D', ophiopogonin C, deacetylophiopojaponin A and ophiogenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1-->2)-ß-D-glucoside in Ophiopogonis Radix. HPLC-ELSD analysis was performed on a Kromasil 100-5 C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm), with the mobile phase of acetonitrile (A) -water (B) in gradient elution mode (0-45 min, 35%-55% A), at a flow rate of 1 mL · min⁻¹. The column temperature was 35 °C and the drift tube temperature was 100 °C in a gas flow rate of 3.0 L · min⁻¹. The result showed that baseline of all the 5 constituents was well separated, and every constituent had wide linearity range and good linear relation (r > 0.999). The recovery rate was between 95.75% and 103.1%. The new established method for simultaneous determination of saponin constituents in Ophiopogonis Radix was sensitive and has good, repeatability. It could be applied to quality evaluation of Ophiopogonis Radix.

[Effects of Different Terrain Farmland on Codonopsis pilosula Growth in Loess Plateau Dry Areas].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different terrain farmland on Codonopsis pilosula growth in arid regions, and then to provide basis for choosing appropriate terrain for Codonopsis pilosula cultivation in the northwest region. METHODS: Based on the observation of field production,plot cultivation experiment was designed to observe and record the effects of different terrain farmland on Codonopsis pilosula growth period and yeild, and to analyze the terrain effects on Codonopsis pilosula production comprehensively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between field production and plot cultivation experiment. The results both showed that different terrain farmland significantly affected Codonopsis pilosula growth. Shade slope was the best, then sunny slope followed, terrace and ridge were not suitable for Codonopsis pilosula growth. CONCLUSION: The terrain is a critical part in Codonopsis pilosula production. To ensure the stability of Codonopsis pilosula production and economic benefits, it is best to choose the shade slope for cultivation.