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Integrated UHPLC-MS/MS and HRMS Strategy for Screening Potentially Hepatotoxic Furan-Containing Compounds in
Rong Tan1, Ying Liu2, Yunfang Jiang3
1The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; rongtanmail@sina.com.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Dioscorea bulbifera L. (DBL) contains furan compounds linked to liver injury. This study identified these compounds and their reactive metabolites, revealing insights into the toxicity of this traditional herbal medicine.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Dioscorea bulbifera L. (DBL) is a traditional herbal medicine with documented hepatotoxic effects.
- Hepatotoxicity is suspected to arise from the metabolic activation of furan-containing compounds (FCCs) within DBL.
- Understanding these FCCs and their metabolites is crucial for assessing DBL's safety profile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically characterize FCCs and their reactive metabolites in DBL extract.
- To elucidate the metabolic activation pathways of FCCs in DBL.
- To establish a method for profiling potentially hepatotoxic furan compounds in herbal medicines.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analytical approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and UHPLC-HRMS.
- Targeted and untargeted mass spectrometric analyses to identify constituents.
- Mouse liver microsomal (MLM) incubation system with glutathione (GSH) and 4-bromobenzylamine (BBA) as trapping agents to characterize reactive metabolites.
Main Results:
- Identified 849 constituents in DBL aqueous extract, including 10 furanoditerpenoids and 17 additional FCCs.
- Successfully trapped and characterized seven adducts derived from FCCs (diosbulbin B, C, D, E, L, N, and 2-pentylfuran) via P450-mediated metabolism.
- Demonstrated the formation of reactive metabolites from specific FCCs.
Conclusions:
- Developed a sensitive and specific approach for comprehensive profiling of potentially hepatotoxic FCCs in DBL.
- Provided valuable insights into the formation of reactive metabolites and toxicity mechanisms associated with DBL.
- Contributes to understanding the safety of furan-containing herbal medicines.
