Identification of bioactive ingredients with immuno-enhancement and anti-oxidative effects from Fufang-Ejiao-Syrup by LC-MS(n) combined with bioassays

Fufang Ejiao Syrup (FES) is a widely used immune-boosting Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Eastern Asian countries. This study attempts to investigate the bioactive compounds in FES. First, FES extract was separated into fractions to facilitate the investigation and 72 compounds were identified using LC-MS(n). Subsequently, Immune-enhancement effects of FES and its components were investigated on bone marrow cells and neuroprotective effects against H2O2 induced oxidative damage were evaluated in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and bEnd.3. Our results indicated that fraction 3, 5, 6 and 8 showed significant improvements on immune function, while several fractions had cytoprotective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative injury. Jionoside A1 isolated from Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata displayed dose dependent immune-enhancement activity. 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 could protect bEnd.3 against oxidative damage. Furthermore, echinacoside, jionoside A1, vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside, acteoside and isoacteoside possessed moderate protective activities on H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, our study provided both chemical and biological evidences to support clinical application of FES.