Pharmacognostic Evaluation and HPLC–PDA and HS–SPME/GC–MS Metabolomic Profiling of Eleutherococcus senticosus Fruits

Abstract

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. is a medicinal plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. However, due to the overexploitation, this species is considered to be endangered and is included in the Red List, e.g., in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, a new source of this important plant in Europe is needed. The aim of this study was to develop pharmacognostic and phytochemical parameters of the fruits. The content of polyphenols (eleutherosides B, E, E1) and phenolic acids in the different parts of the fruits, as well as tocopherols, fatty acids in the oil, and volatile constituents were studied by the means of chromatographic techniques [HPLC with Photodiode-Array Detection (PDA), headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS–SPME/GC–MS)]. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available on the content of eleutherosides and phenolic acids in the pericarp and seeds. The highest sum of eleutheroside B and E was detected in the whole fruits (1.4 mg/g), next in the pericarp (1.23 mg/g) and the seeds (0.85 mg/g). Amongst chlorogenic acid derivatives (3-CQA, 4-CQA, 5-CQA), 3-CQA was predominant in the whole fruits (1.08 mg/g), next in the pericarp (0.66 mg/g), and the seeds (0.076 mg/g). The oil was rich in linoleic acid (C18:3 (n-3), 18.24%), ursolic acid (35.72 mg/g), and α-tocopherol (8.36 mg/g). The presence of druses and yellow oil droplets in the inner zone of the mesocarp and chromoplasts in the outer zone can be used as anatomical markers. These studies provide a phytochemical proof for accumulation of polyphenols mainly in the pericarp, and these structures may be taken into consideration as their source subjected to extraction to obtain polyphenol-rich extracts.

Memory enhancement effect of saponins from Eleutherococcus senticosus leaves and blood–brain barrier-permeated saponins profiling using a pseudotargeted monitoring strategy

“…9 And the fruits are rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, and essential oil. 10 The E. senticosus leaves (ESL) contain abundant triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acid. 11,12 The fresh fruits and leaves of E. senticosus are edible as seasonal health fare, meanwhile, the dried ESL are usually consumed as tea in Asian countries and have neuroprotective functions in the treatment of disorders of the neural system, such as insomnia, ischemic stroke, and Parkinson's disease.…”

SPME-GC–MS combined with chemometrics to assess the impact of fermentation time on the components, flavor, and function of Laoxianghuang

“…SPME-GC–MS has become increasingly popular in recent years for the identification, authentication, characterization, and classification of complex natural samples such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and food ( 11 , 12 ). It is a promising tool for the qualitative analysis of ingredients and can be effectively used for product quality control.…”

“…It is a promising tool for the qualitative analysis of ingredients and can be effectively used for product quality control. SPME combines sampling, analyte separation, and enrichment to pretreat volatile compounds in complex matrices ( 13 ), is the most preferred means of collection, and has been extensively explored in wine ( 14 ), meat ( 15 ), fruit ( 16 ), and TCM ( 11 ). The application of SPME-GC–MS in fermentation products has been increasingly expanded in recent years; for instance, esters and alcohols had the most abundance on the 98th day of fermentation of grains into Baijiu ( 17 ).…”

“…The purpose of this study was to reveal the flavor mechanism and further analyze the flavor formation and quality characteristics during the fermentation process through the determination of volatile components. SPME-GC-MS has become increasingly popular in recent years for the identification, authentication, characterization, and classification of complex natural samples such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and food (11,12). It is a promising tool for the qualitative analysis of ingredients and can be effectively used for product quality control.…”

A Theme Issue to Celebrate Professor Robert Verpoorte’s 75th Birthday: “The Past, Current, and Future of Natural Products”

“…In this Special Issue, Velasco-Azorsa et al [ 1 ] report the application of a chemical profiling tool, an NMR-based method, to discover nematocidal metabolites in plants. Graczyk and colleagues further report an interesting approach based on the chemical profiling of the fruits of a traditional tonic plant, Eleutherococcus senticosus, a species that is endangered by overexploitation [ 2 ]. Their results provided valuable data for the quality control of the plant and the basis for alternatives to this plant in the future.…”