Rapid Analysis of Compounds from Piperis Herba and Piperis Kadsurae Caulis and Their Differences Using High-Resolution Liquid-Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Network Binding Antioxidant Activity.

There is a serious mixing of Piperis Herba and Piperis Kadsurae Caulis in various parts of China due to the similar traits of lianas, and there is a lack of systematic research on the compound and activity evaluation of the two. Likewise, the differences in compounds brought about by the distribution of origin also need to be investigated. In this study, high-resolution liquid-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Zeno-TOF-MS/MS) was used to analyze samples of Piperis Herba from five origins and Piperis Kadsurae Caulis from five origins, with three batches collected from each origin. The compounds were identified based on precise molecular weights, secondary fragments, and an online database combined with node-to-node associations of the molecular network. The t-test was used to screen and analyze the differential compounds between the two. Finally, the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activity of the two herbs was carried out using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. The results showed that a total of 72 compounds were identified and deduced in the two Chinese medicines. These compounds included 54 amide alkaloids and 18 other compounds, such as flavonoid glycosides. The amide alkaloids among them were then classified, and the cleavage pathways in positive ion mode were summarized. Based on the p-value of the t-test, 32 differential compounds were screened out, and it was found that the compounds of Piperis Herba were richer and possessed a broader spectrum of antioxidant activity, thus realizing a multilevel distinction between Piperis Herba and Piperis Kadsurae Caulis. This study provides a preliminary reference for promoting standardization and comprehensive quality research of the resources of Piperis Herba using Piperis Kadsurae Caulis as a reference.

[A new approach for optimizing empirical prescriptions of famous physicians based on network target: taking Qingluo Decoction as an example].

Based on the network target approach and technology, this study proposed for the first time a novel optimization method for Chinese medicine formulae. Moreover, with Qingluo Decoction as an example, a method for the research and development of Chinese medicine, which combines scientific methodology and experience of famous doctors, was developed. Specifically, based on the composition of Qingluo Decoction, this study used the using network target for intelligent and quantitative analysis on drug actions(UNIQ) to predict the medicinals that targeted the key pathways of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) such as angiogenesis. Then, combining the experience of the first national Chinese medical master LI Ji-ren and Aihui famous Chinese medicine doctor LI Yan and Chinese medicine theory, this study developed a novel angiogenesis-targeted prescription modified Qingluo Decoction(MQLD). Afterward, the clinical efficacy and mechanism of MQLD were verified. The results showed that 27 medicinals with significant regulatory effect on angiogenesis-related key signaling pathways were identified by UNIQ, among which 6 were selected by the Chinese medicine physicians to develop the MQLD. Clinical trials demonstrated that the clinical efficacy of MQLD, in terms of either American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement and 50% improvement criteria(ACR20, ACR50) or TCM syndrome evaluation, was better than that of Qingluo Decoction. Experimental study revealed that MQLD can inhibit RA angiogenesis by acting on the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) pathway, nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) pathway, inflammatory cytokine release, and immune cell regulation. Taken together, this study developed a new formula MQLD with improved clinical efficacy, precise applicable clinical settings, and authorized patent through the network target technology, thus providing a new way for the precise development of Chinese medicine and preservation of the experience of famous physicians.