Establishment of XRD fourier fingerprint identification method of realgar decoction pieces and its anti-tumor activity in tumor-in-situ transplanted mice

Xilong Qian; Ying Wang; Zheng Liu; Fang Fang; Yulu Ma; Liu Zhou; Yanqiong Pan; Xiangsong Meng; Baofei Yan; Xingyu Zhu; Xiuxiu Wang; Jing Zhao; Shengjin Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118303

Establishment of XRD fourier fingerprint identification method of realgar decoction pieces and its anti-tumor activity in tumor-in-situ transplanted mice

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 May 9:331:118303. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118303. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xilong Qian¹, Ying Wang¹, Zheng Liu¹, Fang Fang², Yulu Ma², Liu Zhou¹, Yanqiong Pan³, Xiangsong Meng⁴, Baofei Yan⁵, Xingyu Zhu⁶, Xiuxiu Wang⁷, Jing Zhao⁷, Shengjin Liu⁸

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing, 210023, China; College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
² State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
³ State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, 210046, China.
⁴ Bozhou University, Bozhou, 236800, China. Electronic address: ahmxs@163.com.
⁵ State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, 211800, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huai'an, 223001, China.
⁷ Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
⁸ State Key Laboratory on Technologies for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process Control and Intelligent Manufacture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing, 210023, China; College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. Electronic address: Lsj@njucm.edu.cn.

PMID: 38734390
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118303

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Realgar, a traditional mineral Chinese medicine, has been used in China for more than 2000 years. It has been recorded in many ancient and modern works that it has anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects. Of course, colon cancer is also within the scope of its treatment. Realgar needs to be processed into realgar decoction pieces by water grinding before being used for medicine. To ensure the consistency of efficacy and quality of realgar decoction pieces, modern methods need to be used for further quality control.

Aim of the study: The research of traditional mineral Chinese medicine is relatively difficult, and the related research is less. The purpose of this study is to control the quality of realgar decoction pieces by modern analytical technology and analyze its components. On this basis, its anti-colon cancer activity was discussed.

Materials and methods: Several batches of realgar decoction pieces were analyzed by XRD, and the components of realgar decoction pieces were obtained. The quality control fingerprints of realgar decoction pieces were established by processing XRD spectra and similarity evaluation. Then, the effects of realgar decoction pieces on apoptosis of CT26 and HTC-116 cells were observed in vitro by Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry, measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential and Western blot; In vivo, the mouse model of tumor-in-situ transplantation of colon cancer was established, and the related indexes were observed.

Result: The explorations showed that the XRD Fourier fingerprints of realgar decoction pieces samples that had the same phase revealed 10 common peaks, respectively. The similarity evaluation of the established XRD Fourier fingerprint was greater than 0.900. We also demonstrated that realgar decoction pieces can promote apoptosis and inhibit tumor growth in colon cancer cells, its activating effect on p53 protein, and its safety when used within reasonable limits.

Conclusion: The quality control of realgar decoction pieces by XRD is scientific and has the inhibitory effect on colon cancer, which has the development potential.

Keywords: Conlon cancer; Fingerprint; Invasion; Migration; Mineral Chinese medicine; Mineral drug; Mineral medicine; Quality control; Realgar; Traditional Chinese medicine; X-Ray diffraction.