Species discrimination of multiple botanical origins of Fritillaria species based on infrared spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography-image analysis and untargeted metabolomics.

BACKGROUND: Fritillaria Bulbus (FB), a precious medicinal herb renowned for its heat-clearing, lung-moistening, cough-relieving and phlegm-eliminating effects. In pursuit of profits, unscrupulous merchants have engaged in the substitution or adulteration of valuable varieties with cheaper alternatives. It is, therefore, urgent to develop effective technical approaches to identify FBs from adulterants. METHODS: This paper employed infrared spectroscopy (IR), thin layer chromatography-image analysis (TLC-IA), and untargeted metabolomics techniques to discriminate ten species of FBs. RESULTS: Five species of FBs were successfully differentiated using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the power of TLC-IA technology allowed the differentiation of five species of FBs and two origins of FCBs (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus). Remarkably, through the application of untargeted metabolomics technique, the precise discrimination of five species of FBs, as well as three origins of FCBs were accomplished. Moreover, a comprehensive identification of 101 markers that reliably distinguished diverse FBs was achieved through the employment of untargeted metabolomics technique. CONCLUSION: The investigation presented powerful means of detection for assuring the quality control of Fritillaria herbs.

Fingerprint profiling and gut microbiota regulation of polysaccharides from Fritillaria species.

Few studies reported the quality evaluation and gut microbiota regulation effect of polysaccharides from Fritillaria species. In this study, polysaccharides extracted from ten Fritillaria species were compared and distinguished through multi-levels evaluation strategy and data fusion. Furthermore, the gut microbiota regulation effect of polysaccharides among different species was analyzed and evaluated. The fingerprint profiling of IR, molecular weight distribution of polysaccharides, chromatogram of partially hydrolyzed polysaccharides (oligosaccharides) and completely hydrolyzed polysaccharides (monosaccharides) were similar, and no exclusive signals were observed. However, the signal strength of functional group, oligosaccharides abundance and monosaccharides proportion showed obvious differences in inter- and intra-species. Glucan may be the main component of polysaccharides in Fritillaria species, CIRR derived from CIR, PRZ, DEL, TAI, UNI possessed higher total polysaccharides content, polymerization degree, oligosaccharides abundance (DP 2-4), and glucose content than the others. Meanwhile, data fusion model was established for identification of affinis and multi-original species, the accuracy of which proved to be 100 %. In addition, Fritillaria polysaccharides could increase the bacterial community richness and diversity, regulate the gut microbiota composition and possessed potential therapeutic effects on gastrointestinal diseases and nervous system diseases.