Guanding Zhao, Guoping Wu, Junming Chen, Mingming Zhao, Jiansong Wang, Wenbo Xie, Hua Yu
ME and MP presented similarity in potency against inflammation and oxidation, but with differences in pharmacological mechanisms due to their difference in chemistry.
INTRODUCTION: Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC) is a multioriginated Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) derived from the plants of Murraya exotica L. (ME) and M. paniculata (L.) Jack (MP). Although the two plants are both used as MFC in clinics, comparative investigations between them in chemistry and pharmacology are not reported.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to provide systematic comparative investigations on the chemical and bioactive (anti-inflammatory/antioxidant) profiles between ME and MP.
METHODS: The chemical compositions of ME and MP were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and comparatively analyzed with chromatographic fingerprint analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The distribution of species-specific components in ME and MP was quantitatively determined. Moreover, the bioactivities of ME and MP were compared in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, focusing on their modulation of key inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, and the underlying NF-κB/MAPKs signaling pathways.
RESULTS: ME and MP presented significant differences in chemistry and could be well distinguished from each other by HCA and PCA based on the UPLC fingerprint chromatograms. Coumarins (meranzin hydrate and hainanmurpanin) and polymethoxylated flavonoids (luteolin tetramethylether, 5,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone, 3',4',5,5',6,7-hexamethoxyflavone, and 5-demethylnobiletin) were observed to accumulate specifically in ME and MP, respectively. Moreover, ME and MP exhibited comparable activities in ameliorating inflammatory response and oxidative stress in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells through suppressing the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: ME and MP presented similarity in potency against inflammation and oxidation, but with differences in pharmacological mechanisms due to their difference in chemistry.