Dendrobium nobile is a
species of
the genus Dendrobium that can be used as both a medicinal
herb and healthy food. The sesquiterpenes in D. nobile have attracted extensive attention in recent years. In this study,
Amide × RP offline two-dimensional chromatography separation
tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with GNPS (Global
Natural Product Social Molecular Networking) was developed for the
characterization of sesquiterpenes in D. nobile. After first-dimensional amide separation, the 70% ethanol extract
of D. nobile was divided into 40 fractions,
which were analyzed by second-dimensional reverse-phase system separation
and LTQ-Orbitrap detection. The raw data was imported into the GNPS,
resulting in the efficient clustering of similar substances. Finally,
594 sesquiterpene compounds were characterized, and 25 compounds were
isolated based on molecular network analysis, including six new compounds.
In vitro bioassays, the isolated compounds decreased NO production
in the LPS-induced microglial BV-2 cell model and the content of MDA
in PC12 cells, demonstrating neuroprotective activity. These findings
unraveled the underlying material and provided valuable insights into
the quality control of D. nobile.