LC-MS-based metabolomics has being widely used in traditional Chinese medicines （TCMs） research due to the great coverage of mass ranges, high sensitivity to detect metabolites, and no need of sample derivatization. Herein, we reviewed our research on the applications of LC-MS-based metabolomics in TCMs research over the past decade in the following aspects： herbal authentication, determination of herb harvest time, chemical transformation of herbs during post-harvest handlings （sulfurfumigation and drying）, discrimination of raw and processed herbs, chemical transformation of TCMs during preparation, screening endogenous toxic compounds in TCMs, unveiling synergistic mechanisms between small molecules （such as saponins） and polysaccharides in TCMs, revealing synergistic actions of TCMs with chemical drugs, which demonstrated that metabolomics is a superior strategy in TCMs research concerning the holistic perspectives.
Qian MaoJin-di XuMing KongHong ShenHe ZhuShan-shan ZhouSong-lin Li
AIM： To evaluate the chemical profiles and cytotoxic effects among the total saponin fraction （TSF）, 25% ethanol fraction （25EF）, 50% ethanol fraction （50EF）, and 85% ethanol fraction （85EF） prepared by macroporous resin from the leaves of Panax notoginseng. METHOD： The simultaneous determination of thirteen main saponins, as well as the chemical profiles of saponin fractions of different polarity, was made by HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MSn analysis. The cytotoxic effects were determined against KP4 cells （human pancreatic cancer）, NCI-H727 ceils （human lung cancer）, HepG2 cells （human hepatocellular cancer）, and SGC-7901 cells （human gastric adenocarcinoma）. RESULTS： Chemical analysis indicated that 85EF possessed the most abundant cytotoxic protopanaxadiol saponins, including the marker saponins F2, 20（R）-Rg3, 20（S）-Rg3, and Rh2. The MTT assay showed that 85EF also had the strongest cytotoxic effects among the four fractions. 25EF showed no anti-proliferative effects, while 50EF and TSF exhibited weak anti-proliferative activity. CONCLUSION： From the aspect of comprehensive utilization of resources, 85EF, enriched with low polarity PPD group saponins, is a new alternative source of anticancer saponins, and a promising botanical preparation for further anticancer studies.
MAO QianLI YiLI Song-LinYANG JieZHANG Ping-HuWANG Qiang
