Quantitative analysis of acankoreoside A and acankoreagenin in the leaves of Schefflera octophylla and Schefflera actinophylla using pressurized liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection.

A rapid method based on pressurized liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection was firstly developed for the quantitative analysis of two bioactive triterpenoids (acankoreoside A and acankoreagenin) in the leaves of Schefflera octophylla and Schefflera actinophylla. The analysis was performed on an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq column (4.6 × 50 mm, 3.

[Chemical constituents from twigs of Piper hancei].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from the twigs of Piper hancei.

Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by means of chromatographic techniques including silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and preparative RP-HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with diode array detection for the determination of dencichine in Panax notoginseng and related species.

A high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with diode array detection method was developed for the determination of dencichine in Panax notoginseng and related species. The analysis was performed on an Eprogen Synchropak WAX column (4.6 × 250 mm, 6 μm) with 50 mM NaH2 PO4 aqueous solution isocratic elution.

Simultaneous determination of flavonoids, isochlorogenic acids and triterpenoids in Ilex hainanensis Using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and evaporative light scattering detection.

A high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-DAD-ELSD) method for simultaneous determination of eight major bioactive compounds including two flavonoids (rutin and eriodictyol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside), two isochlorogenic acids (isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C) and four triterpenoids (ilexhainanoside D, ilexsaponin A1, ilexgenin A and ursolic acid) in Ilex hainanensis has been developed for the first time. The 283 nm wavelength was chosen for determination of two flavonoids and two isochlorogenic acids. ELSD was applied to determine four triterpenoids.

Sustained antidiabetic effects of a berberine-containing Chinese herbal medicine through regulation of hepatic gene expression.

Diabetes and obesity are complex diseases associated with insulin resistance and fatty liver. The latter is characterized by dysregulation of the Akt, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and IGF-I pathways and expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). In China, multicomponent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat diabetes for centuries.

A high-sensitivity UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination and confirmation of triptolide in zebrafish embryos.

A high-sensitivity ultra-performance liquid-chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for simultaneous quantification and confirmation of triptolide in both zebrafish embryos and the aqueous-exposure solution on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQ-MS). This was achieved by performing quantification using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition with simultaneous characterization of the MRM peak using product ion confirmation (PIC) acquisition as it elutes from the chromatographic system. Separation was achieved on a 1.

Optimisation of ultra-performance LC conditions using response surface methodology for rapid separation and quantitative determination of phenolic compounds in Artemisia minor.

A method that couples rapid, sensitive, reproducible and accurate ultra-performance LC (UPLC) with quadrupole-TOF-MS was established for the first simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Artemisia minor. Box-Behnken designs (BBDs) were applied as an effective tool to optimise major parameters that influence the resolution of UPLC, including three gradient steps and column temperature. Under optimal UPLC conditions, a total of 23 phenolic compounds in the crude methanol extracts of A.

A new approach for simultaneous screening and quantification of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in some potential pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants by using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A rapid, but sensitive and selective method for simultaneous screening and quantification of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) by ultra performance liquid-chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQ-MS) is described. This was accomplished by incorporating the precursor ion scan (PIS) acquisition and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition in the same UPLC-MS/MS run. Notably, the developed PIS approach for detecting two pairs of characteristic product ions at m/z 120/138 or 168/150, allowed specific identification of toxic retronecine and otonecine types PAs.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Garcinia species using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) are a group of natural products isolated from different Garcinia species with a wide range of important biological activities. In this study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to photodiode-array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF) method was developed to characterize 16 PPAPs in 10 Garcinia species. In source dissociation techniques based on cone voltage fragmentation were used to fragment the deprotonated molecules and multiple mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using ramping collision energy were used to further break down the resulting product ions.

Apoptotic effects of polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinol derivatives from the twigs of Garcinia multiflora.

With bioassay-guided fractionation, five new polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinol derivatives, garcimultiflorone D (1), 18-hydroxygarcimultiflorone D (2), garcimultiflorone E (3), garcimultiflorone F (4), and isogarcimultiflorone F (5), and five known compounds, guttiferone E (6), guttiferone F (7), aristophenone A (8), isoxanthochymol (9), and morelloflavone (10), were isolated from the acetone extract of the twigs of Garcinia multiflora. The compounds were evaluated for their apoptotic effects against HeLa-C3 cells, which have been genetically engineered to produce a fluorescent biosensor capable of detecting caspase-3 activation. Compounds 1 and 3-9 activate caspase-3 in HeLa-C3 cells within 72 h after treatment at a concentration of 100 microM or lower.

Decocting-induced chemical transformations and global quality of Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng evaluated by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS based chemical profiling approach.

An UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS based chemical profiling method was developed to evaluate decocting-induced chemical transformations in Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of the root of Panax ginseng. Under the optimized UPLC and Q-TOF-MS/MS conditions, over 50 peaks were separated and detected in Du-Shen-Tang within 18 min. The components were identified by comparing the mass spectra and retention time with that of reference compounds, and/or tentatively assigned by elucidating low energy CID fragment ions as well as matching empirical molecular formula with that of the published known compounds.

Identification and evaluation of apoptotic compounds from Garcinia paucinervis.

Four new compounds, paucinervins A-D (1-4), and 15 known ones were isolated from the leaves of Garcinia paucinervis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic evidences. All of the 19 compounds were evaluated for their apoptosis-inducing effects using HeLa-C3 cells which have been genetically engineered to possess a fluorescent biosensor capable of detecting caspase-3 activation.

Development and validation of an ultra high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of a diastereomeric impurity in (+)-pinoresinol diglucoside chemical reference substance.

(+)-Pinoresinol 4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside ((+)-PDG) is one of the major lignans with various pharmacological activities which could be isolated from Duzhong and other plant species. In this study, a diastereomeric impurity, (-)-pinoresinol 4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside ((-)-PDG), the main impurity was identified in (+)-PDG chemical reference substance (CRS) and a reliable chromatographic method for rapid purity determination of (+)-PDG CRS was firstly developed. The optimal chromatographic condition was found to be using ACN/1,4-dioxane-water (2.

A novel approach to rapidly explore analytical markers for quality control of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract granules by robust principal component analysis with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

In a well-controlled experiment, outliers discriminated by robust principal component analysis (RPCA) represent contents in samples which are of particular quality distinguishable from the rest of the others, therefore chemical constituents in a natural product causing discrimination between outliers and the majority of samples could be considered as analytical markers for quality control. Based on this strategy, a novel approach for rapidly exploring characteristic analytical markers was proposed for the quality control of extract granules of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (EGRSM). In this study, large sizes of samples were analyzed via high-throughput ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-UV-Q-Tof MS).

UPLC-PDA-TOFMS based chemical profiling approach to rapidly evaluate chemical consistency between traditional and dispensing granule decoctions of traditional medicine combinatorial formulae.

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo-diode array detector and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-TOFMS) based chemical profiling approach to rapidly evaluate chemical consistency between traditional and dispensing granule decoctions of traditional medicine combinatorial formulae was proposed and validated using San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) as a model combinatorial formula. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely traditional decoction: water extract of mixed three constituent herbs of SHXXT, and dispensing granules decoction: mixed water extract of each individual herbs of SHXXT, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC-PDA-TOFMS analysis, the datasets of t(R)-m/z pairs, ion intensities and sample codes were processed with supervised orthogonal partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to holistically compare the difference between these two kinds of decoction samples.

Cytotoxic acylphloroglucinol derivatives from the twigs of Garcinia cowa.

An unusual polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivative unsubstituted at C-2 and C-6, garcicowin A (1), together with three other new (garcicowins B-D, 2-4) and nine known analogues, was isolated and characterized from the twigs of Garcinia cowa. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data. The compounds isolated were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (HT-29 and HCT116) and against normal colon cells (CCD-18Co), and the results demonstrated their selective toxicity toward the cancer cells.

A novel strategy to rapidly explore potential chemical markers for the discrimination between raw and processed Radix Rehmanniae by UHPLC-TOFMS with multivariate statistical analysis.

In traditional Chinese medicine, raw and processed herbs are used to treat different diseases. Suitable chemical markers are crucial for the discrimination between raw and processed herbs. In this study, a novel strategy using UHPLC-TOFMS coupled with multivariate statistical analysis to rapidly explore potential chemical markers was proposed and validated.

Development and validation of a rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method for the determination of aconite alkaloids in aconite roots.

Introduction: Aconites, with aconite alkaloids as the major therapeutic and toxic components, are used for the treatment of analgesic, antirheumatic and neurological symptoms. Quantification of the aconite alkaloids is important for the quality control of aconite-containing drugs.

Objective: To establish a validated capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the simultaneous determination of six major alkaloids, namely aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine, in crude and processed aconite roots.

An experimental design approach using response surface techniques to obtain optimal liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions to determine the alkaloids in Meconopsi species.

A statistic approach using response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) gradient and ionization response of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to analyze the main alkaloids from the plant matrices of six Meconopsi species is presented. The optimization was performed with Box-Behnken designs (BBD) and the multicriteria response variables were described using global Derringer's desirability. Four parameters of UHPLC and six major parameters of ESI-MS were investigated for their contribution to analytes separation and response, leading to a total of 27 and 54 experiments being performed for each instrument, respectively.

Rapid optimization of dual-mode gradient high performance liquid chromatographic separation of Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae by response surface methodology.

An approach for rapid optimization of dual-mode gradient high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by response surface methodology (RSM) was developed for fast simultaneous separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components in Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Danshen) and its preparations. The aim of this study was to achieve a high throughput RSM optimization using a short ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) column to simultaneously optimize flow rate and solvent gradient, and then transfer the optimized method to conventional HPLC for routine analytical purposes. The optimization was designed with Box Behnken design (BBD) and the global Derringer's desirability was used for describing the multicriteria response variables.

Screening of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Garcinia species using precursor ion discovery (PID) scan and ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization Q-TOF tandem mass spectrometry.

A strategy was newly developed to rapidly screen polycyclic polyprenylated acyl-phloroglucinols (PPAPs) from the plant matrices of nine Garcinia species using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with comprehensive mass spectrometric approaches including precursor ion discovery (PID) and tandem mass (MS/MS) scans. The PPAPs share the same diagnostic product ion at m/z 177.02 in positive MS/MS scan, which may be increased as the base peak by ramping the cone voltage from 45 to 100 V.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of diterpenoids in Salvia species by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

An on-line ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with photodiode-array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS/MS) method has been optimized and established for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the important diterpenoids in the methanol extracts of 12 Salvia species. Specific marker components were identified for the classification of the Salvia samples by principal component analysis. The accurate mass measurement within 3 ppm error for all the protonated molecules and subsequent fragment ions offers higher quality structural information for interpretation of fragmentation pathways of various groups of diterpenoids.

Bioassay guided discovery of apoptosis inducers from gamboge by high-speed counter-current chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A screening system, composed of high-speed counter-current chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, was established to find bioactive lead compound. This system succeeded in discovering apoptosis inducers from gamboge, the resin of Garcinia hanburyi. High-speed counter-current chromatography was used to provide well-separated fractions for bioassay and the resulted active fractions were rapidly identified using high-pressure liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Bioassay-guided isolation of xanthones and polycyclic prenylated acylphloroglucinols from Garcinia oblongifolia.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the acetone extract of the bark of Garcinia oblongifolia has resulted in the isolation of three new xanthones, oblongixanthones A-C (1-3), three new polyprenylated benzoylphloroglucinols, oblongifolins E-G (4-6), and 12 known compounds. Oblongifolins I (5) and J (6) are the first natural products that have similar structural features to those of two known oxidation products of garcinol. The structures of the new compounds 1-6 were characterized by spectroscopic data interpretation.

Chemical profiling of Radix Paeoniae evaluated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/photo-diode-array/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/photo-diode-array/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-QTOFMS) based chemical profiling method was established for rapid global quality evaluation of Radix Paeoniae. By virtue of the high resolution, high speed of UPLC and the accurate mass measurement of TOFMS, a total of 40 components including 29 monoterpene glycosides, 8 galloyl glucoses and 3 phenolic compounds were simultaneously separated within 12min, and identified through the matching of empirical molecular formulae with those of published components in the in-house library, and were further elucidated by adjusted lower energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectra. Among forty components, five monoterpene glycoside sulfonates were identified as novel components.