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Nardostachys jatamansi is a well-documented herbal agent used to treat digestive and neuropsychiatric disorders in oriental medicinal systems. However, few simple, rapid, and comprehensive methods were reported for quality assessment and control of N. jatamansi. Herein, a UPLC with photodiode array detection method was developed for both fingerprint investigation of N. jatamansi and simultaneous quantitative analysis of the six serotonin transporter modulatory constituents in N. jatamansi. For chromatographic fingerprinting, 24 common peaks were selected as characteristic peaks to assess the consistency of N. jatamansi samples from different retail sources. Six of the common peaks (5, 7, 12, and 16 – 18) were identified as desoxo-narchinol A, buddleoside, isonardosinone, nardosinone, kanshone H, and (−)-aristolone, respectively, by phytochemical investigation. Five of the six compounds significantly either enhanced or inhibited serotonin transporter activity, while (−)-aristolone (18) didnʼt show any serotonin transporter activity. In quantitative analysis, the six compounds showed good linearity (r > 0.999) within test ranges. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was in the range of 0.25 – 2.77%, and the recovery of the method was in the range of 92 – 105%. The UPLC-photodiode array detection-based fingerprint analysis and quantitative methods reported here could be used for routine quality control of N. jatamansi.

Morin displayed significant inhibition of chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis and was able to increase the endostatin level in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HU-VECs). Morin was shown to contain an in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using a carrageenan-induced air pouch model in mice. Antinociceptive activity of morin was also assessed using an acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Collectively, morin possesses antiangiogenic, in vivo anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities.