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Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) is an edible tropical fruit that is widely grown in Southeast Asia. In general, the seeds contain high nutrients, but rambutan seeds are thrown out during processing. In this study, the anti-aging activity of rambutan seeds was evaluated with a new approach through the selective inhibition of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (senomorphics). Luciferase promoter assays using p16INK4A and SA-&beta, gal promoters for rambutan showed that its seeds possessed strong senomorphic activity. Molecular networking using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF-MS) with a tandem database (UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS) was applied to determine the chemical composition of rambutan. Based on the activity results, nine compounds, one new (7) and eight known kaempferol type compounds, were isolated from the seeds. Compounds 2, 4 and 9 significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of senescence markers, such as p16INK4A, p21CIP1, p53 and SA-&beta, gal. These compounds also significantly increased the level of SIRT1, a longevity modulator. Compounds 2, 4 and 9 decreased the mRNA expression levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) and subsequently decreased the number of SA-&beta, gal-positive cells. Thus, rambutan seeds and its constituents might be able to protect against age-related problems.

(1) Background: The ability to determine the age of ginseng is very important because the price of ginseng depends on the cultivation period. Since morphological observation is subjective, a new scientific and systematic method for determining the age of ginseng is required. (2) Methods: Three techniques were used for a metabolomics approach. High-resolution magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) spectroscopy was used to analyze powdered ginseng samples without extraction. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) and gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) were used to analyze the extracts of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old ginseng. (3) Results: A metabolomics approach has the potential to discriminate the age of ginseng. Among the primary metabolites detected from NMR spectroscopy, the levels of fumarate and choline showed moderate prediction with an area under the curve (AUC) value of more than 0.7. As a result of UPLC-QTOF/MS-based profiling, 61 metabolites referring to the VIP (variable importance in the projection) score contributed to discriminating the age of ginseng. The results of GC&times, GC-TOF/MS showed clear discrimination of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old ginseng using orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to 100% of the discrimination rate. The results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, 16 metabolites between 4- and 5-year-old ginseng, and 18 metabolites between 5- and 6-year-old ginseng contributed to age discrimination in all regions. (4) Conclusions: These results showed that metabolic profiling and multivariate statistical analyses can distinguish the age of ginseng. Especially, it is meaningful that ginseng samples from different areas had the same metabolites for age discrimination. In future studies, it will be necessary to identify the unknown variables and to collaboratively study with other fields the biochemistry of aging in ginseng.

Diverse peanut varieties are widely cultivated in China. However, few studies have investigated the effects of germination on the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of specific Chinese peanut cultivars. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of germination on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, and phenolic profiles of seven peanut cultivars in China. The TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities were determined by spectrophotometry, while phenolic profiles were analyzed by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). The results found that germination significantly increased TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was found to be closely related to TPC in germinated peanut extracts, which indicates that phenolics are the main contributors of antioxidants in germinated peanuts. In addition, germination induced significant changes in polyphenolic profiles. In the analyzed samples, 36 phenolic compounds were identified in which most were flavonoids. Overall, these findings highlight that germinated peanuts can be a good natural source of natural antioxidants for human consumption and functional food development.

In the food industry and herbal markets, it is critical to control the quality of processed Panax ginseng products. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS)-based metabolomics was applied for the quality evaluation of white ginseng (WG), tae-geuk ginseng (TG), red ginseng (RG), and black ginseng (BG). Diverse metabolites including ginsenosides were profiled by UPLC-QTOF/MS, and the datasets of WG, TG, RG, and BG were then subjected to multivariate analyses. In principal component analysis (PCA), four processed ginseng products were well-differentiated, and several ginsenosides were identified as major components of each product. S-plot also characterized the metabolic changes between two processed ginseng products, and the major ginsenosides of each product were found as follows: WG (M-Rb1, M-Rb2, M-Rc, Re, Rg1), TG (Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1), RG (Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1), and BG (Rd, Rk1, Rg5, Rg3). Furthermore, the quantitative contents of ginsenosides were evaluated from the four processed ginseng products. Finally, it was indicated that the proposed metabolomics approach was useful for the quality evaluation and control of processed ginseng products.

Hedyotis diffuse Willd. (HD) and Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (HC), two closely related species of the same genus, are both used for health benefits and disease prevention in China. HC is also indiscriminately sold as HD in the wholesale chain and food markets. This confusion has led to a growing concern about their identification and quality evaluation. In order to further understand the molecular diversification between them, we focus on the screening of chemical components and the analysis of non-targeted metabolites. In this study, UPLC-QTOF-MSE, UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analyses were used to profile them. Firstly, a total of 113 compounds, including 80 shared chemical constituents of the two plants, were identified from HC and HD by using the UNIFI platform. Secondly, the differences between two herbs were highlighted with the comparative analysis. As a result, a total of 33 robust biomarkers enabling the differentiation were discovered by using multivariate statistical analyses. For HC, there were 18 potential biomarkers (either the contents were much greater than in HD or being detected only in HC) including three iridoids, eight flavonoids, two tannins, two ketones, one alcohol and two monoterpenes. For HD, there were15 potential biomarkers (either the contents were much greater than in HC or being detected only in HD) including two iridoids, eight flavonoids, one tannin, one ketone, and three anthraquinones. With a comprehensive consideration of the contents or the MS responses of the chemical composition, Hedycoryside A and B, detected only in HC, could be used for rapid identification of HC. The compounds 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone and 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone, detected only in HD, could be used for rapid identification of that plant. The systematic comparison of similarities and differences between two confusing Chinese herbs will provide reliable characterization profiles to clarify the pharmacological fundamental substances. HC should not be used as the substitute of HD.

In traditional Chinese medicine practice, drying method is an essential factor to influence the components of Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)-based approach was used to compare the content of chemical compounds of mountain cultivated ginseng that had been natural air dried (LX-P) and vacuum freeze-dried (LX-L). Multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised orthogonal partial least squared discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to select the influential components of different samples. There were 41 ginsenosides unambiguously identified and tentatively assigned in both LX-L and LX-P. The results showed that the characteristic components in LX-P were ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rc, ginsenoside Rg6, dendrolasin, and ginsenoside Rb2. The characteristic components in LX-L were malonyl-ginsenoside Re, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb1, malonyl-ginsenoside Rc, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb1 isomer, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb2, malonyl-ginsenoside Rb3, malonyl-ginsenoside Rd isomer, gypenoside XVII, and notoginsenoside Fe. This is the first time that the differences between LX-L and LX-P have been observed systematically at the chemistry level. It was indicated that vacuum freeze-drying method can improve the content of malonyl-ginsensides in mountain cultivated ginseng.

Metabolite profiles of plant organs and their in vitro cultures of Justicia gendarussa have been studied by using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Qtof-MS). Samples of leaves, stems, roots, and shoot cultures showed similar patterns of metabolites, while samples of root cultures gave very different profiles. Concentrations of secondary metabolites in shoot cultures were relatively low compared to those in the leaves and roots of the plants. The results suggested that secondary metabolites in J. gendarussa were biosynthetized in the leaves, then transported to the roots.