Processing-induced changes in neuroprotective components and mechanisms of gardeniae fructus: integrating UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, and in vitro analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Gardeniae Fructus (GF), the dried fruit of Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, has been used in East Asian medicine for centuries. Its carbonized form, Gardeniae Fructus Carbonisatus (GFC), is produced through processing, yet the effects of this transformation on active constituents and neuroprotective mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the key compositional changes induced by processing and explore their relevance to neuroprotective activity.

Methods

After obtaining GF and GFC extracts via CO₂ supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was employed for qualitative analysis of differential compounds. A pathology-specific network pharmacology screening approach, combined with UPLC-UV-DAD, was applied to quantify major bioactive differenti

SUBMITTER: Sun L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835472 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature