Phytochemical Analysis最新文献

Introduction: Goat horn is a primary substitute for the endangered Saiga antelope horn in traditional medicines. Current quality control (QC) methods lack specificity to effectively detect economically motivated adulteration with horns from other Bovidae species.

Objective: This study is aimed at discovering the species-specific peptides and to develop a reliable mass spectrometry-based method for authenticating goat horn and quantifying its signature peptides.

Methods: A label-free proteomics strategy was employed to characterize the tryptic digests across five Bovidae species: goat horn (originated from Capra hircus), sheep horn (Ovis aries), buffalo horn (Bubalus bubalis), cattle horn (Bos taurus), and yak horn (Bos grunniens) on a nanoLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry and screen signature peptides. A novel ultrasound-assisted simultaneous extraction-enzymolysis (UASEE) method was developed for sample preparation. An absolute quantification for seven goat horn peptides was established on UHPLC-MS/MS. Twenty-two batches of goat horn samples were analyzed.

Results: Thirteen signature peptides enabling unambiguous differentiation of five Bovidae species were identified. The UASEE method reduced the sample preparation time from over 24-6 h. The quantification method demonstrated satisfactory linearity (r ≥ 0.997), precision (RSD < 8.2%), repeatability (RSD < 5.8%), stability (RSD < 9.2%), and accuracy (recoveries 84.6%-114.2%, RSD < 13.9%). Based on the quantification results, GHpep 7 (mean 0.224 mg/g) and GHpep 11 (mean 0.137 mg/g) were proposed as the optimal QC markers due to high abundance and minimal batch variability (RSD < 15%).

Conclusion: This work provides a platform for signature peptide discovery and absolute quantification using UASEE and LC-MS/MS for quality evaluation of goat horn. It effectively addresses adulteration challenges and establishes a foundation for QC standards of goat horn.

Background: Curcumin is recognized for its therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with effects on cardiomyocytes, vascular function, and hypertrophy.

Objective: This review aims to evaluate curcumin's therapeutic effects, mechanisms of action, and safety in CVD management.

Methods: A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on curcumin's impact on ischemia, hypoxia, myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and endothelial function.

Results: Curcumin protects cardiomyocytes, enhances vascular function, and exhibits inconsistent effects on cholesterol accumulation in macrophages.

Conclusion: While curcumin shows promise as a complementary agent in CVD management, further research, particularly large-scale clinical trials, is essential to validate its efficacy and safety.

Introduction: Cyperus rotundus (CR) has been widely explored for the treatment and prevention of diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is commonly used to treat liver diseases, abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and dysmenorrhea. It has various processed products in clinical prescription; however, the quality distinctions among different processed products of CR remain unexplored.

Objectives: To explore the quality distinctions in color, flavor, and volatile compounds among four processed products of CR.

Methods: Eleven batches for each of the four processed products of CR were prepared. The color of the powders was determined utilizing the electronic eye (E-eye). The flavor information of each sample was analyzed with flash gas chromatography electronic nose (Flash GC e-nose). The volatile components were characterized using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS), and the data were analyzed employing chemometric methods.

Results: The color parameters L*, a*, and b* were consistently obtained by E-eye, and four discriminant functions were established to distinguish different CR products rapidly. Using the Flash GC e-nose, 20 odor compounds were identified, among which 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal, methyl 2-methylbutyrate, and ethyl 2-methylcrotonate were generated after vinegar-processing, wine-processing, and stir-frying. A total of 36 volatile compounds were identified by HS-GC-MS with acetic acid and furfural being newly generated. Four potential differential chemical markers were selected.

Conclusion: Overall, this study provides novel ideas and methods for the identification and quality evaluation of four processed products of CR. Furthermore, it also provides a reference for standardizing the processing technology of TCM.

Background: Self-assembled nano-systems (SANS) formed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions have recently emerged as promising carriers for enhancing the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble components. However, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of SANS in Xiaochaihu (XCH) decoction remain insufficiently investigated.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the component distribution and pharmacodynamic relevance of the nanoemulsion phase of XCH decoction (N-XCH) and to assess its potential to improve pharmacokinetics and tissue targeting.

Methods: N-XCH was characterized by particle size analysis, zeta-potential measurement, TEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopy. HPLC fingerprinting was used to compare the distribution of active components among the four phase states of XCH decoction. Gray relational analysis (GRA) was applied to relate index components to hepatoprotective and antipyretic endpoints. In vitro release, in vivo pharmacokinetic, and tissue distribution studies were performed to evaluate the release behavior and in vivo disposition of representative components.

Results: Fingerprint and GRA analyses indicated that N-XCH is the optimal dissolution phase for co-loading active constituents, and identified saikosaponin A as a key component associated with both hepatoprotective and antipyretic effects. In vitro, N-XCH displayed sustained-release behavior obeying Weibull kinetics with Fickian diffusion. In rats, N-XCH significantly increased the AUC of baicalin, wogonoside, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid compared with the decoction, while maintaining similar or slightly reduced Cmax values and altered tissue exposure profiles with enhanced hepatic uptake (RUE > 1) for multiple analytes.

Conclusion: N-XCH, as a self-assembled nanoemulsion phase in XCH decoction, markedly improves the systemic exposure and liver targeting of representative actives without excessive peak concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of SANS in TCM decoctions to optimize oral bioavailability and organ targeting, and provide an integrated analytical-pharmacokinetic framework for linking spectrum-effect relationships with nano-phase behavior.

Background: The NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory response plays a critical role in endothelial dysfunction. Danqi pill (DQP), a Chinese patent medicine composed of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng, has demonstrated protective effects on endothelial cells, though its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to simulate ischemic injury. Cell viability, migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and protein expression related to the NLRP3 inflammasome and Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) were assessed.

Results: DQP (600 μg/mL) protected HUVECs against OGD-induced injury by enhancing cell viability and migration, reducing ROS production and cell death, and preserving mitochondrial membrane potential. Mechanistically, DQP promoted the translocation of SHP2 to mitochondria, which subsequently suppressed ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Conclusion: These findings reveal that DQP attenuates OGD-induced injury in HUVECs via SHP2-ROS-NLRP3 axis.

Introduction: Corosolic acid (CRS) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid primarily isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa and other medicinal plants and has attracted growing interest because of its promising anticancer properties.

Objectives: This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the botanical sources, biopharmaceutical characteristics, molecular mechanisms of action, toxicological profile, and clinical evidence associated with CRS.

Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Wiley Online, covering studies published up to April 2025. Peer-reviewed articles investigating the anticancer activity, pharmacology, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and clinical relevance of CRS were included.

Results: Preclinical evidence demonstrates that CRS exerts broad-spectrum anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cytotoxicity, while inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and survival signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, STAT3, and YAP/TAZ. Emerging data also highlight its immunomodulatory role, particularly through suppression of Th17-mediated inflammatory responses, which may further contribute to its antitumor effects. Toxicological evaluations indicate that CRS possesses a favorable safety profile at therapeutic doses; however, its clinical translation is hindered by poor aqueous solubility and limited oral bioavailability. Recent advances in formulation strategies and structural modification approaches show potential for overcoming these limitations.

Conclusion: Overall, this review integrates current knowledge, identifies critical research gaps, and emphasizes the need for well-designed clinical trials to establish CRS as a viable multitarget anticancer agent.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent inflammation, synovial hyperplasia, and osteochondral damage. Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (MP), a botanical source of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC), has not previously been investigated for its potential arthritis-protective effects and underlying mechanisms, prompting our study of MP in this context.

Objectives: This study is aimed at evaluating the ameliorating effects of MP and elucidating its underlying mechanisms in RA.

Methods: The chemical composition of MP extract was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The anti-arthritic effects of MP extract were assessed in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated SW982 cells.

Results: UPLC quantification identified four major constituents: luteolin tetramethylether (0.547 ± 0.012%), 5,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (1.558 ± 0.030%), 3',4',5,5',6,7-hexamethoxyflavone (0.273 ± 0.006%), and 5-demethylnobiletin (0.848 ± 0.023%). In vivo, MP alleviated arthritis in CIA rats by reducing clinical symptoms (including arthritis index, hind paw volume/swelling, and histopathological joint damage), suppressing inflammatory responses, and attenuating oxidative stress. In vitro, MP mitigated pathological changes in IL-1β-stimulated SW982 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration, dampening inflammation, and reducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, network pharmacology and transcriptomic analyses guided the investigation of MP's regulatory effects on key RA-related targets. Specifically, MP downregulated IL-1β-induced overexpression of iNOS, COX-2, and MMP2/9 in SW982 cells and inhibited AP-1/NF-κB activation. These effects were confirmed in vivo, where MP suppressed MMP2/9 expression and blocked AP-1/NF-κB activation in CIA rats.

Conclusions: Integrating phytochemical profiling, in vivo and in vitro models, network pharmacology-transcriptomics, and target validation, this study demonstrates that MP exerts anti-arthritic effects via modulating proliferation-inflammation-oxidation crosstalk.

Introduction: Multiorigin phenomenon is quite common in Chinese herbal medicine, whereas quality consistency evaluation among the involved plant species is seldom considered.

Objectives: The present study, taking Taraxaci herba as a typical case, aimed to develop a strategy based on a combination of chemical similarity and in vitro bioequivalence to evaluate the quality consistency of three Taraxacum species.

Materials and methods: The chromatographic fingerprints were established through two approaches, namely, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA/QTOF-MS) and gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS). The common characteristic peaks from chromatographic fingerprints were quantified. The bioactivities were tested by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity assays. Quality consistency of the three Taraxacum species was globally evaluated by using a combination of chemical similarity and in vitro bioequivalence through univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.

Results: The statistical results showed no classification of the three species based on contents of quantified analytes and in vitro bioactivities, respectively.

Conclusion: This study not only demonstrated the medicinal interchangeability of three species of Taraxaci herba but also proposed a comprehensive strategy to evaluate quality consistency of multiorigin Chinese herbal medicines by integrating chemical similarity and in vitro bioequivalence.

Introduction: Evodia fructus (EF) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of medicinal use. However, its slight hepatotoxicity hindered the development of its drug safety profile. Consequently, it was essential to elucidate the composition of its chemical components, as well as its absorption and metabolism within the body.

Objective: We aimed to conduct a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the chemical components of EF, as well as the constituents present in vivo following administration to rats. Additionally, to refine the research on the identification of EF compounds and speculate on their potential medicinal ingredients, the mass spectrometry cleavage pathways and in vivo metabolic pathways of various compound types were summarized.

Methods: Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was employed to qualitatively analyze the components and metabolites of EF in vitro and in vivo. The compounds were identified using MassLynx 4.1 software, which facilitated the analysis of retention time, precise molecular mass, and both primary and secondary spectrometry data.

Results: A total of 93 constituents were detected from the ethanol extract of EF. Moreover, 73 prototype constituents and 66 metabolites were observed and inferred from the plasma, urine, and feces of rats following administration.

Conclusion: The chemical compounds of EF can be primarily categorized into alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenylpropanoids. The predominant compounds present in vivo were the prototype components, and the metabolites were mostly alkaloids and terpenoids. The metabolic pathways involved included hydroxylation, hydrogenation, methylation, and glucuronide conjugation, etc.

Background: Pine forests are among the most extensive forest ecosystems in the world, and pine trees produce a variety of by-products, including needles, bark, seeds, and resin, which are rich in natural antioxidants and other bioactive compounds with significant potential in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Historically, they have been undervalued and often treated as waste biomass.

Objective: This review consolidates current knowledge on the antioxidant composition of pine by-products, with a focus on their innovative applications in developing new pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetic products.

Results: The chemical composition of these by-products, such as polyphenol compounds, varies based on species, geographic and environmental conditions, and extraction techniques. Emphasis is placed on green and sustainable extraction processes that preserve antioxidant potency while minimizing environmental impact. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated a range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, and protective activities against oxidative stress-related diseases. By harnessing the antioxidant potential of pine-derived biomaterials, we can reduce waste, promote circular bioeconomy strategies, and develop innovative health-promoting products.

Conclusions: However, further research and technological advancements are needed to bring these applications to an industrial scale, serving sustainable development goals.