Quality markers based on chromatographic fingerprinting and anti-neuroinflammatory screening: A spectrum–effect correlation for Nardostachys jatamansi DC. with anti-neuroinflammatory potential

Abstract Backgroud Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (NJ) has long been prescribed to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, in traditional Chinese medicine and other orient ethnomedicinal systems. However, the anti-neuroinflammatory components and the quality markers (Q-markers) underlying NJ remained unclear. Objective and design This study aimed to reveal the Q-markers of NJ in treating neuroinflammation-related diseases by developing ‘spectrum–anti-neuroinflammatory effect’ correlation for NJ against neuroinflammation. Methods First, a Griess method was applied to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory potentials of common NJ extracts and components, discovering the dominant anti-neuroinflammatory component of NJ (NJ_1A). The spectrum–effect correlation of NJ_1A was then accomplished by Pearson’s correlation, GCA, and PLSR modeling between the UPLC–PDA fingerprints and the inhibitory rates of batches of NJ_1A on NO production in BV-2 cells. Finally, the potentially effective constituents were screened and their anti-neuroinflammatory potentials were further verified. Results The fingerprint similarity of NJ_1A as well as the content of nardosinone would gradually decrease along with the prolongation of the NJ storage time. Ten promising anti-neuroinflammatory-correlated peaks were screened accordingly by the spectrum–effect correlation of NJ_1A. And seven of them were identified and validated to exert varying degrees of anti-neuroinflammatory effect. Finally, nardosinone, desoxo-narchinol A, and nardosinonediol stood out to be the major active constituents and key Q-markers for NJ_1A in treatment of neuroinflammation. Conclusion The current study demonstrated that spectrum–effect correlation was a powerful approach to investigate the active components dedicated for the anti-neuroinflammation underlying NJ, and provided a solid basis for the Q-markers of NJ against neurodegenerative diseases.