Identification of Chemical Markers for the Discrimination of Radix Angelica sinensis Grown in Geoherb and Non-Geoherb Regions Using UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS Based Metabolomics.

Kaixue Zhang,Lili Sun,Min Jiang,Zhigang Yang,Hong Du,Guanhua Wei,Gang Bai,Liyao Wang,Liu Zhang,Shu Han,Menglin Yan,Longfei Cong,Haiying Bai

doi:10.3390/molecules24193536

Abstract

This research aimed to discover chemical markers for discriminating radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) from different regions and to explore the differences of RAS in the content of four active compounds and anti-inflammatory activities on lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells and calcium antagonists on the HEK 293T cells of RAS. Nine compounds were selected as characteristic chemical markers by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), based on metabolomics, in order to rapidly discriminate RAS from geoherb and non-geoherb regions. The contents of senkyunolide I and butylidenephthalide in geoherb samples were higher than those in non-geoherb samples, but the contents of ferulic acid and levistolide A were lower in the geoherb samples. Furthermore, the geoherbs showed better nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory and calcium antagonistic activities than the non-geoherbs. These results demonstrate the diversity in quality of RAS between geoherbs and non-geoherbs.

Highlights

The radix of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (RAS) has played an important role in traditionalChinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, due to its functions of replenishing and invigorating the blood, stopping pain, and moistening the intestines [1]
We have demonstrated that both senkyunolide I and butylidenephthalide were higher in geoherbs than in non-geoherbs
A total of 37 compounds were detected, and nine characteristic chemical markers were selected for discriminating radix Angelica sinensis (RAS) from different regions by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS

Summary

Introduction

The radix of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (RAS) has played an important role in traditional. Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, due to its functions of replenishing and invigorating the blood, stopping pain, and moistening the intestines [1]. Phthalides and their dimers, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, and flavonoids are reported as the main constituents of RAS [2]. Metabolomics, a new branch of systems biology, is a powerful tool for the comprehensive profiling and comparison of metabolites. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) are the routine analysis methods in metabolomics studies

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Conclusion