Effect of Different Post-Harvest Processing Methods on the Chemical Constituents of Notopterygium franchetii by an UHPLC-QTOF-MS-MS Metabolomics Approach

Abstract

Notopterygium franchetii is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as qianghuo. Its bioactive qualities are influenced by the post-harvest processing methods used (such as drying). However, changes in chemical components according to the drying method are unknown. Fresh roots and rhizomes of N. franchetii were subjected to seven drying methods. Chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with targeted and untargeted analyses were used to investigate relationships between drying methods and chemical concentrations. According to targeted evaluations of the six main bioactive constituents, their total contents decreased significantly in all drying methods. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the drying methods and total metabolome detected 30 chemical constituents, for which heap maps were obtained. Hot air drying was the best processing method, producing the least chemical changes at the lowest cost, while shade drying caused the greatest chemical changes. In conclusion, the wide range of chemical changes in N. franchetii caused by drying was investigated. Such changes potentially affect the quality of herbal medicines.

Generation of particle assemblies mimicking enzymatic activity by processing of herbal food: the case of rhizoma polygonati and other natural ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine

“…[10][11][12] Using mass spectrometry, Su et al pointed out that different combinations of six compounds with varying percentages of each were obtained by adjusting the drying conditions in the processing of Notopterygium franchetii. 13 However, the impact of processing on the physical and chemical properties of herb-based TCM has not been systematically studied yet.…”

Simultaneous determination of 20 bioactive components in Chuanxiong Rhizoma from different production origins in Sichuan province by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry combined with multivariate statistical analysis

“…Currently, quality assessment of CR is performed to determine the content of various effective components using HPLC or ultra‐HPLC (UHPLC) [26, 27]. Compared with them, UHPLC coupled with triple quadrupole MS (UHPLC‐MS/MS), combined with the high separation ability of UHPLC for complex samples with the high selectivity and sensitivity of mass spectrum is rapid, highly accurate, and sensitive, and suitable for the quantitative determination of minor compounds with complex matrix and serious interference [28, 29]. However, this method has not been utilized in quantification of CR.…”

Dynamic Changes in Endophytic Microorganisms and Metabolites During Natural Drying of Licorice

“…The postharvest processing of Chinese medicinal materials is the most critical factor affecting their quality ( Liu et al, 2019 ; Su et al, 2019 ). The biologically active ingredients of licorice dynamically changed during natural slow drying.…”