New Analytical Platform for Traditional Chinese Medicine Component Analysis

In a recent study published in the Journal of Separation Science, lead author Jing Dong from Shimadzu and Capital Normal University and colleagues have unveiled a pioneering hybrid online analytical platform (1). This system is designed to aid analysis of traditional Chinese medicines, specifically focusing on Valeriana jatamansi Jones.

Chinese herbal medicine | Image Credit: © zhengzaishanchu - stock.adobe.com

Valeriana jatamansi is renowned in traditional Chinese medicine for its diverse chemical structures and wide polarity, housing compounds such as iridoids, chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids, which boast rich effective compositions (1). However, conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods have shown limitations in fully characterizing these components. As a result, a new approach is needed to successfully characterize the components in traditional Chinese medicines.

Dong's team addressed this challenge by devising a hybrid online platform that integrates supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with both reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) separation and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) in normal phase (1). The approach put forth by the research team sought to improve separation abilities. Unlike most traditional methods, the research team’s newly developed platform was able to further separate and analyze the complex compounds present in Valeriana jatamansi (1).

The research team also integrated mass spectrometry (MS) into their platform. By using a mass spectrometer in conjunction with their platform, the research team discovered that it helped improve analysis because it helped acquire HRMS data (1). As a result, the combination of techniques facilitates a comprehensive screening of Valeriana jatamansi components (1).

Overall, the study identified a staggering total of 117 compounds within Valeriana jatamansi. Among these were five lignans, 18 organic acids, six flavonoids, and 88 iridoids (1). Even more striking, 33 of these compounds were reported for the first time from Valeriana jatamansi, marking a significant advancement in our understanding of its chemical composition (1).

Therefore, this study demonstrated a new method that could better separate traditional Chinese medicine components while understanding the components of Valeriana jatamansi better. Moreover, the success of the developed online platform underscores its robustness and efficiency in analyzing intricate samples (1).

This study not only sheds light on the diverse chemical makeup of Valeriana jatamansi but also sets a precedent for the application of advanced analytical techniques in comprehensively unraveling the complexities of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, the hybrid online platform devised by Dong and the team represents a leap forward in accelerating the efficiency and accuracy of analyzing intricate natural compounds (1).

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Reference

(1) Chen, H.; Zhang, X.; Ren, B.; Niu, Y.; Dong, J.Simultaneously Characterization of Multiple Constituents in Valeriana jatamansi Jones Using an Online Supercritical Fluid Extraction-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry System. J. Sep. Sci. 2023, ASAP. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202300550