Exploration on the relationship between commodity grade, toxicity, and chemical ingredients of the hypertoxic Chinese herb -aconite based on UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis
Many foods and herbs are experientially classified into different commodity grades in commercial circulation.As to the hypertoxic herb-aconite, such large one was considered as better quality and lower toxicity.However, this experiential classification lacks of scientific basis, and is not benefit for the market transactions and drug safety.In this paper, we focused on the relationship between commercial grades, toxicity, and chemical ingredients of aconite based on the traditional experience, and applied the minimum lethal dose (MLD) assay and UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis to study it.MLD result suggested the grade Ⅰ aconite owned the lowest lethal toxicity (p<0.05, vs grade Ⅱ).Using UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS method coupled with PLS-DA analysis, we discovered eight chemomarkers to distinguish the commodity grades,including hypaconitine, dexyaconitine, dehydrodelcosine, talatizidine, mesaconitine, songorine, talatisamine, and neoline.Considering their toxicity and pharmacological activity, we found the contents of toxic ingredients hypaconitine, dexyaconitine, and mesaconitine in grade Ⅰ were much lower than that of grade Ⅱ (p<0.01), while the contents of efficacy ingredients songorine, talatisamine, and neoline in grade Ⅰ were the highest (p<0.01, vs grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ).Our results first provide scientific evidence for the commodity grades of aconite, and the research method will be of great reference to other foods and herbs.
Ding-kun Zhang Xue Han Rui-yu Li Ming Niu Tan Peng Qin Dong Ming Yang Jia-bo Wang Xiao-he Xiao
Provuncial and State Constructed Key Laboratory BreedingBase of System Research and Development of C Provuncial and State Constructed Key Laboratory BreedingBase of System Research and Development of C Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, JiangXi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nan China Military Institute of Chinese Medicine, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, PR China Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, PR China