Identification of a ligand for tumor necrosis factor receptor from Chinese herbs by combination of surface plasmon resonance biosensor and UPLC-MS.

Identification of bioactive compounds directly from complex herbal extracts is a key issue in the study of Chinese herbs. The present study describes the establishment and application of a sensitive, efficient, and convenient method based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors for screening active ingredients targeting tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNF-R1) from Chinese herbs. Concentration-adjusted herbal extracts were subjected to SPR binding assay, and a remarkable response signal was observed in Rheum officinale extract.

Mass spectrometric profiling of valepotriates possessing various acyloxy groups from Valeriana jatamansi.

Valepotriates, plant secondary metabolites of the family Valerianaceae, contain various acyloxy group linkages to the valepotriate nucleus and exhibit significant biological activities. Identification of valepotriates is important to uncover potential lead compounds for the development of new sedative and antitumor drugs. However, making their structure elucidation by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments is too difficult to be realized because of the overlapped carbonyl carbon signals of acyloxy groups substituted at different positions.

[Fast determination of volatile components in rhizoma curcuma by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry].

Objective: To analyze the chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from Rhizoma Curcumae.

Methods: Headspace-GC/MS was employed to prepare essential oil from rhizome curcuma, with TR-5 quartz capillary column, extraction temperature 90 degrees C, hold 30 min, injection volume 1.5 mL.