QUALITY CONTROL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES: INVESTIGATION ON CHEMICAL MARKERS

Traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs)have played an important role in the treatment of diseases for thousands of years.With the rise of the combination therapy for multi-gene diseases,TCMs attracted more attentions gradually.However,TCMs is a complex system which could contain tens,or even hundreds of compounds.Selection of chemical markers is thus a key to the

Identification and differentiation of Panax ginseng,Panax quinquefolium, and Panax notoginseng by monitoring multiple diagnostic chemical markers

To differentiate traditional Chinese medicines(TCM) derived from congeneric species in TCM compound preparations is usually challenging. The roots of Panax ginseng(PG), Panax quinquefolium(PQ) and Panax notoginseng(PN) are used as popular TCM. They contain similar triterpenoid saponins(ginsenosides) as the major bioactive constituents. Thus far, only a few chemical markers have been discovered to differentiate these three species. Herein we present a multiple marker detection approach to effectively differentiate the three Panax species, and to identify them in compound preparations. Firstly, 85 batches of crude drug samples(including 32 PG, 30 PQ, and 23 PN) were analyzed by monitoring 40 major ginsenosides in the extracted ion chromatograms(EICs) using a validated LC–MS fingerprinting method. Secondly, the samples were clustered into different groups by pattern recognition chemometric approaches using PLS-DA and OPLS-DA models, and17 diagnostic chemical markers were discovered. Aside from the previously known Rf and p-F11, ginsenoside Rs1 could be a new marker to differentiate PG from PQ. Finally, the above multiple chemical markers were used to identify the Panax species in 60 batches of TCM compound preparations.

The phytochemical components of walnuts and their application for geographical origin based on chemical markers

Place of origin has an important influence on walnut quality and commercial value,which results in the requirement of rapid geographical traceability method.Thus,a method for geographical origin identification of walnuts on the basis of nutritional quality of walnuts from China was conducted.The concentrations of 43 phytochemical components were analyzed in walnut samples from five different walnut-producing regions of China.Based on 14 chemical markers selected by the Random Forest method from these phytochemical components,a new discriminant model for geographical origin was built,with the corresponding correct classification rate of 99.3%.In addition,the quantitative quality differences of walnuts from five regions were analyzed,with values of 0.17–1.43.Moreover,the top three chemical markers for the geographical origin discriminant analysis were Mo,V,and stearic acid,with contribution rates of 26.8%,18.9%,and 10.9%,respectively.This study provides a potentially viable method for application in food authentication.

Marine alkaloids as the chemical marker for the prey–predator relationship of the sponge Xestospongia sp.and the nudibranch Jorunna funebris

The dietary relationship study between marine sponge Xestospongia sp.and its nudibranch predators Jorunna funebris based on the discovery of isoquinolinequinones has long been studied.In this study,chemical investigation of the sponge Xestospongia sp.and nudibranch J.funebris from the South China Sea yielded a new marine alkaloid neopetroside C(1),together with nine known alkaloids(2-10).The chemical structures of all the compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis.Neopetroside C(1)featured a riboside of nicotinic acid with a rareα-N glycosildic linkage and an acyl residue of(Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid attached to C-5′.The plausible chemical ecology relationship between sponge Xestospongia sp.and its nudibranch predator J.funebris was proposed based on the biogenetic relationship of the common marine alkaloids.The observation of two structural fragments,(Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoyloxy and trigonelline groups in both sponge and nudibranch,indicated that nudibranch might uptake chemicals from sponge and then modify and transform them into chemical weapons to defend against predators.

Rapid Differentiation of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix from Different Geographic Origins Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Objective:There are different geographic origins of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radixs(AKRs)sold in the market with different quality.This study aims to establish a rapid analysis method to distinguish the different geographic origins of AKRs and to realize the rapid evaluation of their quality.Methods:An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF MS)method was utilized to acquire the constituents'information of AKRs from different geographic origins.MSE data and Progenesis QI software were employed to identify the chemical constitutes.Principal component analysis(PCA)was applied to comparing MS data to find the chemical markers of AKRs from different geographic origins.Results:Twenty-three components were detected and 17 out of them were identified,including diester-diterpenoid alkaloids,monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids,and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids.Three pairs of isomers were detected and two of them were distinguished by the retention time of standard samples.Thirteen chemical markers were screened out through PCA and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis.Through detecting Napelline or isomer of Napelline(m/z 360.2530)and Aconifine(m/z 662.3170),AKRs from inner Mongolia autonomous could be screened.According to the existence of benzoylaconine(m/z 604.3108)and Indaconitine(m/z 630.3159),it could be confirmed that the AKRs are from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous.AKRs that cannot detect compounds above-mentioned could be from Liaoning or Shanxi Province.Conclusions:The chemical profile could be used not only to distinguish the AKRs from different geographic origins but also to identify the true and false of AKRs.This study lays a foundation for the study of efficacy and toxic of AKRs.

Identification and differentiation of major components in three different “Sheng-ma” crude drug species by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS

Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng ma) is a Ranunculaceae herb belonging to a composite family and well known in China. has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China contains three varieties (Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.), Cimicifuga foetida L. and Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom.) which have been used clinically as 'Sheng-ma'. However, the chemical constituents of three components of 'Sheng-ma' have never been documented. hi this study, a rapid method for the analysis of the main components of 'Sheng-ma' was developed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). The present study reveals the major common and distinct chemical constituents of C. dahurica, C. foetida and C. heracleifolia and also reports principal component and statistical analyses of these results. The components were identified by comparing the retention time, accurate mass, mass spectrometric fragmentation characteristic ions and matching empirical molecular formula with that of the published compounds. A total of 32 common components and 8 markers for different 'Sheng-ma' components were identified. These findings provide an important basis for the further study and clinical utilities of the three 'Sheng-ma' varieties. (C) 2017 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Safety Issues of Chinese Medicine:A Review of Intoxication Cases in Hong Kong

Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used in Hong Kong for centuries. In fact, CM practitioners currently provide over 20% of the medical consultations in Hong Kong and about 60% of the population has previously used CM. In 1999, the Legislative Council passed the Chinese Medicine Ordinance with aims to govern practice, use, trading, and manufacturing of CM in Hong Kong. While it is usually safe to use CM under proper application and guidance, there have been frequent reports on intoxication and fatalities. The misuse of potent/toxic CM, because of misidentification or overdose, can cause severe aconite, aristolochic acid, anticholinergic, podophyllin, grayanotoxin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, matrine, gelsemine, teucvin, and strychnine poisoning. In this review, we summarized CM intoxication cases in Hong Kong, concentrating on the discussion of toxic and adverse effects as well as the quality control of CM. By increasing the awareness of CM toxicity, we hope to enhance the regulatory process and stimulate further research on their toxic dose, toxic ingredients, intoxication mechanisms, and quality control.