Ranunculus sceleratus L.(RS) has shown various pharmacological effects in traditional Chinese medicine. In our previous study, the positive therapeutic effect on α-naphthylisothiocyanate induced intrahepatic cholestasis in rats was obtained using TianJiu treatment with fresh RS. However, the chemical profile of RS has not been clearly clarified, which impedes the research progress on the therapeutic effect of RS. Herein, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) method was developed to rapidly separate and identify multiple constituents in the 80% methanol extract of RS. A total of sixty-nine compounds (19 flavonoids, 22 organic acids, 6 coumarins, 4 lignans, 14 nitrogenous compounds, and 4 anthraquinones) were successfully characterized. A total of 12 of these compounds were unambiguously identified by standard samples. Their mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways were investigated. It is worth noting that flavonoids and lignans were identified for the first time in RS. In this study, we successfully provide the first comprehensive report on identifying major chemical constituents in RS by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. The obtained results enrich the RS chemical profile, paving the way for further phytochemical study, quality control, and pharmacological investigation of RS.

This study aimed to analyze the structure of polysaccharides from eight different Dendrobium species and their protective effects on gastric mucosa. Ultraviolet (UV) analysis showed that the contents of eight polysaccharides ranged from 51.89 ± 6.91% to 80.57 ± 11.63%; the degree of acetylation ranged from 0.17 ± 0.03 to 0.48 ± 0.03. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed that these polysaccharides were mainly composed of mannose (Man) and glucose (Glc) with a small amount of galactose (Gal) and arabinose (Ara), and the monosaccharide ratios of different Dendrobium species were different. High-performance size exclusion chromatography—multi angle light scattering—refractive index detector (HPSEC-MALS-RID) showed that the molecular weight (Mw) of all Dendrobium polysaccharides was >1 × 10⁵ Da; D. huoshanense had the lowest molecular weight. Subsequently, an ethanol injured GES-1 cell model was constructed to evaluate the gastric mucosal protective potential of polysaccharides from eight different Dendrobium species. The results showed that the protective effect of the low concentration 50 μg/mL DHP treatment group was similar to that of the control group (p > 0.05), and the cell viability could reach 97.32% of that of the control group. Based on the polysaccharide composition, different kinds of Dendrobium have different degrees of migration and repair effects on GES-1 damaged cells, and the effect of DHP is slightly better than that of other varieties (83.13 ± 1.05%). Additionally, Dendrobium polysaccharides alleviated ethanol-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory response in gastric mucosal cells by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) and reducing the levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species. Overall, DHP can most effectively protect gastric mucosa. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between the structure and biological activity of Dendrobium polysaccharides, providing a foundation for the quality control of Dendrobium. Furthermore, these findings offer theoretical support for the development of Dendrobium polysaccharides as nutraceuticals to treat digestive system diseases.

Due to morphological similarities, adulterants are frequently substituted for Qingfengteng (QFT, Sinomenium acutum) in regional markets. This study developed a TaqMan probe-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay targeting a 57-base pair (bp) fragment of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region for the specific detection of QFT. The method was validated using a diverse set of samples, including: (1) 19 batches of QFT and 8 batches of Beidougen (BDG, Menispermum dauricum), comprising both medicinal materials and decoction pieces; (2) 5 batches each of decoction pieces from Qingsheteng (QST, Periploca calophylla), Jishiteng (JST, Paederia foetida), Kuanjinteng (KJT, Tinospora sinensis), and Huibeiqingfengteng (HBQFT, Sabia discolor); (3) 6 batches of commercial QFT-containing tablets (with different batch numbers) and 6 batches of laboratory-prepared QFT aqueous decoctions (with different decocting time). Distinct cycle threshold (Ct) values and amplification curves unambiguously differentiated QFT from all adulterants. An external standard-based quantification approach was established to detect adulteration with BDG, the morphologically and genetically most similar adulterant. Recovery rates ranged from 81.79 to 102.38% in herbal mixed powders spiked with 1%, 5%, 50%, and 100% BDG. The method reliably detected QFT in processed tablets and freeze-dried decoctions, demonstrating high tolerance to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) degradation. This qPCR assay enables specific and quantitative detection of QFT in dried and processed samples using short amplicons (57 bp), thereby supporting quality control throughout the herbal production chain.

A portable NIR spectroscopy approach combined with UPLC and machine learning enables rapid origin discrimination and alkaloid quantification of Stephania tetrandra roots for quality control in medicinal plant supply chains.

Sanghuang (SH), a natural fungal resource used for food and medicinal purposes, has drawn considerable attention due to its pharmacological effects and efficacy. This study focused on Wild Sanghuang (WS) and Sanghuang cultivated using two different methods: Duanmu Sanghuang and Mycelium Sanghuang. Using UPLC-O-TOF-MS, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the secondary metabolites present in SH. The content of 18 amino acids was measured using an automated amino acid analyzer. The results demonstrated major differences in secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, organic acids, amino acids, and their derivatives, between WS and cultivated Sanghuang (CS). The total amino acid content in WS surpassed that of CS, with segmental trunk SH exhibiting a total amino acid content 1.3 times (p < 0.05) greater than that of bag material SH. This variation may be linked to the biosynthetic pathways of valine, leucine, isoleucine, and flavonoids. By comparing the metabolomic and amino acidomic differences between WS and artificially CS, this study aims to provide a scientific basis for understanding the nutritional and medicinal value of various cultivation methods for SH and offer theoretical support for the future development of SH-related products.