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. 2017 Feb 5;55(1):937–945. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1285327

LC-MS/MS analysis and evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of components from BushenHuoxue decoction

Dongdong Sun a,b,*,✉, Qiuying Yan a,c,*,✉, Xiaofang Xu b, Weixing Shen a,c, Changliang Xu a,c, Jiani Tan a,c, Haibin Zhang b, Liu Li b, Haibo Cheng a,b,✉
PMCID: PMC6130660  PMID: 28164729

Abstract

Context: BushenHuoxue decoction (BSHXD) is a Chinese medicine prescription, which is composed of nine Chinese medical materials, used to treat osteoarthritis (OA).

Objective: This study develops sensitive and convenient LC-MS/MS methods to analyze chemical components from BSHXD, and assess the anti-inflammatory activities thereof.

Materials and methods: The chemical composition from BSHXD water extract was qualitative analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Twelve reference compounds were analyzed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Anti-inflammatory activities of target components were assessed by ELISA at 20 and 100 μg/mL.

Results: It is the first time that 88 compounds were qualitatively identified from BSHXD, of which 12 with potential in treating OA according to the literature were quantified. Within BSHXD the contents of quercetin, isopsoralen, icarisideII, osthole, and isoimperatorin increased remarkably compared with those in single herb which make up BSHXD, the contents were 0.1999, 0.4634, 0.0928, 0.5364, and 0.1487 mg/g. ELISA data displayed that BSHXD and the five compounds mentioned inhibited the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6 and NO released from LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell, with maximum inhibition rates of 104.05% (osthole, 100 μg/mL), 100.03% (osthole, 100 μg/mL), and 93.46% (isopsoralen, 20 μg/mL), respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: Content changes of 12 compounds in BSHXD and single herbs which comprise the prescription were measured and analyzed. Contents of five compounds increased may be explained by solubilization between drugs and chemical reaction. ELISA results reported that the increased contents of the five compounds could inhibit expression of the inflammatory factors.

Keywords: ELISA, osteoarthritis, qualitative analysis, simultaneously determine

Introduction

BushenHuoxue Decoction (BSHXD), which is applied to treat osteoarthritis (OA), originates from a commonly used recipe for Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. BSHXD was composed of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, Taxilli Herba, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Epimedii Folium, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma Et Radix, and Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum.

OA which is also called hypertrophic arthritis or degenerative arthritis was frequently occurred and refractory. It is expressed by arthralgia, stiffness, and deformity (Zhang et al. 2007; Juhl et al. 2014). Depending on the basic theories of Chinese medicine, it is a type of bone obstruction disease. The principal pathological symptom of OA is lesion of cartilage tissue. Cytokine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OA by promoting catabolism of cartilage matrix (Schable 2014; Yang et al. 2014; Cornejo et al. 2015).

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS) was established for qualitative analysis on chemical compounds of BSHXD. Eighty-eight compounds were confirmed by comparing its retention time and MS spectrum with the corresponding reference compound. Through the review of literature, 12 active compounds with potential in treating OA and inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis were found from these 88 compounds. UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS method was also established to simultaneously determine and compare the contents of these 12 compounds in BSHXD and in single herb decoction. The results showed that the contents of five compounds, which were quercetin, isopsoralen, icariside II, osthole, and isoimperatorin, increased remarkably in BSHXD. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity and explore the therapeutic mechanism of BSHXD against OA, the effect of above five compounds on TNF-α, IL-6, and NO released by macrophage was assayed.

Materials and methods

Chemicals, reagents, and samples

The reference compounds of catechin (no. 10144-201209), paeoniflorin (no. 0736-9811), hyperoside (no. 10228-201204), ferulic acid (no. 0773-9910), polydatin (no. 10201-201209), quercetin (no. 081-9003), resveratrol (no. 10040-201201), psoralen (no. 739-8701), isopsoralen (no. 0739-200108), icariside II (no. 20264-201201), osthole (no. 0822-9802), and isoimperatorin (no. 10531-201203) were obtained from the National Institutes for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products (Beijing, China). LPS (1 mg/mL, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), 1640 medium (Gibico, Waltham, MA), FBS (Sijiqing Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China), Pancreatin (no. 27250018, Gibico, Waltham, MA), DMSO (no. 20110105, Lingfeng Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China), TNF-α ELISA kit (no. EM004-96, 96t, Kesai Biological Products Co., Shanghai, China), IL-6 ELISA kit (no. EM008-96, 96t, Kesai Biological Products Co., Shanghai, China), and NO kit (no. S0021-2, 200t, Beyotime Institute of Biotechnology, Jiangsu, China).

Methanol and acetonitrile were of HPLC grade and purchased from Hanbang Technology Co., Ltd. (Jiangsu, China). Ultra-pure water was obtained by the EPED super-purification system (Nanjing EPED Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China). All other chemicals and solvents used in this study were of analytical grade. The herbal materials were purchased in June 2011 from Bozhou Medicinal Material Company (Bozhou, China) and authenticated by Prof. Jianwei Chen of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. Voucher specimens were deposited at Key Laboratory of Famous Doctors' Proved Recipe Evaluation and Transformation of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Instrument and LC-MS/MS conditions

Instruments

RE-52A rotary evaporator (Shanghai Yarong Biochemistry Instrument Factory, Shanghai, China), hypothermia centrifugal machine (model TGL16, Changsha Xiangzhi, Changsha, China), water bath (model SY-1220, Crystal, Santa Clara, CA), super clean bench (model 1300 SERIES A2, Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA), CO2 incubator (Thermo Scientific SERIES II WATER JACKET), and enzyme-labelling instrument (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA).

Chromatographic conditions

HPLC analysis was performed on a Shimadzu LC-20A HPLC system (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) equipped with a binary pump, an online degasser, an autosampler, and a column oven, using a Hanbon LichrospherTM HPLC C18 column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was methanol (A) and 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v, B), with a gradient elution of 10% A in 0–5 min, 10–30% A in 5–10 min, 30–85% A in 10–15 min, 85–100% A in 15–20 min, 100% A in 20–23 min, 100–10% A in 23–30 min, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, the injection volume was 10 μL, and the temperature of the column was maintained at 40 °C.

UPLC analysis was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system (Waters, Milford, MA) equipped with a binary pump, an online degasser, an autosampler, and a column oven, using a BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm I.D., 1.7 μm, Waters, Milford, MA). The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% aqueous formic acid (v/v, A) and acetonitrile (B), with a gradient program of 90–65% A in 0–7 min, 65–40% A in 7–11 min, 40–0% A in 11–14 min, 0–0% A in 14–17 min, 0–90% A in 17–18 min, at a flow rate was 0.4 mL/min, the injection volume was 2 μL, and the temperature of the column was maintained at 35 °C.

Mass-spectrometry conditions

The qualitative analysis was performed on an AB SCIEX Triple Tof 5600 (AB SCIEX, Foster City, CA) equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source, and the ESI source was set in positive and negative mode. The scanning mode was set in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The ion spray (IS) voltage was set at −4500.00 V; declustering potential (DP), −80 V; collision (CE), −30.0 V; ion source gas 1, 55.00 psi; ion source gas 2, 55.00 psi; CUR, 40.00 psi; TEM, 500.00 °C; TOF MASSES (DA), Min =100.0000, Max =1200.0000; collisional excitation scanning (CES), 20.0.

The quantitative analysis was performed on a Waters-Xevo TQ, tri-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer system (Waters, Milford, MA) equipped with an ESI source, and the ESI source was set in positive and negative mode. The scanning mode was established in MRM mode. The capillary voltage was 3 kV, ion source temperature was 150 °C, the dry gas flow was 1000 L/h, dry heater was 550 °C, the cone gas flow was 50 L/h, and the collision gas flow was 0.15 mL/min.

Preparation of sample solutions for LC-MS/MS analysis

Angelicae Pubescentis Radix 400 g, Taxilli Herba 400 g, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix 600 g, Epimedii Folium 600 g, Angelicae Sinensis Radix 600 g, Chuanxiong Rhizoma 600 g, Paeoniae Radix Alba 600 g, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma Et Radix 600 g, and Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum 600 g were mixed together. The mixture was decocted with 30 L water three times (1, 1, and 0.5 h). The filtrates from each decoction were consolidated and concentrated to 1000 mL, and added 1100 mL 95% ethanol, suspension was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min after 48 h standing. The supernatant was dried on a water bath, and dissolved 0.0001 g dried supernatant in 50% methanol to 100 mL, then filtered through 0.22 μm membrane filter to produce stock solutions. The reference compounds were accurately weighed and dissolved in 50% methanol to produce stock reference solutions. The above stock solutions was stored at 4 °C and brought to room temperature before use.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Cell culture

The murine macrophages RAW264.7 were cultured in 1640 culture medium with 10% FBS in an incubator containing 5% CO2 at 37 °C. The cells were digested with trypsin when they grew to an appropriate amount, and placed into the wells of a 48-well plate at 200 μL/well (1 × 105 cells/well) and cultured for 24 h in the sterilized incubator.

Grouping and administration

LPS was diluted with 1640 culture medium to 500 ng/mL, BSHXD and compound samples were dissolved in DMSO at 1 × 105 μg/mL and diluted to 100 and 20 μg/mL with the culture medium. Above samples were added to each of control group, LPS group, and sample groups (LPS + sample 20 μg/mL, LPS + sample 100 μg/mL) in an amount of 300 μL. The 48-well plate was incubated another 24 h in the sterilized incubator.

Sample detection

The supernatant was collected after centrifuging at 10,000 rpm for 2 min at 4 °C. The supernatant was treated and the absorbance was measured at 450 nm (TNF-α, IL-6) and 540 nm (NO) using an enzyme-labelling instrument according to the instruction of the manufacturer, respectively. Cytokine concentrations were calculated by a calibration curve prepared by standard concentrations as X-axis, and OD values as Y-axis.

Data analysis

Inhibitory rate (%) = 100%− (CLPS + sample−CLPS)/(CLPS−Cuntreated), C is the cytokine concentration. All samples were assayed in triplicate. The results were presented as means ± standard deviations (SD). Statistical analyses were performed using a one-way analysis of variance ANOVA test (SPSS v.16.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), followed by Student’s two-tailed unpaired t-test. p < 0.05 was considered as the statistically significant.

Results and discussion

Optimization of ion condition

In order to determine appropriate ion condition for Q-TOF and TQ mass spectrometer, all the analytes were detected under affuse mode, and the fragment ions were automatically collected under MRM scanning mode, with optimal cone voltage and collision energies.

Selection of mobile phases

A series of experiments were carried out with different mobile phases, for example methanol/water, methanol/acetonitrile–water, methanol/acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid–water, methanol/acetonitrile–0.05% aqueous formic acid. It turned out that the best chromatographic peak was obtained when using methanol–0.1% aqueous formic acid solution and 0.1% aqueous formic acid solution–acetonitrile as the mobile phases for HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS, respectively.

Qualitative analysis

Qualitative analysis on compounds in BSHXD was achieved by HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS, the total ion flow chart of positive and negative ion modes is shown in Figure 1. These peaks showed different molecular ion the MS2 spectra, which exhibited a fragmentation pathway. According to measured molecular weight, theoretical molecular weight, fragment ion, elemental analysis, and compared with relevant literature data, 88 compounds from BSHXD were detected and confirmed. The mass error for molecular ions was in ±5 ppm. The detailed spectral data are presented in Table 1. The results provided some evidence of the material basis for the BSHXD.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Total ion flow chart of positive ion (A) and negative ion (B) mode in BSHXD.

Table 1.

Qualitative analysis on chemical compounds in BSHXD.

    Negative ion (m/z)
 Positive ion (m/z)
        
No. TR/min Measured molecular weight Theoretical molecular weight ppm Measured molecular weight Theoretical molecular weight ppm Fragment ion Molecular formula Compound
1 1.82       175.1186 175.119 −0.23 (+)130,116,112 C6H14N4O2 Arginine
2 2.18 341.1091 341.1089 0.06 365.1053 365.1054 −0.03 (−)221,179,161,119,113,(+)203 C12H22O11 Sucrose
3 2.29 179.0571 179.0561 0.59       (−)131,101 C6H12O6 Glucose
4 2.3 179.0576 179.0561 0.84       (−)161,134 C6H12O6 Inositol
5 2.34       118.0863 118.0863 0 (+) 118 C5H11NO2 Valine
6 2.38       138.0548 138.055 −0.14 (+) 120 C7H7NO2 Trigonelline
7 2.38       176.1025 176.103 −0.28 (+) 130, C6H13N3O3 Citrulline
8 2.49       144.1007 144.1019 −0.83 (+) 102 C7H13NO2 Stachydrine
9 2.81       156.0761 156.0768 −0.45 (+) 110 C6H9N3O2 L-Histidine
10 2.86 243.0632 243.0636 −0.16       (−)130,110 C9H12N2O6 Uridine
11 3.7 169.0152 169.0143 0.53       (−)125,107 C7H6O5 Gallic acid
12 6.52 153.0213 153.0193 1.3       (−)108 C7H6O4 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid
13 7.75 543.1173 543.1178 −0.09       (−)421,259,121 C23H28O13S Paeoniflorin sulphurous acid ester
14 8.52       127.04 127.039 0.79 (+)109 C6H6O3 5-Hydroxymethyfurfural
15 8.65       268.1032 268.1027 0.18 (+)136,119 C10H13N5O4 Adenosine
16 9.04 495.15 495.1508 −0.16 519.1501 519.1473 0.54 (−)333,281,137 (+)357 C23H28O12 Oxypaeoniflora
17 9.49 289.0736 289.0718 0.62       (−)245,203,123, C15H14O6 Cianidanol
18 10.2 183.0312 183.0299 0.71       (−)124 C8H8O5 Methyl gallate
19 10.2 183.031 183.0299 0.6       (−) 140,124 C7H6O3 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid
20 11.02 563.1412 563.1406 0.11       (−)383,353 C26H28O14 Isoschaftoside
21 11.07 210.0785 210.0761 0       (−) 164,124, C9H11NO2 Phenylalanine
22 11.73 525.1615 525.1603 0.23       (−)449,327,165,121 C23H28O11 Paeoniflorin
23 12.23 463.0896 463.0882 0.3       (−)300 C21H20O12 Hyperoside
24 12.29 525.307 525.3058 0.23       (−)479,319,159 C27H44O7 Hydroxyecdyone
25 12.29 447.09 447.0933 −0.74       (−) 356,285 C21H20O11 Astragalin
26 12.44 525.3071 525.3058 0.25       (−)479 C27H44O7 Rhapontisterone
27 12.77 197.0471 197.0444 1.4       (−)169,162,152,124 C8H8O3 Vanillin
28 13.04 807.2765 807.2717 0.59       (−)645,514,351 C38H48O19 Epimedin B
29 13.25 193.0517 193.0506 0.57 217.0467 217.0471 −0.18 (−)121(+)134 C10H10O4 Ferulic acid
30 13.3 525.1606 525.1603 0.06       (−)479,357,121 C23H28O11 Albiflorin
31 13.33 389.1267 389.1242 0.64       (−)227,185,143 C20H22O8 Polydatin
32 13.56 837.2856 837.2881 −0.31       (−)675 C39H50O20 Epimedin A
33 13.56 867.2963 867.2917 0.53       (−)679,367 C39H50O19 Epimedin C
34 13.58 675.2321 675.2294 0.4       (−)366,351 C33H40O15 Icariin
35 14.21 431.0988 431.0984 0.09 455.0946 455.0949 −0.07 (−)269,225 (+)293,185,164 C21H20O10 Apigenin-7-O-2te2glucopyranoside
36 14.23 431.1015 431.0984 0.72 455.0969 455.0973 −0.88 (−)269,225 (+)293,185 C21H20O10 Emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside
37 14.26 955.4958 955.4908 0.52       (−)793 C48H76O19 Ginsenoside-Ro
38 14.31 285.0409 285.0405 0.14       (−)133 C15H10O6 Luteolin
39 14.35 301.0354 301.036 −0.2       (−)282,229,151 C15H10O7 Quercetin
40 14.66 629.1877 629.1865 0.19 607.1845 607.1786 0.97 (−)583, (+)607,341,289,105 C30H32O12 Benzoylpaeoniflorin
41 14.99 299.056 299.0561 0.03       (−)284 C16H12O6 Kaempferol
42 15.01 299.0558 299.055 0.27       (−)284 C15H10O4 Chrysophonal
43 15.01 299.0558 299.0561 −0.1       (−)284 C16H12O6 Fallacinol
44 15.07       215.0324 215.0315 0.42 (+)140 C10H8O4 Scopoletin
45 15.62       229.0861 229.0859 0.87 (+)211,165,152,135,119,107 C14H12O3 Resveratrol
46 16.04 513.1787 513.1766 0.41       (−)366,351,323 C27H30O10 IcarisideII
47 16.11       247.0656 247.0577 3.2 (+) 140,105 C11H12O5 Sinapic
48 16.14 205.0884 205.087 0.68       (−)161 C12H14O3 Chuanxiongol
49 16.46 323.2234 323.2228 0.19       (−)305,265 C18H30O2 Linolenic acid
50 16.51       211.0648 211.0754 −5.01 (+)181,163,135,120, 105 C12H12O2 n-Butylidenephthalide
51 16.52 283.0624 283.0612 0.42       (−)240,212,183 C16H12O5 Physcion
52 16.55       247.0941 247.0946 −0.2 (+)229,113 C12H16O4 SenkyunolideI
53 16.61       217.0508 217.0495 0.6 (+)152,123 C12H8O4 Isobergapten
54 16.63       163.0411 163.039 1.3 (+)135,107,105 C9H6O3 Umbelliferone
55 16.66       269.0828 269.0784 1.6 (+)205,188 C14H14O4 Columbianetin
56 16.66 241.1441 241.1434 0.27       (−)225,197 C12H20O2 l-Bornyl acetate
57 16.79       187.0412 187.039 1.2 (+)131,115 C11H6O3 Psoralen
58 16.85 269.0831 269.0819 0.45       (−)254,225,210 C16H14O4 Imperatorin
59 16.85 251.1652 251.1642 0.41       (−)152,133 C14H22O 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol
60 16.9 251.167 251.1641 1.12       (−)209,151 C14H22O 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol
61 16.98 255.0674 255.0663 0.43       (−)201,166 C15H12O4 Isoliquiritigenin
62 17.03       284.0973 284.0989 −0.56 (+) 239,185 C10H13N5O5 Guanosine
63 17.04       187.0421 187.039 1.66 (+)118 C11H6O3 Isopsoralen
64 17.31 239.13 239.1278 0.92       (−)223,195,139 C12H18O2 Sedanolide
65 17.43       217.0509 217.0495 0.65 (−)202,174,145 C12H8O4 Bergapten
66 17.65 269.0823 269.0819 0.15       (−)241,225 C16H14O4 Isoimperatorin
67 17.66 269.0465 269.0455 0.37       (−)241,225 C15H10O5 Frangulic acid
68 17.75 269.0469 269.0455 0.52       (−)225 C15H10O5 Apigenin
69 17.79 315.2445 315.2541 −3       (−)297,279,171,141 C17H34O2 Heptadecanoic
70 17.8 315.2562 315.2529 1       (−)297,279 C17H34O2 Methyl palmitate
71 17.95       193.1224 193.1223 0.05 (+)175,147,137,105 C12H16O2 Senkyunolide A
72 18.17 301.2398 301.2373 0.82       (−)239,169 C16H32O2 Palmitic acid
73 18.2 277.1474 277.1445 1.5 301.1463 301.141 1.8 (−)147,134,121, (+)245 C16H22O4 Dibutyl phthalate
74 18.25       191.1062 191.1067 −0.26 (−)173,161,145,130,115,105 C12H14O2 Ligustilide
75 18.62       273.1124 273.1097 0.99 (+)241,140,105 C14H18O4 Dipropylphtalate
76 18.87       268.1068 268.104 1 (+)119,105 C10H13N5O4 Adenosine
77 18.88       245.121 245.1172 1.51 (+)189,131 C15H16O3 Osthole
78 18.91 353.2713 353.2686 0.75       (−)335,239,211,183 C20H36O2 Ethyl linoleate
79 18.91       189.0543 189.0522 1.11 (+)152,131,115,103 C9H10O3 Paeonol
80 19.05 199.1335 199.1329 0.3       (−)164 C10H18O Eucalyptol
81 19.11       329.1372 329.1384 −0.36 (+)229,187,175,159,131 C19H20O5 Columbianadin
82 20.26       381.206 381.206 0 (+)231,189 C24H28O4 Levistilide A
83 20.28       335.1915 335.1853 1.8 (+)317,207 C19H26O5 Rubrosterone
84 20.69       577.4143 577.4463 −5.51 (+)560,448,278,234,133 C35H60O6 Daucosterol
85 20.85 455.3541 455.3531 0.22       (−)391 C30H48O3 Oleanolic acid
86 21.48       463.3024 463.3054 −0.65 (+)337,319 C27H42O6 Stachysterone D
87 22.59       353.2686 353.2662 0.68 (+)186 C19H38O4 Monopalmitin
88 24.66 281.2496 281.2486 0.36       (−)223,207 C18H34O2 Oleic acid
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Compounds selection for quantitative analysis

As shown in the literature, catechin could reduce inflammation and slow cartilage breakdown (Adcocks et al. 2002), paeoniflorin could down regulate the levels of TNF-α and myeloperoxidase, and reduce the production of IL-6 in LPS-simulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells (Zhang et al. 2014). Other research indicated that paeoniflorin inhibited intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in LPS-treated U937 cells and TNF-α-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells by suppressing the activation of the NF-κB pathway (Jin et al. 2011). Hyperoside could significantly decrease the mRNA expression and production of IL-1β, IL-6 in stimulated HMC-1 cells (Han et al. 2014). Ferulic acid may offer beneficial effects against osteoarthritis (Li et al. 2011), and ferulic acid has chondroprotective effects on hydrogen peroxide-stimulated chondrocytes through depressing hydrogen peroxide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinase gene expression at the mRNA level (Chen et al. 2010). Polydatin has efficacious anti-inflammatory activity by attenuating the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 (Lou et al. 2015). Quercetin could ameliorate all markers of inflammation (Gardi et al. 2015). Research suggested that MAPK signaling factors were involved in inflammation, quercetin inhibited the MAPK signal factors in macrophages, and quercetin also inhibited the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and stimulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (Seo et al. 2015). Based on the research, proinflammatory cytokines in the cartilage and synovium will stimulate their own production and induce chondrocytes to produce some abnormal biomechanical forces, such as proteases, chemokines, and nitric oxide, which will result in an imbalance between the chondrocyte anabolic and catabolic pathways, and ultimately leads to progressive joint destruction. Resveratrol keeps chondrocyte from apoptosis and reverses the catabolic state of chondrocytes in OA pathway (Dave et al. 2008). Due to its antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, resveratrol have anti-osteoarthritic effects (Shen et al. 2012). Inflammatory cytokine IL-1β is one of the key inflammatory factors in intervertebral disc degeneration, psoralen could remit the degeneration of intervertebral disc chondrocyte induced by IL-1β (Yang et al. 2015), it also significantly suppressed T helper 2 cytokines of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by ConA-stimulated D10 cells without inhibitory effect on cell viability (Jin et al. 2014). Isopsoralen was being used for its central inhibitory activities and inhibitory role in cell proliferation and antimicrobial (Liu et al. 2013). Icariside II exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, but its molecular pathways in human cells are poorly understood (Kim et al. 2011). Osthole can prevent isoprenalin-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice, and the mechanisms perhaps related to the reduction of TGF-β1 expression (Chen et al. 2011), osthole could also enhance osteoclasts apoptotic and inhibit the bone resorption through RANK + RANKL/TRAF6/Mkk/JNK signal pathway (Ming et al. 2012). TNF-α is a major inflammatory cytokine that mediates immune responses and systemic inflammation. Isoimperatorin inhibits TNF-α-induced expression of VCAM-1, therefore, isoimperatorin can be used for the treatment of pathologic inflammatory disorders (Moon et al. 2011).

Through the review of the literature, we selected above described 12 active compounds with potential in treating OA and inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis from these 88 compounds above, which were identified by HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS for qualitative analysis. Chemical structures of these 12 compounds are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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Chemical structures of 12 compounds determined simultaneously.

Quantitative analysis

UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS technology was used to determine the contents of catechin, paeoniflorin, hyperoside, ferulic acid, polydatin, quercetin, resveratrol, psoralen, isopsoralen, icariside II, osthole, and isoimperatorin. LC-MS/MS chromatogram of the 12 compounds in BSHXD is given in Figure 3, and their contents in the single herbs and decoction were summarized in Table 2. The standard curves and linear ranges of these 12 compounds are shown in Table 3. The precision and the accuracy were validated by the determination of the peak areas of compounds of interest during the preparation procedure. Relative standard deviation (RSD) of each compound was lower than 3%, the results showed that the method displays good precision and accuracy for each compound. The stabilities of these 12 compounds were tested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h, RSD values of the peak areas were all no more than 3%, that revealed that the compounds were stable within 24 h. BSHXD sample was made into six solutions, inject 2 μL each time, and MS chromatography was used to determine the contents of each compound. The average content of catechin was 0.0411 mg/g, paeoniflorin was 4.2455 mg/g, hyperoside was 0.1199 mg/g, ferulic acid was 0.0576 mg/g, polydatin was 0.7589 mg/g, quercetin was 0.2001 mg/g, resveratrol was 0.1567 mg/g, psoralen was 0.8863 mg/g, isopsoralen was 0.4598 mg/g, icariside II was 0.0919 mg/g, osthole was 0.5274 mg/g, and isoimperatorin was 0.1490 mg/g, and RSD values were all less than 3%, indicating that the method was stable.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

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LC-MS/MS chromatogram of the 12 compounds in BSHXD. Retention time (RT): 1→Catechin (1.61 min), 2→Paeoniflorin (2.70 min), 3→Hyperoside (3.23 min), 4→Ferulic acid (3.28 min), 5→Polydatin(4.43 min), 6→Quercetin (5.73 min), 7→Resveratrol (6.09 min), 8→Psoralen (6.50 min), 9→Isopsoralen (6.82 min), 10→IcarisideII (9.75 min), 11→Osthole (11.16 min), and 12→Isoimperatorin (11.44 min).

Table 2.

Content determination of the samples (mg/g, n = 3).

Compounds Angelicae Pubescentis Radix Taxilli Herba Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix Epimedii Folium Chuanxiong Rhizoma Angelicae Sinensis Radix Paeoniae Radix Alba Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma Et Radix Arisaematis RhizomaPreparatum BSHXD
Catechin               0.0489   0.0422
Paeoniflorin             5.2222     4.2596
Hyperoside       0.7591           0.1211
Ferulic acid         0.0411 0.0913       0.0584
Polydatin               12.5807   0.7594
Quercetin   0.0662           0.0101   0.1999
Resveratrol               0.5818   0.1570
Psoralen 0.9954                 0.8948
Isopsoralen 0.3765                 0.4634
IcarsideII       0.0322           0.0928
Osthole 0.1087                 0.5364
Isoimperatorin 0.0763                 0.1487
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Table 3.

Standard curve and linear range of each compound.

Number Rt (min) Compounds Regression equation R2 Linear range (μg/mL)
1 1.61 Catechin Y = 6079.2x − 204.2 0.9998 0.0106–3.5698
2 2.70 Paeoniflorin Y = 5320.8x + 114.38 0.9997 0.0404–14.074
3 3.23 Hyperoside Y = 6692.6x − 595.73 0.9999 0.0994–3.8286
4 3.28 Ferulic acid Y = 19721x − 1927.6 0.9984 0.0987–1.8724
5 4.43 Polydatin Y = 16912x − 226.29 0.9990 0.0100–4.5306
6 5.73 Quercetin Y = 50207x − 1707 0.9993 0.0350–3.9307
7 6.09 Resveratrol Y = 1689.5x − 70.719 0.9998 0.1259–3.8672
8 6.50 Psoralen Y = 273637x − 3207.9 0.9978 0.0196–4.7626
9 6.82 Isopsoralen Y = 336719x − 9923.6 0.9999 0.0400–3.8719
10 9.75 Icariside II Y = 271366x − 3081.3 0.9996 0.0100–0.9741
11 11.16 Osthole Y = 1233900x − 69509 0.9989 0.0201–5.2790
12 11.44 Isoimperatorin Y = 88731x − 7657.9 0.9979 0.0708–1.9528
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ELISA results

TNF-α, IL-6, and NO play an important role in cells, tissues, and organs, respectively. Within cartilage, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α auto-catalytically stimulate its production and induce chondrocytes to produce additional catabolic mediators that abnormal biomechanical forces will lead to progressive joint destruction (Abramson & Yazici 2006). IL-6-signal transducer may conduce to the posttraumatic development of osteoarthritis (Liu et al. 2015), and IL-6 can be considered as a marker of nerve injury and proinflammatory cytokines which produced by joint tissue (Malek et al. 2015). Imbalance of catabolic and anabolica factors including cytokines and NO could result in OA (Chevalier et al. 2013). In that case, TNF-α, IL-6, and NO were utilized to explore the mechanism of BSHXD in treating OA. Changes of released inflammatory mediators’ concentration were observed by ELISA. It is shown that quercetin, isopsoralen, icariside II, osthole, isoimperatorin, and BSHXD have different effects in inhibiting the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO. Quercetin (100 μg/mL), isopsoralen (100 μg/mL), icariside II (100 μg/mL), osthole (20 and 100 μg/mL), isoimperatorin (100 μg/mL), and BSHXD (100 μg/mL) had a significant inhibition effect on the release of TNF-α, p < 0.01; quercetin (20 and 100 μg/mL), isopsoralen (100 μg/mL), icariside II (100 μg/mL), osthole (20 and 100 μg/mL), and isoimperatorin (20 and 100 μg/mL) had a significant inhibition effect on the release of IL-6, p < 0.01; five compounds (20 and 100 μg/mL) and BSHXD (100 μg/mL) had a remarkable inhibition effect on the release of NO, p < 0.01. The results showed that the monomers hold generally stronger inhibition effect than BSHXD. Tables 4–6 describe the detailed inhibition results of these components of decoction on TNF-α, IL-6, and NO released by RAW264.7 cell after induction of LPS.

Table 4.

The inhibition of different components on TNF-α released by RAW264.7 cell after induction of LPS.

Group Concentration (μg/mL) Inhibition (%)
Control – –
LPS 0.5 –
Quercetin 20 5.86
  100 57.68**
Isopsoralen 20 16.48*
  100 64.38**
IcarisidII 20 58.17**
  100 103.79**
Osthole 20 90.58**
  100 104.05**
Isoimperatorin 20 17.54*
  100 49.4**
BSHXD 20 1.54
  100 35.75**
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x ± s, n = 3, groups compared with the LPS model control group.

*

p < 0.05.

**

p < 0.01.

Table 5.

The inhibition of different components on IL-6 released by RAW264.7 cell after induction by LPS.

Group Concentration (μg/mL) Inhibition (%)
Control – –
LPS 0.5 –
Quercetin 20 29.45**
  100 79.73**
Isopsoralen 20 18.66*
  100 91.15**
IcarisidII 20 1.64
  100 99.03**
Osthole 20 99.37**
  100 100.03**
Isoimperatorin 20 64.23**
  100 67.39**
BSHXD 20 0.60
  100 13.11*
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x ± s, n = 3, groups compared with the LPS model control group.

*

p < 0.05.

**

p < 0.01.

Table 6.

The inhibition of different components on NO released by RAW264.7 cell after induction by LPS.

Group Concentration (μg/mL) Inhibition (%)
Control – –
LPS 0.5 –
Quercetin 20 73.18**
  100 77.29**
Isopsoralen 20 93.46**
  100 81.31**
IcarisidII 20 61.03**
  100 89.44**
Osthole 20 77.29**
  100 89.44**
Isoimperation 20 52.90**
  100 65.05**
BSHXD 20 16.26*
  100 56.92**
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x ± s, n = 3, groups compared with the LPS model control group.

*

p < 0.05.

**

p < 0.01.

Conclusion

According to LC-MS/MS analysis, 88 compounds from BSHXD were confirmed. Twelve compounds which have a potential role in treating OA were selected and quantified. By comparing the contents of 12 compounds in BSHXD and single herbs, we found that five of them increased significantly. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory activity in vitro was tested. ELISA was used to detect the effect of quercetin, isopsoralen, icariside II, osthole, isoimperatorin, and BSHXD on TNF-α, IL-6, and NO released by macrophage, we found that the compounds had some or remarkably inhibitory effect on the former cytokines, which may demonstrate the possible reason and mechanism of BSHXD in treating OA.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, the fact that different herbs used in combination can enhance the therapeutic efficacy compared with those when they were used separately is called ‘Xiang Xu’. In BSHXD, nine herbs which have different therapeutic effects were decocted together, and the results of UPLC-ESI-TQ-MS showed the contents of compounds of interest increased or decreased, which may be due to certain chemical reactions occurred among the chemical constituents in the herbs. That means that the contents of some compounds which have potential therapeutic effects on OA were higher in decoction than in single herb that may give rise to reinforcement of therapeutic effects on OA.

Funding Statement

This research was supported by the Program of Administration of TCM of Jiangsu Province [No. LZ13013]; A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions [No. 2011ZYX6013], Graduate research and innovation projects in Jiangsu Province [No. CXZZ12-0626].

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Yong Chen for his help with sample analysis.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

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