Effects of different drying methods on the chemical constituents of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. based on UHPLC‚ÄêMS analysis and antidepressant activity of the main chemical component regaloside A
Authors: Zi-Yi Li
Zhi-Ying Yuan
Guang-Ming Xu
Xing-Ming Jiang
Hui-Yong Huang
Meng-Zhou Xie
Chuan Gao
Meng-Wu Xiao
Jian-Ping Zhu
Hong-Qing Zhao
Journal: Journal of Separation Science (2021)
Discipline: CHEMISTRY
Keywords: Lilium lancifolium Thunb; antidepressant activity; drying methods; regaloside A.
Affiliations: Hunan University of Chinese Medicine  Changsha P. R. China, Hunan Agricultural Products Processing Institute  Changsha P. R. China

Abstract:  The Lilium lancifolium Thunb. is a herb with multiple functions in both medicine and food in China, and its extracts have shown antidepressant effects. In this study, fresh bulbs of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. were processed to study the effects of different drying processes on changes in its main chemical components. We found that different drying methods can affect the chemical constituents of the herb. Among these components, Regaloside A has been found as the characteristic component. Here, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and Western blotting were used to evaluate the neuroprotective antidepressant effects of Regaloside A. The results showed the cell survival rate was improved, the phosphorylation levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine kinase receptor B, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, protein kinase B, and mammalian target of rapamycin were increased after Regaloside A treatment. In general, different drying methods have a significant influence on the chemical composition of the herb, and Regaloside A may be the main chemical component of the herb. It can alleviate the damage of corticosterone in SH-SY5Y cells, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B may play an important role in the neuroprotective antidepressant effects of Regaloside A. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The authors seem to be under the impression that the papers of Zhao and colleagues were about extraction of active ingredients from herbs, when in fact they re about predigesting waste foliage to maximise their value as biofuel. This misunderstanding is shared by a surprising number of other authors.  At present, the main methods to study the fingerprint of TCM are LC (UPLC high-performance liquid chromatography), gas chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy[6, 7]with extraction process, such as presoaking, liquid ammonia pretreatment and others[8-10]. - [8]. Zhao C., Qiao X., Shao Q., Hassan M., Yao L., **Synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia on lignin**. Ind. Crops. Prod. 2020, 146,112177-112185. - [9]. Zhao C., Qiao X., Cao Y., Shao Q., **Application of hydrogen peroxide presoaking prior to ammonia fiber expansion pretreatment of energy crops**. Fuel. 2017, 205(oct.1), 184-191. - [10]. Zhao C., Qiao X., Shao Q., Hassan M., Ma Z., **Evolution of lignin chemical structure during bioethanol production process and its inhibition to enzymatic hydrolysis**. Energ. Fuel. 2020, 34 , 5938-5947.  approx. 5.0% water content according to the method of reference [27] - [27]. Zhang M., Zhao C., Shao Q., Yang Z., Hassan M., **Determination of water content in corn stover silage using near-infrared spectroscopy**. Int. J. Agr. Biol. Eng. 2019, 12, 143-148. ,