What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to characterize chemical constituents of Trichosanthes pericarpium and screen for βKlotho agonists.

February 14, 2026Open Access

Rapid Identification of Chemical Components and Screening of Beta–Klotho Agonists From Trichosanthes pericarpium Aqueous Extract Based on Affinity Ultrafiltration and Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Key Result

Diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, cucurbitacin B, and rutin from Trichosanthes pericarpium significantly increased viability and reduced apoptosis in ischemic myocardial cells.

Key Points

The aim is to characterize chemical constituents of Trichosanthes pericarpium and screen for βKlotho agonists.
Utilized affinity ultrafiltration combined with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (AUF–LC–MS) for identification.
Tentatively characterized 59 compounds present in the aqueous extract.
Conducted in vitro activity validation assays to verify the effects of selected compounds on myocardial cells.
Identified 7 potential ligands targeting βKlotho.
Showed that diosmetin–7‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, cucurbitacin B, and rutin significantly increased myocardial cell viability.
Demonstrated that these compounds significantly reduced apoptosis in myocardial cells injured by ischemia and hypoxia.

Structured PICO

Do compounds from Trichosanthes pericarpium improve viability and reduce apoptosis in myocardial cells injured by ischemia and hypoxia?

Population

Myocardial cells injured by ischemia and hypoxia (in vitro model)

Intervention

Compounds from Trichosanthes pericarpium (diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, cucurbitacin B, and rutin)

Outcome

Cell viability and cardiomyocyte apoptosissurrogate

Diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, cucurbitacin B, and rutin from Trichosanthes pericarpium act as Beta-Klotho agonists and protect myocardial cells from ischemia/hypoxia-induced injury in vitro.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

ABSTRACT Trichosanthes pericarpium (TP), a natural product rich in pharmacologically active constituents, exhibits potential cardioprotective effects. This study employed a ligand fishing strategy combined with identification to efficiently characterize the chemical ingredients of TP and rapidly screen for Beta–Klotho (βKlotho) agonists, utilizing affinity ultrafiltration combined high–performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (AUF–LC–MS). As a result, a total of 59 compounds were tentatively characterized, and 7 potential ligands were fished out when βKlotho acted as the targeted protein. Subsequently, three representative angling compounds, including diosmetin–7 ‐O –β –D –glucopyranoside, cucurbitacin B, and rutin, were further verified by molecular docking visualization analysis and in vitro activity validation assays. Cell viability assays demonstrated that all three aforementioned compounds significantly increase the viability of myocardial cells injured by ischemia and hypoxia. Furthermore, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays demonstrated that these compounds significantly attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Collectively, this study establishes a novel strategy for the systematic characterization and screening of bioactive compounds in natural products, providing a solid foundation for the development of βKlotho agonists derived from TP.