title: Using Light Microscopy and Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Qualitative and Quantitative Control of a Combined Three-Herb Formulation in Different Preparations.
abstract: Artemisia capillariesThunb,Gardenia jasminoidesEllis, andRheum officinaleBaill have been combined to treat jaundice for thousands of years. Studies have revealed that these herbs induce anti-hepatic fibrosis and anti-hepatic apoptosis and alleviate hepatic oxidative stress. This study aims to determine the quality and quantity of an herbal formulation (Chinese name: Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang) using physical and chemical examinations. Physical examination of Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang in pharmaceutical herbal products, raw fiber powders, and decoction preparations was performed using Congo red and iodine-potassium staining. A sensitive and validated method employing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed to simultaneously quantify the bioactive compounds scoparone, geniposide, and rhein in the Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang formulation in different preparations. Physical examination indicated that cellulose fibers with irregular round shapes were present in the pharmaceutical herbal products. The developed UHPLC-MS/MS method showed good linearity and was well validated. The quantification results revealed that the decoction preparations had the highest amounts of geniposide and rhein. Scoparone appeared in pharmaceutical herbal products from two manufacturers. This experiment provides a qualitative and quantitative method using physical and chemical examinations to test different preparations of herbal products. The results provide a reference for clinical herbal product preparations and further pharmacokinetic research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. melaopin@gmail.com.|Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan. melaopin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tun-Pin
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, E-DA Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan. slingr23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wan-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan. thtsai@ym.edu.tw.|Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. thtsai@ym.edu.tw.|School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. thtsai@ym.edu.tw.|Department of Chemical Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan. thtsai@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003374:Coumarins / Q000032:analysis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D039823:Iridoids / Q000032:analysis; D008853:Microscopy; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D003374:Coumarins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D039823:Iridoids; C007835:geniposide; C018145:scoparone; C020491:rhein
keywords: Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang; geniposide; herbal medicine; mass spectrometry; rhein; scoparone