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Millettia speciosa Champ. (MSCP), which is distributed and used in Southern China, is often sulfur-fumigated during postharvest handling to prevent insects and molds. In the present study, a comprehensive strategy was proposed by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QTOF–MS/MS) with multivariate analysis to rapidly identify potential chemical sulfur-fumigated MSCP (SF-MSCP) samples, discover chemical transformation mechanisms and control the quality of SF-MSCP. Eighty-six compounds were tentatively assigned, and ten compounds were screened out as potential markers. Moreover, the chemical transformation mechanism was deduced by hydrolysis, esterification and dehydration reactions that occurred during the sulfur-fumigated process. The developed method was successfully applied to predict 16 commercial MSCP samples, and 9 samples were found to contain sulfur compounds, ranging in sulfur residues from 100 to 310 mg/kg. These research outcomes can not only be used to distinguish the nonfumigated MSCP from SF-MSCP by chemical markers but also provide a chemical basis for further comprehensive investigating in-depth safety and functional evaluations of SF-MSCP.

The root of Millettia speciosa Champ. (MSCP) is used in folk medicine and is popular as a soup ingredient. The root is composed of the rhizome and radix, but only the radix has been used as a food. Thus, it is very important to compare the chemical components and antioxidant activities between the rhizome and radix. The extracts were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS and multivariate analysis, and the antioxidant activities were evaluated by 2,20-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. Ninety-one compounds were detected simultaneously and temporarily identified. Ten compounds were identified as chemical markers to distinguish the rhizome from the radix. The antioxidant activities of the radix were higher than the rhizome. Correlation analysis showed that uvaol-3-caffeate, 3-O-caffeoyloleanolic acid, and khrinone E were the main active markers for antioxidant activity, which allowed for the rapid differentiation of rhizomes and the radix. Therefore, it could be helpful for future exploration of its material base and bioactive mechanism. In addition, it would be considered to be used as a new method for the quality control of M. speciosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millettia speciosa Champ. (MSCP), which is distributed and used in Southern China, is often sulfur-fumigated during postharvest handling to prevent insects and molds. In the present study, a comprehensive strategy was proposed by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QTOF–MS/MS) with multivariate analysis to rapidly identify potential chemical sulfur-fumigated MSCP (SF-MSCP) samples, discover chemical transformation mechanisms and control the quality of SF-MSCP. Eighty-six compounds were tentatively assigned, and ten compounds were screened out as potential markers. Moreover, the chemical transformation mechanism was deduced by hydrolysis, esterification and dehydration reactions that occurred during the sulfur-fumigated process. The developed method was successfully applied to predict 16 commercial MSCP samples, and 9 samples were found to contain sulfur compounds, ranging in sulfur residues from 100 to 310 mg/kg. These research outcomes can not only be used to distinguish the nonfumigated MSCP from SF-MSCP by chemical markers but also provide a chemical basis for further comprehensive investigating in-depth safety and functional evaluations of SF-MSCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]