Development Status of Gansu Chinese Materia Medica Planting Industry and Countermeasures for the Existing Problems / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality and safety of Radix Codonopsis, Astragalus Root, Angelica Root and other traditional Chinese medicines, aiming at the main problems existing in the main producing areas of genuine medicinal materials of Gansu Chinese materia medica. METHODS Through the investigation and analysis of the producing area, it is tried to use the land rotation system to optimize the soil ring of genuine medicinal materials of Gansu Chinese materia medica, standardize the use of agricultural inputs, and avoid the loss of soil fertility caused by disordered rotation and continuous cropping. RESULTS: AND CONCLUSION: It is of great significance to improve the quality awareness of genuine medicinal materials of Gansu Chinese materia medica, improve and standardize the scientific planting technology, optimize the industrial structure of genuine medicinal materials of Gansu Chinese materia medica, stretch the industrial chain, and strengthen the level of primary processing.

Quality assessment of sulfur-fumigated paeoniae alba radix / 中国中药杂志

The samples of sulfur-fumigated Paeoniae Alba Radix acquired both by random spot check from domestic market and self-production by the research group in the laboratory were used to evaluate the effects of sulphur fumigation on the quality of Paeoniae Alba Radix by comparing sulfur-fumigated degree and character, the content of paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin sulfurous acid ester, and changes of the fingerprint. We used methods in Chinese Pharmacopeia to evaluate the character of sulfur-fumigated Paeoniae Alba Radix and determinate the content of aulfur-fumigated paeoniflorin. LC-MS method was used to analyze paeoniflorin-converted products. HPLC fingerprint methods were established to evaluate the differences on quality by similarity. Results showed that fumigated Paeoniae Alba Radix became white and its unique fragrance disappeared, along with the production of pungent sour gas. It also had a significant effect on paeoniflorin content. As sulfur smoked degree aggravated, paeoniflorin content decreased subsequently, some of which turned into paeoniflorin sulfurous acid ester, and this change was not reversible. Fingerprint also showed obvious changes. Obviously, sulfur fumigation had severe influence on the quality of Paeoniae Alba Radix, but we can control the quality of the Paeoniae Alba Radix by testing the paeoniflorin sulfurous acid ester content.

Experimental study of saikosaponin-D (SSd) on lipid peroxidation of hepatic fibrosis on rat / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of SSd on lipid peroxidation during experimental hepatic fibrosis progression.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The experimental models of hepatic fibrosis were induced by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) on rats. SSd was administered by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks. Serum was analyzed for alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen IV (IV-C), malonaldehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Liver samples were measured for MDA contents and SOD activities in normal group, model group and SSd group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>SSd significantly decreased ALT and AST activities and lowered HA, LN and IV-C contents. It enhanced SOD activities in liver, while reduced MDA contents both in serum and liver.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SSd has obvious effects of protecting hepatocytes and resisting hepatic fibrosis, and the mechanism may be associated with its anti-lipid peroxidation effect.</p>

Studies on antiviral constituents in stems and leaves of Pithecellibium clypearia / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the antiviral constituents in the stems and leaves of Pithecellibium clypearia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The constituents of P. clypearia were systematically separated with various chromatographic techniques in combination with antiviral activity monitoring. Their structures were elucidated by physical and chemical properties and spectral data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Six compounds were isolated from P. clypearia and were identified as: tricetiflavan (5, 7, 3', 4', 5'-pentahydroxylflavan) (1), myricitrin (myricetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside) (2), quercitrin (quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside) (3), quereetin (4), methyl gallate (5) and gallic acid (6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 1 approximately 5 were obtained from this plant for the first time. Compound 4 was found to show an obvious anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity.</p>

Cholesteryl hemisuccinate as liposomal membrane stabilizer and its use in the preparation of saikosaponin-D liposomes / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the membrane stabilization effect and mechanism of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes; Saikosaponin-D (SSD) liposomes were prepared by using CHEMS as a membrane stabilizer and its encapsulation efficiency and hemolytic activity were evaluated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and calcein release were used to study membrane stabilization effect of CHEMS on DPPC membrane, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to study the interacting mechanism of CHEMS with DPPC, sedimentation experiment was done to study the interaction of CHEMS with SSD and hemolytic study was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes with CHEMS as membrane stabilizer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DSC analysis showed that CHEMS and cholesterol (CHOL) could all decrease the Tm value slightly and the deltaH value markedly. CHEMS was more effective than CHOL in decreasing the deltaH value of DPPC membrane. It suggested that CHEMS was more effective in increasing DPPC membrane stability. It was also proved by calcein release study carried out both in PBS and 30% plasma. The findings by FT-IR suggested that CHEMS has both hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction with the polar head of DPPC. CHEMS did not form insoluble complex (INCOM) with SSD by sedimentation experiment. Stable SSD-liposomes were prepared using DPPC and CHEMS and decreased effectively the hemolytic activity of SSD, SSD-liposomes may be given intravenously at a concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1), while free SSD was forbidden to be given intravenously.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHEMS was more effective than CHOL in increasing DPPC membrane stability, and it could be of great use in the preparation of cholesterol-dependent hemolytic saponins-liposomes. The hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes was greatly reduced, allowing a possible concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1) to be intravenously administered.</p>