Development and evaluation of a rapid PCR detection kit for Ophiocordyceps sinensis / 中国中药杂志

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine. Due to resource shortage, expensive price and huge market demand, there are many adulterants of O. sinensis in markets. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a rapid and effective method for distinguishing O. sinensis. Based on the species-specific PCR of O. sinensis, this study developed a detection kit by optimizing the components and evaluated the specificity, detection limit, repeatability and shelf life of the kit. The results showed that when the quality of O. sinensis accounted for more than 1/200 of that mixture, it could be detected successfully. Moreover, only O. sinensis could be amplified and glowed bright green fluorescence under ultraviolet light. The kit was still in effect when it was placed at 37 ℃ for three days, which indicated that it was stable and effective for one year stored in 4 ℃. The kit in the same batch under different operation conditions, and in different batch under the same operation conditions gave the same result and accuracy, which showed good repeatability of the kit. It is simple, rapid and accurate to distinguish O. sinensis from its adulterants using the kit, and lays the foundation for commercialization of traditional Chinese medicine fast detection kit.

Correlation analysis between effectiveness of element in rhizonsphere soil and quality of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) / 中国中药杂志

In order to investigate the content and distribution of available element in the rhizonsphere soil of the growing areas of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, the contents of available element (N,P,K,B,Cu,Zn,Fe,Mn) in 26 soil samples were tested and evaluated. The results showed that the contents of available P and Fe were very plentiful, available K, Cu and Zn were rich, available N and Mn were deficient, available B was extremely deficient in all growing areas of S. miltiorrhiza of eight provinces in China. The correlation analysis showed that the contents of eight kinds of available elements were varying degree correlation. The stepwise regression analysis between the contents of available elements of rhizonsphere soil and ten kinds of active ingredients of Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) were researched. The results showed that the rates of contribution of available N,B,Mn and Fe to quality of Danshen were relatively large and they were the significant factors, and the other factors did not show statistical significance. The recommended fertilizing strategies is that the usage of N,B and Mn fertilizers should be controlled according to different stages of growth of S. miltiorrhiza, and P fertilizer should be reduced in all growing areas of S. miltiorrhiza.

Study on quality assessment of Polygalae Radix based on HPLC-DAD fingerprint / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Separation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.</p>

Corresponding relationship between Mantis and Mantidis Oötheca (Sangpiaoxiao) / 中国中药杂志

Mantidis Oötheca is commonly used Chinese medicine. Because of the used medicinal part is oötheca and many mantis species can yield ootheca, it is not possible to identify its original animal accurately. There is no unanimous conclusion about the corresponding relationship between Mantis and Mantidis Oötheca (Sangpiaoxiao). This relationship is the basis of the Mantidis Oötheca research. Our study combined the methods of artificial incubation oötheca and capture the living mantis to identify the species of Mantis and Mantidis Oötheca. The results showed that the origin insects of Mantidis Oötheca was Tenodera, Hierodula and Statilia genus insects. This has laid a foundation for further study of Mantidis Oötheca.

Market survey and identification of hippocampus (Haima) / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the commercial original species of hippocampus in the market.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Field survey and interview were applied to the investigation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Present study identified the main commercial hippocampus of 13 species, including Pharmacopoeia contained four kinds of hippocampus (without Hippocampus japonicus) listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the identification method for the 13 kinds of commercially hippocampus was established.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The further research on hippocampus should be strengthened for the establishment of hippocampal quality control standard.</p>

Preliminary study on correlation between diversity of soluble proteins and producing area of Cordyceps sinensis / 中国中药杂志

To analyze the content and type of soluble proteins in Cordyceps sinensis from different producing areas and processed with different methods with bradford method and 2-DE technology, in order to discover significant differences in soluble proteins in C. sinensis processed with different methods and from different producing areas. The preliminary study indicated that the content and diversity of soluble proteins were related to producing areas and processing methods to some extent.

Resources of Chinese Herbs Sang (Morus sp.) in Sichuan and strategies for development and utilization / 中国中药杂志

A comprehensive analysis was conducted on resources composition of Chinese Herbs Sang (Morus sp.) in Sichuan using survey data and related literature. The original plants, germplasm collections, cultivation areas, main cultivated varieties and production sale of crude drugs of Sang in Sichuan were clearly expounded. Strategies for development and utilization of Sichuan mulberry resources were suggested.

Isolation and identification of endophytic fungi from Ligusticum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between entophytic fungal community, habitations and varieties of Ligusticum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The solidified potato dextrose agar (PDA) of plates was applied for the isolation of the endophytic fungi, and the identification was completed by spot-planting method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Fifty strains of the entophytic fungi were isolated from the rhizome of L. chuanxiong collected from 6 habitations. They were morphologically identified as belonging to 13 genera, 4 families, 3 orders and 1 class.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were some differences at quantity, species and distributing of the entophytic fungi in different habitats and varieties of Ligusticum, which was suggested that entophytic fungal community is related with specific habitat.</p>

HPLC fingerprint of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati (Polygonum cuspidatum).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The HPLC separation was carried with Diamonsil C18 column and eluted with a gradient from methanol and 0.1% phosphoric acid, the detection wavelength was at 230 nm and recording 70 min. The similarity of chromatograms was compared by mean of the software from Zhongnan University.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The constituents of P. cuspidatum were well separated by HPLC, and the similarity was above 0.80.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method can be used for the study of fingerprints of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati.</p>

Study on relative bioavailability of ferulic acid of combination Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Cortex Cinnamomi in mice / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the phamacokinetics and relative bioavailability of combination Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Cortex Cinnamomi.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The content of ferulic acid in plasma was determined directly by HPLC after oral administration of Cortex Cinnamomi in combination individually with Radix Angelicae Sinensis. The plasma concentration-time curve were plotted. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailability were obtained.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The plasma concentration-time curve of fenalic aclid conformed to one-compartment model. The relative bioavailability of Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis were 226.75%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By the statistical analysis, Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis can increase the relative bioavailability of ferulic acid.</p>