Analysis and evaluation of bioactive constituents from different parts of Epimedium brevicornum / 中国中药杂志

A comprehensive analytical method based on ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole/linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry(UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was established for simultaneous determination of the content of 45 bioactive constituents including flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, phenolic acids, and nucleosides in Epimedium brevicornum. The multiple bioactive constituents in leaves, petioles, stems and rhizomes of E. brevicornum were analyzed. The gradient elution was performed at 30 ℃ in an XBridge~® C_(18) column(4.6 mm×100 mm, 3.5 μm) with 0.4% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1). Single factor experiment and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the extraction conditions. Multivariate statistical analyses including systematic cluster analysis(SCA), principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and one-way analysis of variance(One-way ANOVA) were carried out to classify the samples from different parts and identify different constituents. Grey relation analysis(GRA) and entropy weight-TOPSIS analysis were performed to build a multi-index comprehensive evaluation model for different parts of E. brevicornum. The results showed that there was a good relationship between the mass concentrations of 45 constituents and the corresponding peak areas, with the correlation coefficients(r) not less than 0.999 0. The precision, repeatability, and stability of the established method were good for all the target constituents in this study, with the relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 5.0%(0.62%-4.9%) and the average recovery of 94.51%-105.7%. The above results indicated that the bioactive constituents varied in different parts of E. brevicornum, and the overall quality followed the trend of leaves > petioles > rhizomes > stems. This study verified the rationality of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) stipulating that the medicinal part of E. brevicornum is the leaf. Moreover, our study indicated that the rhizome had the potential for medicinal development. The established method was accurate and reliable, which can be used to comprehensive evaluate and control the quality of E. brevicornum. This study provides data reference for clarifying the medicinal parts and rationally utilizing the resources of E. brevicornum.

Quality evaluation of Lysimachiae Herba from different habitats based on simultaneous determination of multiple bioactive constituents combined with multivariate statistical analysis / 中国中药杂志

A method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole linear ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 41 bioactive constituents of flavonoids, organic acids, nucleosides, and amino acids in Lysimachiae Herba. The content of multiple bioactive constituents was compared among the samples from different habitats. The chromatographic separation was performed in a Waters XBridge®C_(18) column(4.6 mm×100 mm, 3.5 μm) at 30 ℃. The gradient elution was performed with 0.4% methanol(A)-formic acid water(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1), and the multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was adopted. According to the content of 41 constituents, hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and gray relational analysis(GRA) were perfomed to comprehensively evaluate the samples from different habitats. The results showed that the 41 constituents exhibited good linear relationship within the tested concentration ranges, with the correlation coefficients(r) greater than 0.999 4. The method featured good precision, repeatability, and stability with the relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 5.0%. The average recoveries of the 41 constituents ranged from 98.06% to 101.9%, with the RSDs of 0.62%-4.6%. HCA and OPLS-DA separated 48 batches of Lysimachiae Herba samples from different habitats into three categories: the producing areas in Sichuan and Chongqing, the producing areas in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi, and the producing areas in Guizhou. The content of 41 constituents varied among the Lysimachiae Herba samples from different habitats. The GRA results revealed that the Lysimachiae Herba sample from Nanchong City, Sichuan Province had the best comprehensive quality. The method developed in this study was accurate and reliable and thus can be used for comprehensive evaluation of Lysimachiae Herba quality and provide basic information for the selection of habitats.

Analysis of Banxia Houpo Tang Based on Ancient Literatures / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Banxia Houpo Tang is widely used in modern clinics with definite curative effect. It is one of the classic famous prescriptions in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Famous Recipes（First Batch） published by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） in 2018. Using bibliometrics methods，collect relevant literatures of Banxia Houpo Tang in ancient medical books，analyze and verify the origin，historical evolution，composition，prescription，function，dosage，artillery，preparation method and decoction method of prescription. A total of 259 related ancient literature data were obtained，involving 107 TCM books. The inductive analysis found that Banxia Houpo Tang originated from ZHANG Zhong-jing's Synopsis of the Golden Chamberin the Han dynasty and consisted of the five flavors of Pinelliae Rhizoma，Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex，Poria，Perillae Folium and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. Houpo Tang，Qiqi Tang，Siqi Tang，Daqiqi Tang and other synonyms have appeared in the records of medical records of all dynasties. The prescription composition，preparation method and decoction method are used by later generations of medical practitioners. The analysis of related prescriptions is also rarely disputed. The dosage of drugs used in Banxia Houpo Tang can be calculated as 1g or 3 g. The drug processing method is different from the original one. Pinelliae Rhizoma should choose Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Zingibere et Alumine and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex as "Jianghoupu". The rest of the drug processing methods respect the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The cardiology of its treatment has also been extended and expanded. In addition to the symptoms of "burning in the pharynx" recorded by the original party，this side can also be used for heart diseases such as heartache，chest tightness，sorrow，vomiting，choking noisy and other spleen and stomach disease syndrome and spermatorrhea，turbidity，scorching and other lower coke disease syndrome.

Discussion on Use of Pinelliae Rhizoma Processed Products in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

There are 17 formulas containing Pinelliae Rhizoma in the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas (the First Batch), most of which are only labeled with " washing with decoction" or without any processing method, which is inconsistent with the current use requirements and brings confusion to research and development of related famous classical formulas. Through combing the records of famous classical formulas in the original book, contemporary works and later works, the usage of processed products of Pinelliae Rhizoma in the evolution of past dynasties was contrasted, and the efficacy, indications and compatibility significance of different formulas were analyzed, according to the principle of " respecting the ancient but not confining the ancient" , the authors suggested that the 17 famous classical formulas should use the processed products of Pinelliae Rhizoma in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, including Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine and Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Alumine. Among them, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Zingibere et Alumine should be used in Banxia Xiexintang, Gancao Xiexintang, Huangliantang, Xuanfu Daizhe Tang, Zhuye Shigaotang, Banxia Houpotang, Maimendong Tang, Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang, Wendantang, Zhurutang, Jinshui Liujun Jian and Yangweitang, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum should be used in Shengyang Yiweitang, Houpo Mahuangtang, Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang and Huopo Xialing Tang, and Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Alumine should be used in Sangbaipi Tang.

Proteomics and peptidomics analysis of Sepiae Endoconcha / 中国中药杂志

Shotgun based proteomics and peptidomics analysis were used to investigate the proteins and peptides in marine traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) Sepiae Endoconcha(cuttlebone). Peptides were extracted from cuttlebone by acidified methanol, and then strong cation exchange(SCX) resin was used to enrich those peptides. Also, proteins from cuttlebone were extracted and digested by trypsin. nano-LC Q Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze proteins and peptides from cuttlebone. As a result, a total of 16 proteins and 168 peptides were identified by protein database search, and 328 peptides were identified by De novo sequencing. The identified proteins were hemocyanin, enolase, myosin, actin, calmodulin, etc., and the identified peptides were derived from actin, histone, and tubulin. All these proteins and peptides were important components in cuttlebone, which would provide important theoretical and research basis for marine TCM cuttlebone investigations.

Spray drying process of extract of Wenjing Zhitong Prescription based on mixture design experiment / 中国中药杂志

To improve the spray drying effect of extract of Wenjing Zhitong Prescription, this study takes the yield, hygroscopic property and the fluidity of dry powder as indexes to screen out auxiliary materials, and the proportion of the auxiliary materials was optimized based on the mixing design experiment; based on that, HPLC method was established for the determination of glycyrrhizin and 6-gingerol in spray powder, the yield of spray powder and the retention rate of the two index components were taken as indexes to further optimize the spray drying parameters. The finally selected auxiliary materials were light magnesium oxide, maltodextrin and silica, and regression equations of dry powder yield, moisture absorption rate, angle of rest with proportion of auxiliary materials were established, and the optimized proportion of auxiliary materials was dry paste-light magnesium oxide-maltodextrin-silica=0.5∶0.305∶0.145∶0.05; according to the optimized drying process parameters of Wenjing Zhitong Prescription, initial temperature was 60 ℃, air inlet temperature was 130 ℃, air flow rate was 35 m~3·h~(-1), atomizing pressure was 40 mm, and liquid inlet speed was 4.5 mL·min~(-1). Under these conditions, the dry powder yield was 90.28%, the retention rate of glycyrrhizin was 74.51%, and the retention rate of 6-gingerol was 72.10%. In this study, optimized auxiliary materials can improve the yield of spray drying and the property of spray powder, and the optimized processing conditions were good for retaining the unstable gingerol components, which can lay a foundation for the further preparation research of meridian warming and pain relieving prescriptions, and provide reference for extract of other traditional Chinese medicine extracts that are difficult to spray drying.

Optimize excipients for Yinsang hypoglycemic granules by using multiple indexes / 中国中药杂志

Optimal excipients were screened by studying the effect of different excipients on the hygroscopicity of the extract, testing polysaccharide in the preparation and blood glucose value. Single factor tests were performed with hygroscopicity, formability and fluidity as the indexes, and the moisture content, granule yield and angle of repose were combined with physical characters of the materials to screen the proportioning and dosage of excipients. Then the critical relative humidity of preferred Yinsang granules were measured. The optimum excipients for Yinsang hypoglycemic granules were mulberry leaf paste-microcrystalline cellulose-mactra veneriformis crude polysaccharides (10∶9∶1.67). The obtained granules had good formability and fluidity, which were not easy to absorb moisture for liquefaction, with a critical relative humidity of 73%. This formation process was reasonable and feasible, suitable for industrial production, which can significantly improve hygroscopicity and liquefaction properties of extracts, improve stability of Yinsang granules, and provide reference for screening of excipients for other preparations.

Toxicity of Danshen injection in Beagle's dogs by repeated iv injection / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To re-evaluate the potential toxicity of Danshen Injection (DI) in Beagle's dogs by repeated iv injection. Methods: DI was iv given to the dogs at the doses of 0, 1.6, 5.4, and 16.0 g/(kg·d) (4 per sex per group) for 13 weeks. During the test period, the clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, rectal temperature, ophthalmoscopy, electrocardiography, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weights, gross findings, and histopathology were examined. Results: Dogs iv given with DI at the doses of 0, 1.6, 5.4, and 16.0 g/(kg·d) for 13 weeks had no drug-related changes in mortality, body weight, food consumption, temperature, electrocardiography, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis parameters, and organ weights. The hematological parameter data showed a significant decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin concentration in the high-dose group and a significant increase in activated partial thromboplastin time suggesting an effect on haemopoiesis. For biochemical parameters, a significant decrease in glucose and a significant increase in total bilirubin were observed in the high-dose group, and the latter was considered to be toxicologically insignificant as lack of histopathological correlate. However, the histopathological examinations of the injection site showed that DI could cause dose-dependent focal inflammation. Conclusion: That the iv injection with DI into dogs at 16 g/(kg·d) for 13 weeks could cause the decreases in red blood cell parameters and glucose, as well as the lesions of the injection site. The no observed adverse effect level is 5.4 g/(kg·d), which suggests that safe clinical dosing be possible. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Effect of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on drug craving of heroin addicts and beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on drug craving of heroin addicts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of heroin addicts were randomly divided into 4 groups, 30 cases in each. In acupuncture group 1, the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of T5-T7 and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected with electroacupuncture; in acupuncture group 2, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Zusanli (ST 36) etc. were selected with electroacupuncture; in simulation group, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected with analog electrical stimulation, and in blank group no any therapy was applied. The changes of drug craving were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the changes of beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma before and after treatment were tested by radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The relapse rate of 77.3% (17/22) in acupuncture group 1 was lower than those of 88.5% (23/26) in acupuncture group 2, 90.5% (19/21) in simulation group and 95.7% (22/23) in blank group (all P < 0.05). At the 8th and 10th week of treatment, the VAS scores in acupuncture group 1 and 2 were much lower than those in blank group and simulation group (all P < 0.01); in which, it was lower in acupuncture group 1 than that in acupuncture group 2 (P < 0.05), and lower in simulation group than that in blank group. After 10 weeks of treatment, compared with the status before treatment, beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma were increased in acupuncture group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), Dyn-A was decreased in both simulation and blank groups (both P < 0. 01) which was less obvious than those in both acupuncture groups (both P < 0.01) and superior in acupuncture group 1 than that in group 2 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) can suppress the drug craving and reduce the relapse rate, and the mechanism may be related with the content of beta-EP, especially the increase of Dyn-A in plasma.</p>

Multiple central clinical test of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with laser needle-knife for treatment of lumbar disc herniation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with laser needle-knife on lumbar disc herniation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of lumbar disc herniation were divided into an Jiaji EA group, a laser needle-knife group and a combination group (Jiaji EA plus laser needle-knife) according to random number table. Changes of symptoms at different stages before and after treatment were investigated with SF-MPQ cumulative scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 115 cases completed all of the study, SF-MPQ score in the combination group was significantly lower than those in the Jiaji EA group and the laser needle-knife group (P<0. 01, P<0.05), with a significant difference at the end of treatment of 2 weeks (P<0.01) between the laser needle-knife group and the Jiaji EA group, and with no significant difference at treatment of 1 week and 3 weeks (P>0.05). The recurrence rate at a half year later in the combination group was significantly lower than those in laser needle-knife group and the Jiaji EA group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at Jiaji (EX-B 2) combined with laser needle-knife can significantly increase clinical therapeutic effect, alleviate pain of the patient and reduce recurrence.</p>