Simultaneous Determination of Structurally Diverse Compounds in Different Fangchi Species by UHPLC-DAD and UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Hee-Jung Sim,Ji Kim,Kang Lee,Jongki Hong

doi:10.3390/molecules18055235

Abstract

Two bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, two morphine alkaloids, one aporphine alkaloid, syringaresinol and aristolochic acid І were selected as marker compounds and simultaneously analyzed using an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD) method. These marker compounds were used for the quality control of Fangchi species of different origins, including Sinomenium acutum, Stephaniatetrandra, Cocculus trilobus and Aristolochia fangchi. A reversed-phase UHPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of structurally diverse markers in different Fangchi species. In addition, an UHPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) method was used for marker identification in Fangchi species, which provided diagnostic MS/MS spectral patterns that were dependent upon the marker structures. The UHPLC-MS/MS data were used to confirm and complement the UHPLC-DAD quality evaluation results. Additionally, magnoflorine and syringaresinol were observed for the first time in S. tetrandra and C. trilobus, respectively. Twenty different Fangchi species samples were analyzed for aristolochic acid I, syringaresinol and the alkaloids using the UHPLC-DAD and MS/MS method. Based on the levels of markers and principal component analysis (PCA), this method allowed for the clear classification of the samples into four different groups representing samples originating from the four species.

Highlights

IntroductionOne of the most commonly used traditional herbal medicines, is derived from the rhizoma of Sinomenium (S.) acutum [1,2] and the radix of Stephania (S.) tetrandra (Menispermaceae) [3]
Fangchi, one of the most commonly used traditional herbal medicines, is derived from the rhizoma of Sinomenium (S.) acutum [1,2] and the radix of Stephania (S.) tetrandra (Menispermaceae) [3].S. acutum and S. tetrandra have been widely used for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis [4]
UHPLC separation conditions were optimized to facilitate the simultaneous determination of various markers in Fangchi species in a single LC run

Summary

Introduction

One of the most commonly used traditional herbal medicines, is derived from the rhizoma of Sinomenium (S.) acutum [1,2] and the radix of Stephania (S.) tetrandra (Menispermaceae) [3]. S. acutum and S. tetrandra have been widely used for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis [4]. The main bioactive components in S. acutum are alkaloids and lignans such as sinomenine, isosinomenine, magnoflorine and syringaresinol [5]. The main bioactive components in S. tetrandra are tetrandrine and fangchinoline [5]. Cocculus (C.) trilobus (Menispermaceae) and Aristolochia (A.). Fangchi (Aristolochiaceae) are referred to as “Mu fangchi” and “Guang fangchi”, respectively. C. trilobus has been used in folk medicine as a diuretic, analgesic and an anti-inflammatory [6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion