title: Chemical and genetic assessment of variability in commercial Radix Astragali (Astragalus spp.) by ion trap LC-MS and nuclear ribosomal DNA barcoding sequence analyses.
abstract: Radix Astragali (Huangqi) has been demonstrated to have a wide range of immunopotentiating effects and has been used as an adjuvant medicine during cancer therapy. Identity issues in the collection of Radix Astragali exist because many sympatric species of Astragalus occur in the northern regions of China. In order to assess the quality, purity, and uniformity of commercial Radix Astragali, 44 samples were purchased from herbal stores in Hong Kong and New York City. The main constituents, including four isoflavonoids and three saponins, were quantitatively determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). There was significant sample-to-sample variability in the amounts of the saponins and isoflavonoids measured. Furthermore, DNA barcoding utilizing the variable nuclear ITS spacer regions of the 44 purchased Radix Astragali samples were sequenced, aligned and compared. Eight polymorphic point mutations were identified which separated the Radix Astragali samples into three groups. These results indicate that the chemical and genetic variability that exists among Radix Astragali medicinal products is still a consistency and quality issue for this herbal. Two-way ANOVA analysis showed significant effects on the contents of the seven tested compounds when both phylogenetic and geographic (i.e., point of purchase) factors were considered. Therefore, chemical profiles determined by LC-MS and DNA profiles in ITS spacer domains could serve as barcode markers for quality control of Radix Astragali.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center , New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Lie
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Motley
authors.forename: Uchenna J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Unachukwu
authors.forename: Clara Bik San
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ping-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Philip O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Barrie R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Cassileth
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kennelly
mesh_terms: D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006723:Hong Kong; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009519:New York City; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011786:Quality Control; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D012503:Saponins; C027492:Huang Qi