Investigation of chemical compounds of Astragalus galactites (Pall.) using GC-QTOF-MS, and UPC2-QTOF-MS

Background: We present and discuss our recent findings on the chemistry of Astragalus galactites. More than 20 of potentially bioactive constituents, including saponins, polyphenolic acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and flavonoids, were putatively identified in extracts of A.galactites with the aid of GC-QTOF-MS, and UPC2-QTOF-MS. This article provides a first-time such effort for the untargeted metabolite profiling of A.galactites.

Objective: This study aimed to shotgun analyze biological active substances in A.galactites, a plant used in Mongolian traditional medicine.

Material and Methods: The plant sample was collected in the Tahiltayn Mountain area (47º 91’ 44” N, 106º 70’ 63” E), Songino Khairhan district, Mongolia, (May 2021). Untargeted metabolite profiling analyses were performed in various plant organs (aerial parts, leaves, roots, and flowers) and previously isolated fractions (XYZ) of chloroform extract using GC-QTOF-MS and UPC2-QTOF-MS instruments.

Results: Twenty-three compounds, eight phenolic acid derivatives, seven flavonoids, two diterpenoid derivatives, two monoterpenoids, one sesquiterpenoid, two fatty acids, and one lignan were identified by UPC2-QTOF-MS analysis in the chloroform fraction of A.galactites. Further 16 compounds, of which 14 are polysaccharide derivatives and two alkaloids were also identified putatively by GC-MS analysis in the extract of leaves, flowers, roots, and aerial parts of A.galactites.

Conclusion: A shotgun metabolite profiling showed the presence of numerous polyphenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and saponins to be containing in A.galactites samples, a medicinal plant for its anti-inflammatory properties. The presence of the above-mentioned compounds supports the pharmacological effects and radical scavenging activities we reported (XYZ) previously.