LC-MS Profiling of Kakkonto and Identification of Ephedrine as a Key Component for Its Anti-Glycation Activity

• Published in: Molecules Vol. 28; no. 11; p. 4409
• Main Authors: Ito, Kaori, Kikuchi, Takashi, Ikube, Kanako, Otsuki, Kouharu, Koike, Kazuo, Li, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 29.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: advanced glycation end products; Alzheimer's disease; anti-glycation activity; Antifungal agents; Chromatography, Liquid; Diabetes; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ephedrine; Glucose; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Kakkonto; Kampo; Kampo; Kakkonto; anti-glycation activity; advanced glycation end products; ephedrine; Magnesium Oxide; Organic chemistry; Prescriptions; Proteins; Pyruvaldehyde; QD241-441; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Japan; Kampo; ephedrine; Kakkonto; advanced glycation end products; anti-glycation activity
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114409

A total of 147 oral Kampo prescriptions, which are used clinically in Japan, were evaluated for their anti-glycation activity. Kakkonto demonstrated significant anti-glycation activity, prompting further analysis of its chemical constituents using LC-MS, which revealed the presence of two alkaloids, fourteen flavonoids, two but-2-enolides, five monoterpenoids, and four triterpenoid glycosides. To identify the components responsible for its anti-glycation activity, the Kakkonto extract was reacted with glyceraldehyde (GA) or methylglyoxal (MGO) and analyzed using LC-MS. In LC-MS analysis of Kakkonto reacted with GA, the peak intensity of ephedrine was attenuated, and three products from ephedrine-scavenging GA were detected. Similarly, LC-MS analysis of Kakkonto reacted with MGO revealed two products from ephedrine reacting with MGO. These results indicated that ephedrine was responsible for the observed anti-glycation activity of Kakkonto. Ephedrae herba extract, which contains ephedrine, also showed strong anti-glycation activity, further supporting ephedrine’s contribution to Kakkonto’s reactive carbonyl species’ scavenging ability and anti-glycation activity.