Nan Zhao

Bio: Nan Zhao is an academic researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ginsenoside & Goji berry. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 4 publications receiving 18 citations. Previous affiliations of Nan Zhao include Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics.

Peptides as Potential Biomarkers for Authentication of Mountain-Cultivated Ginseng and Cultivated Ginseng of Different Ages Using UPLC-HRMS.

Abstract: The growth conditions and age of Panax ginseng are vital for determining the quality of the ginseng plant. However, the considerable difference in price according to the cultivation method and period of P. ginseng leads to its adulteration in the trade market. We herein focused on ginseng peptides and the possibility of these peptides to be used as biomarker(s) for discrimination of P. ginseng. We applied an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry-based peptidomics approach to characterize ginseng peptides and discover novel peptide biomarkers for authentication of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG). We identified 52 high-confidence peptides and screened 20 characteristic peptides differentially expressed between MCG and cultivated ginseng (CG). Intriguingly, 6 differential peptides were expressed significantly in MCG and originated from dehydrins that accumulated during cold or drought conditions. In addition, 14 other differential peptides that were significantly expressed in CG derived from ginseng major protein, an essential protein for nitrogen storage. These biological associations confirmed the reliability and credibility of the differential peptides. Additionally, we determined several robust peptide biomarkers for discrimination of MCG through a precise selection process. These findings demonstrate the potential of peptide biomarkers for identification and quality control of P. ginseng in addition to ginsenoside analysis.

Discovery and validation of biomarkers for Zhongning goji berries using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Daodi medicinal material (DMM), which is traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for long periods and have gained credibility in clinical practice, is part of the Chinese culture. However, Zhongning Goji berries (ZNG), a DMM, are illegally adulterated in the market by adding non Zhongning goji berries (NZNG). Consequently, the development of biomarker(s) is necessary for proper identification of ZNG and NZNG. In this study, a nontargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to find the differential composition between ZNG and NZNG. Using a combination of single-factor and multivariate statistical analyses, seven compounds with significant differences were discovered and identified, one of which was an unreported compound (a glycoside of pyrrolidine alkaloid). These compounds could be used as single biomarkers for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. In particular, the binary logistic regression result showed that two sets of combinative biomarkers to distinguish ZNG from NZNG with good sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the two combinative biomarkers and the glycoside of pyrrolidine alkaloid. The results of this study provide new ideas on the developments of ZNG identification, authenticity control and against adulteration in the Chinese circulation market.

Various Multicharged Anions of Ginsenosides in Negative Electrospray Ionization with QTOF High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Abstract: When characterizing components from ginseng, we found a vast number of multicharged anions presented in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) chromatograms. The source of these anions is unclear yet, while ginsenosides, the major components of ginseng, are the main suspected type of molecules because of their sugar moiety. Our investigation using 14 pure ginsenosides affirmed that the multicharged anions were formed by ginsenosides rather than other types of ingredients in ginseng. Various anions could be observed for each ginsenoside. These anions contain ions ([M-2H]2-, [M+Adduct]2-), as well as those formed by polymerization of at least two ginsenosides, such as [nM-2H]2-, [nM-H+Adduct]2-, and [nM-3H]3-. The presence of so different types of ions from a ginsenoside explains the reason for the large number of anions in the LC-MS analysis of ginseng. We further found that formation of [nM-2H]2- ions was influenced by the number of sugar chains: ginsenosides containing two sugar chains produced all [nM-2H]2- ion types, whereas ginsenosides containing one sugar chain did not produce [2M-2H]2-. Thus, [2M-2H]2- and [3M-2H]2- can be utilized to rapidly identify monodesmosidic and/or bidesmosidic ginsenosides as joint diagnostic anions. The position of the glycosyl radical might be the key factor affecting the formation of multicharged multimer ions from monodesmosidic ginsenosides. Consequently, three groups of ginsenoside isomers were differentiated by characteristic [nM-2H]2- anions. Using concentration-dependent characteristics and collision-induced dissociation (CID), we confirmed that [nM-2H]2- ions are non-covalently bound multimers whose aggregation has marked distinction between monodesmosidic and bidesmosidic ginsenosides, accounting for the differentiated formation of [nM-2H]2- between them. Graphical Abstract.

Discovery and validation of biomarkers for Zhongning goji berries using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Abstract: Daodi medicinal material (DMM), which is traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for long periods and have gained credibility in clinical practice, is part of the Chinese culture. However, Zhongning Goji berries (ZNG), a DMM, are illegally adulterated in the market by adding non Zhongning goji berries (NZNG). Consequently, the development of biomarker(s) is necessary for proper identification of ZNG and NZNG. In this study, a nontargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to find the differential composition between ZNG and NZNG. Using a combination of single-factor and multivariate statistical analyses, seven compounds with significant differences were discovered and identified, one of which was an unreported compound (a glycoside of pyrrolidine alkaloid). These compounds could be used as single biomarkers for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. In particular, the binary logistic regression result showed that two sets of combinative biomarkers to distinguish ZNG from NZNG with good sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the two combinative biomarkers and the glycoside of pyrrolidine alkaloid. The results of this study provide new ideas on the developments of ZNG identification, authenticity control and against adulteration in the Chinese circulation market.

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis.

Abstract: Covering: 2011 to the end of 2020Panax species (Araliaceae), particularly P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and P. notoginseng, have a long history of medicinal use because of their remarkable tonifying effects, and currently serve as crucial sources for various healthcare products, functional foods, and cosmetics, aside from their vast clinical preparations. The huge market demand on a global scale prompts the continuous prosperity in ginseng research concerning the discovery of new compounds, precise quality control, ADME (absorption/disposition/metabolism/excretion), and biosynthesis pathways. Benefitting from the ongoing rapid development of analytical technologies, e.g. multi-dimensional chromatography (MDC), personalized mass spectrometry (MS) scan strategies, and multi-omics, highly recognized progress has been made in driving ginseng analysis towards "systematicness, integrity, personalization, and intelligentization". Herein, we review the advances in the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis pathway of ginseng over the past decade (2011-2020), with 410 citations. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of new compounds isolated (saponins and polysaccharides), and the emerging novel analytical technologies and analytical strategies that favor ginseng's authentic use and global consumption. Perspectives on the challenges and future trends in ginseng analysis are also presented.

Peptidomics: new trends in food science

Abstract: In recent years, peptidomics is gaining ever-growing relevance in food science. The emerging field of food peptidomics is defined as the whole pool of peptides existing in food products or generated during food processing, storage or digestion. The recent advancement in high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques provides a more detailed picture, although not yet exhaustive, of the peptides present or derived from food. Food peptidomics techniques have been successfully applied in understanding food protein digestion, in the study of the microbial contribution to food protein hydrolysis, in the identification of food-derived bioactive peptides and peptide biomarkers. Ad-hoc efforts are still needed to improve the identification of short peptides and the analysis of the large data set generated.

A Review of Authenticity and Authentication of Commercial Ginseng Herbal Medicines and Food Supplements.

Abstract: Ginseng traditional medicines and food supplements are the globally top selling herbal products. Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng are the main commercial ginseng species in herbal medicine. Prices of ginseng products vary widely based on the species, quality, and purity of the used ginseng, and this provides a strong driver for intentional adulteration. Our systematic literature search has reviewed the authenticity results of 507 ginseng-containing commercial herbal products sold in 12 countries scattered across six continents. The analysis of the botanical and chemical identity of all these products shows that 76% are authentic while 24% were reported as adulterated. The number of commercial products as well as the percentage of adulteration varies significantly between continents, being highest in South America (100%) and Australia (75%), and lower in Europe (35%), North America (23%), Asia (21%) and Africa (0%). At a national level, from the five countries for which more than 10 products have been successfully authenticated, the highest percentage of adulterated ginseng products were purchased from Taiwan (49%), followed by Italy (37%), China (21%), and USA (12%), while all products bought in South Korea were reported to be authentic. In most cases, labeled Panax species were substituted with other Panax species, but substitution of ginseng root, the medicinally recommended plant part, with leaves, stems or flowers was also reported. Efficient and practical authentication using biomarkers to distinguish the main ginseng varieties and secondary metabolite spectra for age determination are essential to combat adulteration in the global marketplace.

Authentication of berries and berry-based food products

Abstract: Berries represent one of the most important and high-valued group of modern-day health-beneficial "superfoods" whose dietary consumption has been recognized to be beneficial for human health for a long time. In addition to being delicious, berries are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and several bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and hydrolysable tannins. However, due to their high value, berries and berry-based products are often subject to fraudulent adulteration, commonly for economical gain, but also unintentionally due to misidentification of species. Deliberate adulteration often comprises the substitution of high-value berries with lower value counterparts and mislabeling of product contents. As adulteration is deceptive toward customers and presents a risk for public health, food authentication through different methods is applied as a countermeasure. Although many authentication methods have been developed in terms of fast, sensitive, reliable, and low-cost analysis and have been applied in the authentication of a myriad of food products and species, their application on berries and berry-based products is still limited. The present review provides an overview of the development and application of analytical chemistry methods, such as isotope ratio analysis, liquid and gas chromatography, spectroscopy, as well as DNA-based methods and electronic sensors, for the authentication of berries and berry-based food products. We provide an overview of the earlier use and recent advances of these methods, as well as discuss the advances and drawbacks related to their application.

Chemometric-Guided Approaches for Profiling and Authenticating Botanical Materials

Abstract: Botanical supplements with broad traditional and medicinal uses represent an area of growing importance for American health management; 25% of U.S. adults use dietary supplements daily and collectively spent over $9.5 billion in 2019 in herbal and botanical supplements alone. To understand how natural products benefit human health and determine potential safety concerns, careful in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are required. However, botanicals are innately complex systems, with complicated compositions that defy many standard analytical approaches and fluctuate based upon a plethora of factors, including genetics, growth conditions, and harvesting/processing procedures. Robust studies rely upon accurate identification of the plant material, and botanicals’ increasing economic and health importance demand reproducible sourcing, as well as assessment of contamination or adulteration. These quality control needs for botanical products remain a significant problem plaguing researchers in academia as well as the supplement industry, thus posing a risk to consumers and possibly rendering clinical data irreproducible and/or irrelevant. Chemometric approaches that analyze the small molecule composition of materials provide a reliable and high-throughput avenue for botanical authentication. This review emphasizes the need for consistent material and provides insight into the roles of various modern chemometric analyses in evaluating and authenticating botanicals, focusing on advanced methodologies, including targeted and untargeted metabolite analysis, as well as the role of multivariate statistical modeling and machine learning in phytochemical characterization. Furthermore, we will discuss how chemometric approaches can be integrated with orthogonal techniques to provide a more robust approach to authentication, and provide directions for future research.