Bioactivity-based UPLC/Q-TOF/MS strategy for screening of anti-inflammatory components from Cimicifugae Rhizoma

In this study,the protective effects of Cimicifugae Rhizoma（CR） was demonstrated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia mouse model.To identify the anti-inflammatory ingredients,an ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC/Q-TOF-MS）integrated nuclear factor κB（NF-κB） luciferase reporter assay screening system was carried out.As a result,some caffeic acid derivatives,including caffeic acid,ferulic acid/isoferulic acid,fukinolic acid,and cimicifugic acid ingredients were identified as the potential effective compounds from CR.For testing the anti-inflammatory capacity,caffeic acid was demonstrated to inhibit NF-kB and reduce the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in TNF-α-treated BEAS-2B cells in a dose-dependent manner.Hence,CR preparations and its cinnamic acid derivatives have the possibility to be developed as a complementary therapy in the treatment of respiratory system infection in clinics.

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.In 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.