Detection and Characterization of the Metabolites of Ciwujianoside B in Rats Based on UPLC-Fusion Lumos Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry.

We previously conducted a systematic study on the metabolic process and products of hederasaponin B in rats. We hypothesized that the sugar chain structures play a key role in the metabolism of triterpenoid saponins. To verify this hypothesis, we conducted metabolic research on ciwujianoside B ascribed to the same sugar chains and a distinct aglycone and compared it with hederasaponin B. Specifically, we collected feces, urine, and plasma of rats after gavage with ciwujianoside B and identified 42 metabolites by UPLC-Fusion Lumos Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Finally, ciwujianoside B metabolism and hederasaponin B metabolism were compared, reaching the following conclusions: (i) more than 40 metabolites were identified in both, with the majority of metabolites identified in feces; (ii) the corresponding metabolic pathways in vivo were basically similar, including deglycosylation, acetylation, hydroxylation, glucuronidation, oxidation, and glycosylation; and (iii) deglycosylation was considered the main metabolic reaction, and its metabolites accounted for approximately 50% of all metabolites. Overall, this study provides a foundation for further research on the metabolism of triterpenoid saponins.

A review of the pharmacological action and mechanism of natural plant polysaccharides in depression.

Depression is a prevalent mental disorder. However, clinical treatment options primarily based on chemical drugs have demonstrated varying degrees of adverse reactions and drug resistance, including somnolence, nausea, and cognitive impairment. Therefore, the development of novel antidepressant medications that effectively reduce suffering and side effects has become a prominent area of research. Polysaccharides are bioactive compounds extracted from natural plants that possess diverse pharmacological activities and medicinal values. It has been discovered that polysaccharides can effectively mitigate depression symptoms. This paper provides an overview of the pharmacological action and mechanisms, intervention approaches, and experimental models regarding the antidepressant effects of polysaccharides derived from various natural sources. Additionally, we summarize the roles and potential mechanisms through which these polysaccharides prevent depression by regulating neurotransmitters, HPA axis, neurotrophic factors, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, tryptophan metabolism, and gut microbiota. Natural plant polysaccharides hold promise as adjunctive antidepressants for prevention, reduction, and treatment of depression by exerting their therapeutic effects through multiple pathways and targets. Therefore, this review aims to provide scientific evidence for developing polysaccharide resources as effective antidepressant drugs.

Structural characterization of the metabolites of orally ingested hederasaponin B, a natural saponin that is isolated from Acanthopanax senticosus leaves by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Plant saponins are important natural product with biologically active. However, the metabolism of these compounds has rarely been studied due to their low bioavailability and the complexity of their metabolite structures. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography/Fusion Lumos Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze the metabolites of hederasaponin B in vivo, and its possible metabolic pathways were proposed. After oral administration of the parent drug, a total of 47 metabolites are identified in rat feces (42), urine (11), and plasma (9) samples. These metabolites resulted from the metabolic processes in phases I and II reactions involved in deglycosylation, hydroxylation, acetylation, oxidation, gluconalciation and glycosylations. Deglycosylation is the main metabolic pathway (accounts for 52.46 % of all metabolites in feces samples). Among the identified metabolites, four were glycosylated (deprotonated precursors at m/z = 1335.7, 1365.7, 1467.9, and 1379.6) with higher molecular weight than the parent drug . These glycosylated compounds account for 11.55 % of the metabolites in rat feces according to the semi-quantitative chromatographic peak areas. To sum up, the results of this study provide a basis for further understanding the metabolism of plant saponins in vivo.

Rapid screening and characterization of triterpene saponins in Acanthopanax senticosus leaves via untargeted MSAll and SWATH techniques on a quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry.

This paper focused on untargeted MSAll, also called MSE, and sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra (SWATH) fragmentations for comprehensive structural characterization of triterpene saponins (TSs) in leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF). [M+H]+, [M + NH4]+ and [M + Na]+ precursor ions and the corresponding fragment ions were collected simultaneously in energy-resolved MSAll. SWATH fragmentation was applied as a comparable and complementary method for resolving co-eluting species. A workflow based on MSAll and SWATH fragmentations was constructed for comprehensive structural characterization and rapid discovery of TSs in leaves of A. senticosus. As a result, 89 TSs, along with 14 sapogenins, were unambiguously characterized or tentatively identified. Of these, 33 compounds were characterized as potentially new compounds, including the first report of malonyl-saponin in genus Acanthopanax. This study aimed to systematically analyze TSs in leaves of A. senticosus, and the results are significant for the utilization of A. senticosus leaves.

Separation and confirmation of nine Enterobacteriaceae strains that carry the blaNDM-1 gene.

The aim of the present study was to confirm the existence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae carrying the blaNDM-1 gene in clinics in Hainan province, China. Collected clinical bacterial isolates that were Enterobacteriaceae strains suspected of producing carbapenemase were used as experimental strains. Drug resistance to imipenem, meropenem and other antibacterial agents was tested. Imipenem/imipenem inhibitor (IP/IPI) E-testing was conducted to identify the bacterial strains that produced metallo-ß-lactamases. The blaNDM-1 drug resistance gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and sequencing were conducted to identify the products. The species of the strains carrying the blaNDM-1 gene were determined using a biochemical identification system. Through the IP/IPI E-test, 21 of the 30 collected Enterobacteriaceae strains were found to be positive, indicating that 70% of the strains produced metallo-ß-lactamases. Following blaNDM-1 gene PCR amplification, AGE and sequencing tests confirmed that nine of the strains carried the blaNDM-1 drug resistance gene. The biochemical identification system indicated that four of the strains were Klebsiella pneumoniae, two were Escherichia coli, two were Enterobacter cloacae and one was Enterobacter aerogenes. Drug susceptibility testing in vitro demonstrated that the strains were 100% resistant to a broad spectrum antibiotic plus lactamase inhibitor, cephalosporins and carbapenems. However, they had high sensitivity rates to polymyxin B and tigecycline of 100 and 88.9%, respectively. The sensitivity rate to amikacin was also high at 77.8%, whereas sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin was moderate at rates of 44.4 and 33.3% respectively. This clinical study of Enterobacteriaceae strains that carry the blaNDM-1 gene in Hainan shows a bacterial tolerance that is different from that in previous studies, which requires further in-depth study.