Toho University Researchers Reveal Structurally Diverse Daphnane Diterpenoids in Daphne genkwa

A research group led by Lecturer Kouharu Otsuki and Professor Wei Li of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, in collaboration with China Pharmaceutical University, comprehensively characterized the chemical diversity of the crude drug Kansho (Nardostachys Rhizoma et Radix), derived from the rhizomes of the endangered medicinal plant Nardostachys jatamansi (spikenard), using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). By integrating multiple metabolite annotation tools with molecular networking analysis, the researchers successfully characterized 124 chemical constituents that could not have been comprehensively identified using any analytical approach alone. The findings were published online in the Journal of Separation Science on July 24, 2026.

Key Points

LC-MS analysis of Nardostachys jatamansi, an endangered medicinal plant historically valued as a fragrance source, enabled the structural annotation of 124 metabolites spanning 17 chemical classes.
An integrated workflow combining mass spectral library matching, in silico structure annotation tools, and molecular networking analysis improved the coverage and reliability of metabolite characterization in complex plant extracts.
The comprehensive chemical profile generated in this study provides valuable baseline data for the conservation, quality assessment, and sustainable utilization of Nardostachys jatamansi.

Journal:
Journal of Separation Science (Published online: July 24, 2026)

Title:
Comprehensive Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-based Metabolite Annotation Elucidates the Chemical Diversity of an Endangered Plant Nardostachys jatamansi

Authors:
Yulin Cui, Kouharu Otsuki, Mi Zhang, Chang Luo, Siyi Li, Takashi Kikuchi, Jie Zhang, and Wei Li

DOI:
10.1002/jssc.70494

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