Wen Gao1, Ke Liu2, Rui Wang3, Xin-Guang Liu4, Xiao-Shi Li5, Ping Li6, Hua Yang7. 1. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: gw_cpu@126.com. 2. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: cpu_lk@163.com. 3. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: w.rx60@163.com. 4. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: lxg1987519@163.com. 5. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: lixiaoshi2018@163.com. 6. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: liping2004@126.com. 7. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjia Lane, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: 104yang104@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Quality control of herbal medicines based on characteristic components is an important trend. Although the plant metabolomics provide a powerful tool for species classification, the discovered marker is usually limited in practical application. For rapid discovery of efficient marker combination, we proposed a strategy integrating targeted metabolite profiling and sequential optimization method. METHODS: This strategy included: (1) directional enrichment and chemical profiling of targeted metabolites by matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). (2) Partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA)-based sequential screening of efficient marker combination was constructed for various species predictions. Five Lonicera species and their characteristic metabolites, sponins, were taken as a case study. RESULTS: A total of 19 saponins were identified, and 12 major and available saponins were enriched based on MSPD and quantified by LC-MS/MS in 5 Lonicera species flower buds. Followed by 3 runs of PLS-DA-based screening, a combination consisting of macranthoidin B, dipsacoside B and α-hederin was discovered as the effective chemical marker for 5 analogous Lonicera flower classification. CONCLUSION: Our study provides an effective and applicable approach to select the practical marker combination for the assessment of analogical herb medicines.
BACKGROUND: Quality control of herbal medicines based on characteristic components is an important trend. Although the plant metabolomics provide a powerful tool for species classification, the discovered marker is usually limited in practical application. For rapid discovery of efficient marker combination, we proposed a strategy integrating targeted metabolite profiling and sequential optimization method. METHODS: This strategy included: (1) directional enrichment and chemical profiling of targeted metabolites by matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). (2) Partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA)-based sequential screening of efficient marker combination was constructed for various species predictions. Five Lonicera species and their characteristic metabolites, sponins, were taken as a case study. RESULTS: A total of 19 saponins were identified, and 12 major and available saponins were enriched based on MSPD and quantified by LC-MS/MS in 5 Lonicera species flower buds. Followed by 3 runs of PLS-DA-based screening, a combination consisting of macranthoidin B, dipsacoside B and α-hederin was discovered as the effective chemical marker for 5 analogous Lonicera flower classification. CONCLUSION: Our study provides an effective and applicable approach to select the practical marker combination for the assessment of analogical herb medicines.