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. 2021 Nov;32(6):1131-1140.
doi: 10.1002/pca.3054. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

An integrated strategy for the establishment of a protoberberine alkaloid profile: Exploration of the differences in composition between Tinosporae radix and Fibraurea caulis

Xueyan Zhao  1 , Yan Zhang  2 , Quansheng Wang  3 , Jiaxin Huang  1 , Bo She  1 , Qingxin Shi  1 , Xingliang Xiang  1 , Chao Su  1 , Lijun Zhang  4 , Rongzeng Huang  1   5 , Chengwu Song  1   5
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An integrated strategy for the establishment of a protoberberine alkaloid profile: Exploration of the differences in composition between Tinosporae radix and Fibraurea caulis

Xueyan Zhao et al. Phytochem Anal. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate species and content identification of major active components in herbals are the guarantee of the safety and effectiveness for medical and commodity purposes.

Objectives: In this study, an integrated strategy used to establish the protoberberine alkaloid profile was applied to explore the differences in composition between the pieces of Tinosporae radix and Fibraurea caulis, both of which had morphological similarities.

Materials and methods: First, an in-house library including possible protoberberine alkaloids based on different substituents was predicted by systematic literature survey. Meanwhile, diagnostic fragments of protoberberine alkaloids were investigated using the corresponding standards. Second, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was used to obtain multidimensional mass spectral data. Then, the identifications were confirmed by targeted filter of the acquired data based on the library.

Results: As a result, 10 protoberberine alkaloid molecules including 46 isomers were identified or characterised. The qualitative distribution and relative content of protoberberine alkaloids revealed the fundamental difference between Tinosporae radix and Fibraurea caulis. 25 alkaloids were present in both herbals, while five compounds were detected only in Tinosporae radix. Furthermore, the contents of four alkaloids in Tinosporae radix were significantly higher than those in its adulterant, Fibraurea caulis.

Conclusion: The five unique ingredients in Tinosporae radix can be used as a better indicator for distinguishing the pieces of Tinosporae radix and Fibraurea caulis. The protoberberine alkaloid profile established in this study can be applied to quality evaluation of the two herbals or other herbals containing major protoberberine alkaloids.

Keywords: Tinosporae radix; UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS; protoberberine alkaloid profile.

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