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Tumor immunotherapy can be a suitable cancer treatment option in certain instances. Here we investigated the potential immunomodulatory effect of oral glycyrrhiza polysaccharides (GCP) on the antitumor function of γδT cells in intestinal epithelial cells in mice. We found that GCP can inhibit tumor growth and was involved in the regulation of systemic immunosuppression. GCP administration also promoted the differentiation of gut epithelia γδT cells into IFN‐γ‐producing subtype through regulation of local cytokines in gut mucosa. GCP administration increased local cytokine levels through gut microbiota and the gut mucosa Toll‐like receptors / nuclear factor kappa‐B pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that GCP might be a suitable candidate for tumor immunotherapy, although further clinical research, including clinical trials, are required to validate these results.

Perilla frutescens was an annual herb considered as one of the “One Root of Medicine and Food”, and it was used widely for food and medical treatment. Its main active ingredients were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but it was easily affected during drying and storage. The leaves, seeds and stems had shown differences in therapeutic effects, but the underlying reason remained unclear. In the present work, headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) were utilized to effectively and comprehensively analyze VOCs of fresh and dried P. frutescens between the leaves, stems and seeds. Meanwhile, chemometric analysis was applied to compare and identify characteristic volatile markers. As a result, 60 VOCs were identified by HS-GC-IMS and 115 VOCs were identified by HS-SPME-GC–MS from P. frutescen. 25 potential volatile markers were selected based on a combination model of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest (RF). The models could be used to analyze the variation between fresh and dried P. frutescens and distinguish the differences in different parts effectively and comprehensively. It was the first research regarding the method development of HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC–MS that comprehensively analyzes the VOCs characterization of fresh and dried P. frutescens in different parts and the findings obtained would evaluate the quality and provide a reference for further exploration of the edible and medicinal effects of P. frutescens.

The flower buds of three Panax species (PGF: P. ginseng; PQF: P. quinquefolius; PNF: P. notoginseng) widely consumed as health tea are easily confused in market circulation. We aimed to develop a green, fast, and easy analysis strategy to distinguish PGF, PQF, and PNF. In this work, fast gas chromatography electronic nose (fast GC e-nose), headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), and headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were utilized to comprehensively analyze the volatile organic components (VOCs) of three flowers. Meanwhile, a principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap were applied to distinguish the VOCs identified in PGF, PQF, and PNF. A random forest (RF) analysis was used to screen key factors affecting the discrimination. As a result, 39, 68, and 78 VOCs were identified in three flowers using fast GC e-nose, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-SPME-GC-MS. Nine VOCs were selected as potential chemical markers based on a model of RF for distinguishing these three species. Conclusively, a complete VOC analysis strategy was created to provide a methodological reference for the rapid, simple, and environmentally friendly detection and identification of food products (tea, oil, honey, etc.) and herbs with flavor characteristics and to provide a basis for further specification of their quality and base sources.

This work was designed to investigate the dynamic changes process of non-volatile organic compounds (n-VOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in mulberries during different growth periods using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and HS-GC-IMS. A total of 166 compounds were identified, including 68 n-VOCs and 98 VOCs. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA), random forest analysis (RFA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze differences in mulberries at different ripening stages. A total of 74 compounds appeared or disappeared at different ripening periods and 24 compounds were presented throughout the growth process. Quantitative analysis and antioxidant experiments revealed that as the mulberries continued to mature, flavonoids and phenolic acids continued to increase, and the best antioxidant activity occurred from stage IV. Conclusively, an effective strategy was established for analyzing the composition change process during different growth periods, which could assist in achieving dynamic change process analysis and quality control.

Acori tatarinowii rhizome (ATR) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has multiple effects, such as neuroprotective activity, antidepressant and other activity. However, the widespread cultivation of ATR has led to it varying quality. Therefore, it is important to find a method to quickly identify the components of ATR. Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) were applied to analyze and characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of ATR. 33 VOCs were identified by HS-GC-IMS and 95 VOCs were identified by HS-SPME-GC–MS from 15 batches of ATR. Then, quantification of estragole, methyleugenol, γ-asarone, β-asarone and asarone by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The fingerprint of HS-GC-IMS and the heatmap of HS-SPME-GC–MS were established. Which compared differential components of ATR. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the results of both instruments. The VOCs in the ATR were significantly correlated with β-asarone and asarone by PatternHunter analysis. It assisted HS-GC-IMS determine ATR quality. It is the first report regarding the method development of HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC–MS that targets the VOCs characterization of ATR, and the findings obtained would benefit the quality control and distinguish the complex analytical objects of ATR.

Abstract The mental workload of subjects was tested under different lighting conditions, with colour temperatures ranging from 3000 to 6500 K and illuminance ranging from 300 to 1000 lx. We used both psychological and physiological responses for evaluation. The former was based on NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX, NASA), and the latter was based on the electroencephalogram (EEG) P3b analysis of event-related potentials using the “oddball” paradigm experimental task. The results show that as illuminance increases, and the response time becomes longer with a colour temperature of 3000 K (P

The pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (ZBP) and leaves of Zanthoxylum bungeanum (ZBL) are popular spices in China, and they have pharmacological activities as well. In this experiment, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum in Sichuan (SJ) and its leaves (SJY) and the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum in Shaanxi (SHJ) and its leaves (SHJY) were analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The fingerprint of HS-GC-IMS and the heat maps of HS-SPME-GC-MS were established. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed. The results showed that a total of 95 components were identified, 62 components identified by HS-SPME-GC-MS and 40 components identified by HS-GC-IMS, of which 7 were the same. The analysis found that SJ and SHJ were obviously distinguished, while SJY and SHJY were not. There were considerably fewer VOCs in the leaves than in the pericarps. In the characterization of the VOCs of ZBL and ZBP, the flavor of ZBP was more acrid and stronger, while the flavor of ZBL was lighter and slightly acrid. Thirteen and eleven differential markers were identified by HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC-MS, respectively. This is helpful in distinguishing between SHJ and SJ, which contributes to their quality evaluation.

The co-elution, pervasive isomers, and frequently occurring in-source fragmentation definitely hinder the comprehensive characterization of the multiple components from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Herein, a dimension-enhanced strategy, by utilizing an ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS) with the ability of offering four-dimensional information (retention time, Rt; drift time or collision cross section, CCS; accurate mass of precursors; and accurate MS2 product ions), is presented. Shuanghe Decoction (SHD) is a classic tonifying formula composed of nine herbs, however, little is known to its chemical complexity, hitherto. Good chromatographic separation was achieved on an HSS T3 column, and by the Vion™ IMS-QTOF high-resolution mass spectrometer, data-independent MSE and High-Definition MSE (HDMSE) in both the negative and positive electrospray ionization modes were employed for acquiring the collision-induced dissociation-MS2 data. A self-built database, including 642 known compounds, was established, which assisted to perform the automated peak annotation by UNIFI™. By reference to 55 compounds, totally 236 components were identified or tentatively characterized from SHD with 4D data recorded. The combination of negative and positive modes could yield more information complementary to structural elucidation. Compared with the conventional MSE, HDMSE exhibit of merits in the provision of CCS, better separation and detection those easily co-eluting components, and reduction of the false positives in the identification results. Conclusively, the combination of HDMSE acquisition, in-house library, and UNIFI-facilitated automated peak annotation, renders a potent approach dedicated to deconvoluting the chemical composition of complex systems like TCM formulae.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main chemical components of Schizonepetae Spica (SS), which have positive effects on the quality evaluation of SS. In this study, HS-SPME-GC-MS (headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) and HS-GC-IMS (headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry) were performed to characterize the VOCs of SS from six different regions. A total of 82 VOCs were identified. In addition, this work compared the suitability of two instruments to distinguish SS from different habitats. The regional classification using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) shows that the HS-GC-IMS method can classify samples better than the HS-SPME-GC-MS. This study provided a reference method for identification of the SS from different origins.

Rationale: Kaixin San (KXS) is a prescription traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the effects of "tonifying the kidney and brain" and "improving memory". The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in KXS could effectively improve senile dementia and depression, but only few studies have focused on the overall characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative study of the main active components. Methods: We have developed a strategy to correlate the results from headspace gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC/IMS) and headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) for the comprehensive characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative analysis of the main pharmacodynamic substances. Results: A totsal of 68 low molecular weight VOCs were identified in KXS by HSGC/IMS at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; 117 VOCs were identified and 10 components (isocalamenediol, α-asarone, β-asarone, methyl eugenol, isoeugenol methyl ether, camphor, anethol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphol, linalool, asarylaldehyde) as the quality markers of KXS based on HS-GC/MS. Conclusions: This results from this study provide a foundation for quality control, pharmacodynamic mechanism research and further development of KXS, and provides more convincing data supporting the VOCs of other natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]