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Scrophulariae Radix (SR) is one of the oldest and most frequently used Chinese herbs for oriental medicine in China. Before clinical use, the SR should be processed using different methods after harvest, such as steaming, "sweating", and traditional fire-drying. In order to investigate the difference in chemical constituents using different processing methods, the two-dimensional (2D) 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum correlation (1H-13C HSQC)-based metabolomics approach was applied to extensively characterize the difference in the chemical components in the extracts of SR processed using different processing methods. In total, 20 compounds were identified as potential chemical markers that changed significantly with different steaming durations. Seven compounds can be used as potential chemical markers to differentiate processing by sweating, hot-air drying, and steaming for 4 h. These findings could elucidate the change of chemical constituents of the processed SR and provide a guide for the processing. In addition, our protocol may represent a general approach to characterizing chemical compounds of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and therefore might be considered as a promising approach to exploring the scientific basis of traditional processing of TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two pectic fractions were purified from Osmunda japonica Thunb polysaccharides. • WOJP-A-b was a pectic polysaccharide rich in homogalacturonan (HG) regions. • WOJP-A-c was a pectic polysaccharide rich in HG and rhamnogalacturonan I domains. • Osmunda japonica Thunb could provide natural pectin products for functional foods. Osmunda japonica Thunb, as a traditional edible wild herb in China, has a wide range of pharmacological effects. In this study, two pectic polysaccharides, WOJP-A-b and WOJP-A-c, were obtained from O. japonica stalks by water extraction and alcohol precipitation method, and their fine structures were investigated. Monosaccharide composition and molecular weight analyses showed that WOJP-A-b (10.6 kDa) was mainly composed of galacturonic acid (GalA), with less galactose (Gal) and arabinose (Ara) (molar ratio = 68.3: 12.5: 9.0), while WOJP-A-c (6.6 kDa) was primarily composed of GalA, Gal, Ara, and rhamnose (Rha) residues in a molar ratio of 39.4: 41.2: 11.8: 6.8. The results indicated that WOJP-A-b consisted of esterified homogalacturonan (HG) domains, while WOJP-A-c contained HG domains, as well as 1,4- β -galactan and 1,5- α -arabinan, which might be linked covalently to the minor rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) domains. The results of this study will provide the basis for structure-activity relationship studies of O. japonica polysaccharides and development of natural functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Acidic polysaccharides (WOJP-A) were obtained from Osmunda japonica Thunb by extraction and isolation, and the major acidic polysaccharide fractions WOJP-A-b and WOJP-A-c were further obtained by isolation and purification, and then both were structurally analyzed, and finally deduced WOJP-A-b consisted of esterified homogalacturonan (HG) domains, while WOJP-A-c contained HG domains, as well as 1,4- β -galactan and 1,5- α -arabinan, which might be linked covalently to the minor rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) domains. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Metasequoia glyptostroboides, a tree native to China, is described as a living fossil and has existed for millions of years. The oldest fossils recorded have been dated to the late Cretaceous era. During the time of its existence, the molecular defence system of the tree has apparently resisted millions of generations of pathogens, which encouraged search for novel natural product from this source. Eight compounds have been characterised from needles of M. glyptostroboides, including the novel natural product 6-carboxydihydroresveratrol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside. The structure determinations were based on extensive use of 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and high-resolution mass spectrometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]