Comparison of saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves prepared by different processing methods / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the differences of chemical compositions in Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves prepared by different processing methods. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to compare the chemical compositions between shade-dried processing and drum-dried processing. Forty six gypenosides were identified by control comparison， liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MSn) fragmentation information， and literature data. The mass spectral peak area statistics was combined with principal component analysis(PCA)， and the results showed that eight batches of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves samples were divided into two groups according to the two different processing methods; ten chemical compositions with significant differences were screened according to mass spectrum information combined with partial least-squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA). The result showed that most parent nucleus of the gypenosides contained three to four glycosides in drum-dried samples， and one to two glycosides in the shade-dried samples. It was inferred from further MS analysis that desugarization of gypenosides was present to produce secondary glycosides with the effect of glucosidase in the shade-drying， thus resulting in difference in compositions. This study provided data support for harvesting， processing and quality control of Gynostemma pentaphyllum leaves.

Consideration about chemistry, manufacture and control (CMC) key problems in simplified registration of classical traditional Chinese medicine excellent prescriptions / 中国中药杂志

As an outstanding representative of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions accumulated from famous TCM doctors' clinical experiences in past dynasties, classical TCM excellent prescriptions (cTCMeP) are the most valuable part of TCM system. To support the research and development of cTCMeP, a series of regulations and measures were issued to encourage its simplified registration. There is still a long-way to go because many key problems and puzzles about technology, registration and administration in cTCMeP R&D process are not resolved. Based on the analysis of registration and management regulations of botanical drug products in FDA of USA and Japan, and EMA of Europe, the possible key problems and countermeasures in chemistry, manufacture and control (CMC) of simplified registration of cTCMeP were analyzed on the consideration of its actual situation. The method of "reference decoction extract by traditional prescription" (RDETP) was firstly proposed as standard to evaluate the quality and preparation uniformity between the new developing product under simplified registration and traditional original usages of cTCMeP, instead of Standard Decoction method in Japan. "Totality of the evidence" approach, mass balance and bioassay/biological assay of cTCMeP were emphatically suggested to introduce to the quality uniformity evaluation system in the raw drug material, drug substance and final product between the modern product and traditional decoction.

Purifying process of gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins based on "adjoint marker" online control technology and identification of their compositions by UPLC-QTOF-MS / 中国中药杂志

To optimize the purification process of gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins (GPS) based on "adjoint marker" online control technology with GPS as the testing index. UPLC-QTOF-MS technology was used for qualitative analysis. "Adjoint marker" online control results showed that the end point of load sample was that the UV absorbance of effluent liquid was equal to half of that of load sample solution, and the absorbance was basically stable when the end point was stable. In UPLC-QTOF-MS qualitative analysis, 16 saponins were identified from GPS, including 13 known gynostemma saponins and 3 new saponins. This optimized method was proved to be simple, scientific, reasonable, easy for online determination, real-time record, and can be better applied to the mass production and automation of production. The results of qualitative analysis indicated that the "adjoint marker" online control technology can well retain main efficacy components of medicinal materials, and provide analysis tools for the process control and quality traceability.

Identification of herbal tea ingredient Plumeria rubra and its adulterants using DNA barcoding / 中国中药杂志

ITS2 sequence was used as a barcode to identify herbal tea ingredient Plumeria rubra and its adulterants. Genomic DNAs from forty eight samples were extracted, the ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-direstionlly, and then assembled and obtained using CodonCode Aligner. The sequences were aligned using ClustalW, the genetic distances were computed by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA5.0. Results showed that the length of ITS2 sequence of P. rubra were 244 bp. The intra-specific genetic distances (0-0. 016 6) were much smaller than inter-specific ones between P. rubra and its adulterants(0.320 8-0.650 4). The NJ tree indicated that P. rubra and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. Therefore, Using ITS2 barcode can accurately andeffectively distinguish herbal tea ingredient P. rubra from its adulterants, which providesa new molecular method to identify P. rubra and ensure its safety in use.

The effects of a hot water soluble extract (S-03) isolated from Isatis indigotica root on influenza A and B viruses in vitro / 病毒学报

This study was to investigate the antiviral effects of a hot water soluble extract S-03 isolated from Isatis indigotica root on different subtypes of influenza A and B viruses in MDCK cell cultures, using plaque reduction, immunofluorescence and hemo-agglutination inhibition (HAD) assays. Chemical analysis of the extract S-03 showed that it contained high proportion of polysaccharides. The antiviral effects in vitro showed that the S-03 had no effect on different influenza viruses if the drug was used before virus adsorption, but S-03 showed obvious activities against influenza viruses if treatment after virus adsorption or direct reaction of drug and virus before virus adsorption. Hemagglutination inhibition assay showed that S-03 inhibited HA activities of different human influenza viruses (inhibition concentration ranged from 3.12 to 25 mg/mL), avain influenza viruses (inhibition concentration ranged from 25 to 50 mg/mL). The antiviral effects of S-03 on different influenza A and B viruses in vitro might be through the inhibition of the HA to prevent infection.