Quality evaluation of raw and processed Corni Fructus by UHPLC-QTOF-MS and HPLC coupled with color determination.

Corni Fructus (CF), used for thousands of years in Asia as food and medicine, has different therapeutic effects before and after processing. In the past work, the quality assessment of Corni Fructus focused on the limited chemical compounds and rarely correlated external properties, such as color. The traditional sensory assessment relies partly on human eyes, which is quick but lacks objectivity. On a Shimadzu LC-20AD liquid chromatograph system equipped with a diode-array detector (DAD), we determined six major compounds (gallic acid, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, morroniside, loganin, sweroside, and cornuside I). The extract was analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) after the solid-phase extraction (SPE) step. Totally 58 compounds in raw and processed Corni Fructus were identified in negative and positive ion modes according to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) fragments. Iridoids, carboxylic acids, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, fatty acids, saccharides, phospholipids, polysaccharide, amino acid, amide, furan, catechol, aldehyde, fatty alcohol and vitamin were included. A multivariate statistical analysis based on UHPLC-QTOF-MS filtered 17 differential compounds between raw and processed products. The CM-5 colorimeter was applied for digitizing surface and powder color. The contents of gallic acid, morroniside, loganin, cornuside I, and sweroside significantly correlated with color parameters in raw Corni Fructus, particularly adp* and bdp* , but not in processed products, according to Spearman correlation analysis. MS peak area of four compounds in raw products correlated significantly with color parameters Ldp* , adp* , bdp* , Lpd* , apd* , bpd* , respectively, while three compounds in processed products with Lpd* , apd* , bpd* . It revealed the relationship between compounds and color of Corni Fructus and the crucial compounds to color. In this study, we successfully developed a method for comprehensive quality evaluation of Corni Fructus that combines HPLC, UHPLC-QTOF-MS, and color determination.

Comparative pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study of lobetyolin in rats after administration of lobetyolin and Codonopsis pilosula extract by ultra-performance LC-tandem mass spectrometry.

Codonopsis pilosula (CP) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to invigorate spleen, replenish lung, nourish blood and engender fluid. A rapid, selective and sensitive ultra-performance LC-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to determine lobetyolin in rat plasma. The calibration curve showed good linearity over a concentration range of 0.46-1000 ng/mL for lobetyolin. The extraction recovery ranged from 72.5% to 89.1% with matrix effects of 81.6%-107.8%. The intra- and inter-batch precision and accuracy were 0.02-14.4% and -13.9% to -1.36%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the bioavailability study of lobetyolin in rats after oral administration of pure lobetyolin and CP extract. Results showed that the elimination half-time (t1/2 ) and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity of lobetyolin in CP extract were statistically different from those of the pure monomer (P < 0.05). However, the time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (Tmax ) and the maximum concentration (Cmax ) showed no significant differences between the two treatments. Furthermore, the bioavailability of lobetyolin in the experimental group was only 3.90%, significantly lower than that of the CP extract group (6.97%). The low bioavailability indicated that this component may be absorbed poorly or metabolized extensively in rats. Our results will provide useful information for further preclinical studies and formulation preparation of lobetyolin.

Combination of Morroniside and Diosgenin Prevents High Glucose-Induced Cardiomyocytes Apoptosis.

Cornus officinalis and Dioscorea opposita are two traditional Chinese medicines widely used in China for treating diabetes mellitus and its complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy. Morroniside (Mor) of Cornus officinalis and diosgenin (Dio) of Dioscorea opposita formed an innovative formula named M + D. The aims of the present study were to investigate myocardial protective effect of M + D on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) through the inhibition of expression levels of caspase-3 protein, and identify the advantage of M + D compared with Mor, Dio, and the positive drug metformin (Met). We detected cell viability, cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 protein in rat cardiomyocytes. In result, Mor, Dio, and M + D increased cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis and decreased ROS levels. Additionally, the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was modulated and the expression levels of caspase-3 protein were markedly decreased. Among the treatment groups, M + D produced the most prominent effects. In conclusion, our data showed for the first time that Mor, Dio, and M + D prevented high glucose (HG)-induced myocardial injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes. Among all the groups, M + D produced the strongest effect, while Mor and Dio produced weaker effects.

[Study on enrichment process of Cornus officinalis glycosides with macroporous resin and active carbon].

OBJECTIVE: To study the technological parameters of the enrichment purification of Cornus officinalis glycosides (COG) with macroporous resin and active carbon. METHODS: COG was isolated and purified by active carbon and macroporous resin HPD100. The enrichment of COG was evaluated by HPLC method. RESULTS: The optimum process was that 10 ml extract of Fructus Corni was absorbed with columns of macroporous resin and active carbon(R25 mm x H300 mm) and the columns were washed with 600 ml distilled water, then the morroniside and loganin was eluted from the macroporous resin and active carbon with ethanol. CONCLUSION: The elutive rate of morroniside and logann was about 85% by the macroporous resin, 96% by the active carbon. So this method enriching COG from Fructus Corni is practical.