•A novel method for the determination of trace elements in the MFHP water decoctions•Mass spectral interferences of ICP-MS/MS were eliminated by O2 and NH3 reaction.•The detection limit of the established method achieved μg kg− 1 level.•The heavy metal dissolution rates in most MFHP water decoctions were ≤ 30%.•Long-term intake of MFHP water decoctions has the risk of heavy metal poisoning.The concentration of twelve trace elements in the water decoction of medicine food homology plants (MFHP) was determined by inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). Water decoctions of MFHP were analyzed directly using the MS/MS mode after acidification by 1% (v/v) nitric acid. The polyatomic interferences were eliminated by oxygen mass shift, oxygen on-mass, and ammonia mass shift. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of standard reference materials. This method was utilized to investigate the water decoction composition of 16 common Chinese MFHPs. The trace elements in the water decoctions of different MFHPs presented significantly different dissolution ratios. The dissolution ratio of V was the lowest (4.21%–14.86%), whereas Zn showed the highest dissolution ratio (24.87%–86.80%). In addition, the dissolution ratio of heavy metallic elements in most MFHP was equal to or was lower than 30%. Therefore, consumption of MHFP decoction could decrease the heavy metal intake associated with MFHP use and reduce the risk of heavy metal poisoning.Download high-res image (324KB)Download full-size image

Screening and analysis of bioactive compounds from natural products is challenging work due to their complexity. This study presents the first report on hyphenation of solid-phase ligand-fishing using immobilized xanthine oxidase microcolumn (IXOM) and high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD–MS/MS) for screening and identification of XO inhibitors from complex mixtures. Solid-phase ligand-fishing system was hyphenated with the HPLC system via four-port switching valve and a six-port injection valve as an interface for transferring effluents from IXOM to HPLC, and collecting chromatograms from LFMC (ligand-fishing microextraction column) and C18 column in a run by only one DAD. Mixtures containing allopurinol (positive control) and tryptophane (negative control) were analyzed in order to verify the specificity and reproducibility of the approach. Subsequently, the newly developed system was applied to screening and identification of XO inhibitors from L. macranthoides and its human microsomal metabolites. Six prototype compounds (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) and three metabolites (3-caffeoyl-epi-quinic acid, 5-caffeoyl-epi-quinic acid, 4-caffeoyl-epi-quinic acid) with XO binding affinities were identified. The XO inhibition activities of six prototype compounds were evaluated and confirmed using in vitro enzymatic assay. With the online system developed here, we present a feasible, selective, and effective strategy for rapid screening and identification of enzyme inhibitors from complex mixtures.