Profiling and analysis of multiple constituents in Crataegi Fructus before and after processing by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Abstract

Rationale Crataegi Fructus (CF) is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines with a long history of clinical applications. CF is often processed to minimize gastric membrane irritation, although differently processed products can have different biological effects. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively identify the chemical composition of CF, determine the changes caused by processing, and elucidate the active constituents causing the clinical effects. This study aimed to define a theoretical basis for intensive mechanistic studies of CF processing and its reasonable clinical applications. Methods An optimized ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QqTOFMS) method in positive and negative ion modes, coupled with multivariate statistical analyses, was developed for the identification and analysis of chemical components in raw and processed products of CF. Results A total of 87 compounds were identified, including 61 marker compounds that were found to be primary contributors to the significant differences (p < 0.01) between raw and processed products using principal component analysis, t‐test, and Venn analysis. The conversion mechanism for a subset of the changed compounds was inferred by analyzing 25 unique differential components between the raw and processed CF. Conclusions A rapid and efficient analytical method for identifying the chemical components in CF before and after processing was successfully established. We show how the changes in the chemical constituents in processed CF could be investigated using multivariate statistical analysis methods, and thus facilitate understanding of the processing mechanism of CF.

The additive effect of herbal medicines on lifestyle modification in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In addition, several studies demonstrated Coptidis Rhizoma (Li et al, 2024), Polygoni orientalis (Chen et al, 2021), Magnoliae offcinalis (Kuo et al, 2020), and Tegillarca granosa L. (Jiang et al, 2024) improve glucose and lipid metabolism by modulating PI3K-AKT and AMPK signaling pathway, and Coicis Semen (Chiang et al, 2020), Cyperi Rhizoma (Wang et al, 2022), Verbena officinalis L. (Kubica et al, 2020), Trigonella Foenumgraecum L. semen (Yadav and Baquer, 2014), Portulaca oleracea L. (Rahimi et al, 2019), and Rhus Coriaria L. fructus (Alsamri et al, 2021) exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory effects by enhancing superoxide dismutase and glutathione activity and inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and prostaglandin E2. Since the ingredients and their chemical structure of herbal medicines above have been identified (Abu-Reida et al, 2014;Zhou et al, 2015;Pang et al, 2016;Dong et al, 2017;Yang et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2018;Luo et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2019;Kubica et al, 2020;Liu et al, 2020;Zhu et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2021;Hsueh et al, 2021;Xue et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2021;Chang et al, 2022;Lu et al, 2022;Singh et al, 2022), it is expected that therapeutics will be developed through analog development based on the previous studies.…”

Fufang E’jiao Jiang’s effect on immunity, hematopoiesis, and angiogenesis via a systematic “compound-effect-target” analysis

“…FEJ is composed of EJ, SD, HS, DS, and SZ. EJ is mainly composed of protein and its degradation products and carbohydrate [20], SD principally contains iridoids and phenylethanoids [21], HS mainly contains saponins and volatile oils [22], DS primarily contains alkaloids [23], and SZ chiefly contains flavonoids and organic acids [24]. Through the preparation process from the medicinal material to FEJ, the components from different materials are fused together and changed during the process.…”

Detoxification mechanism of vinegar‐processed Kansui revealed by systematic phytochemical analysis using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography diode array detection tandem mass spectrometry, ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography high‐resolution mass spectrometry and in silico drug target identification

“…In previous reports of the analysis of chemical components in raw and vinegar‐processed Kansui , the process‐induced chemical changes were monitored in terms of a specific component or limited number of components, which would result in one‐sided conclusions 11,12,20 . It is a consensus that multiple‐constituent analysis of the raw and vinegar‐processed herb is a successful way to reveal the processing principle 21–26 . Here, we present a systematic phytochemical analysis of raw and vinegar‐processed Kansui .…”

“…11,12,20 It is a consensus that multipleconstituent analysis of the raw and vinegar-processed herb is a successful way to reveal the processing principle. [21][22][23][24][25][26] Here, we present a systematic phytochemical analysis of raw and vinegarprocessed Kansui. Thirty-one components were detected within 30 min, 28 of them were classified and the chemical structures of them were proposed from their characteristic UV profiles, electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data.…”