Research progress on pesticide residues of Angelicae Sinensis Radix / 中国中药杂志

The demand for Angelicae Sinensis Radix, the dry root of Angelica sinensis, has been increasing year by year. However, the continuous cropping obstacles, frequent occurrence of pests and diseases, overuse of chemical pesticides, excessive pesticide residues and other problems in Angelicae Sinensis Radix production have attracted much attention. In this paper, we summarized the common diseases and pests attacking Angelica sinensis as well as the detection methods and characteristics of pesticide residues in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from 2002 to 2021. Additionally, we compared the limit standards of pesticide residues in Angelicae Sinensis Radix in and out of China and put forward suggestions for the high-quality and green development of Angelicae Sinensis Radix industry conside-ring the existing problems. The pesticide residues in Angelicae Sinensis Radix have been changing from organochlorines to organophosphorus pesticides. In recent years, some organophosphorus pesticides such as phorate, phoxim, isofenphos-methyl, phorate-sulfoxide, fenamiphos, isocarbophos, omethoate, and triazophos in Angelicae Sinensis Radix have seriously exceeded the standards. The detection methods of pesticide residues has evolved from chromatography to high performance chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS), and some new detection techniques such as immunoassay have also been applied. Pesticide residues have become a primary factor that restricting the development of Angelicae Sinensis Radix industry. Therefore, moderate application of pesticides, establishment of ecological planting system, and strict limit standards of pesticide residues are necessary to solve the pesticide residue problem.

Studies on blood enrichment and anti-tumor effects of combined Danggui Buxue Decoction, Fe and rhEPO based on colon cancer-related anemia model and gut microbiota modulation / 中国天然药物

Colon cancer-related anemia (CCRA) is mainly caused by systemic inflammation, intestinal bleeding, iron deficiency and chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in colon cancer. However, the best therapeutic schedule and related mechanism on CCRA were still uncertain. Studies on blood enrichment and anti-tumor effects of combined Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), Fe and rhEPO based on CCRA and gut microbiota modulation were conducted in this paper. Here, CCRA model was successfully induced by subcutaneous inoculation of CT-26 and i.p. oxaliplatin, rhEPO + DBD high dosage + Fe (EDF) and rhEPO + DBD high dosage (ED) groups had the best blood enrichment effect. Attractively, EDF group also showed antitumor activity. The sequencing results of gut microbiota showed that compared to P group, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae and opportunistic pathogen (Odoribacter) in ED and EDF groups were decreased. Interestingly, EDF also decreased the relative abundances of cancer-related bacteria (Helicobacter, Lactococcus, Alloprevotella) and imbalance-inducing bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella and Parabacteroides) and increased the relative abundances of butyrate-producing bacteria (Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014), however, ED showed the opposite effects to EDF, this might be the reason of the smaller tumor volume in EDF group. Our findings proposed the best treatment combination of DBD, rhEPO and Fe in CCRA and provided theoretical basis and literature reference for CCRA-induced intestinal flora disorder and the regulatory mechanism of EDF.

Dose-toxicity-effect relationship between licorice combined with rhubarb in purgation / 中国中药杂志

The dose-toxicity-effect relationship between licorice combined with rhubarb in purgation was studied. A total of 108 ICR mice were divided into control group,model group,positive group,low,medium and high-dose rhubarb groups,and low,medium and high-dose rhubarb-liquorice decoction group. After 6 days of continuous administration of loperamide hydrochloride,the constipation model of mice was replicated,and each group was given lactulose,different doses of rhubarb and rhubarb-liquorice decoction for 14 days. After administration,the defecation characteristics,blood biochemistry,liver,kidney and colon pathological changes in each group were compared. Based on the objective weight given by factor analysis,the dose-toxicity-effect relationship was comprehensively analyzed by multi-index scoring method. Two common factors were extracted by factor analysis,representing effect and toxicity respectively. The results showed that rhubarb could exert a diarrhea effect at the dosage of 1/2,2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,increase the defecation volume and the intestinal tract propulsion rate,reduce the time of anal and the oral transmission,and increase the water content of feces. The combination with licorice could alleviate its diarrhea effect,especially at the dosage of 1/2 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However,rhubarb showed obvious hepatic and colon toxicities at the dosage of 2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,and the combination with licorice could significantly reduce its toxicity. It shows that licorice has a " mediating" effect on rhubarb by alleviating the purgation property and reducing the toxicity.

Comparative study on the effects of different proportions of ginkgo ketoester and donepezil on anti-dementia based on principal component analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods / 药学学报

The combination of ginkgo ketoester tablet - donepezil (GD) is a popular combination commonly used in clinic for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. To evaluate the learning and memory improving ability of different proportions of the two drugs. We optimized the ratio of GD for treatment of dementia using a mouse model. Dementia was induced by multiple neuronal damages in mice. The experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Experimental Ethical Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and all the procedures were strictly conducted in accordance with ethical principle of animal use and care. Morris water maze, brain hematosylin-eosin staining and the changes of the neurotransmitters and related enzymes in the plasma or brain tissues were tested to determine the effect of GD on dementia mice. The results showed that the dementia mice were significantly different from the normal group in terms of behavior, pathological sections and related indicators. Compared to the dementia mice, partial administration groups could improve learning and memory ability as well as indexes in the blood and brain tissues. Both the principal component analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods were used to comprehensively evaluate the total effect of GD on anti-dementia. The results showed that the combination of two drugs at the dose of 0.5 to 1 times was in a dose-effect relationship, and the dose of 1 (the clinical equivalent) had the best treatment effect. Then based on the optimal dose, GD 1∶1 had best effect, which was consistent with the clinical use of two drugs. This provides scientific basis for more effective application of the compatibility between ketoester tablet and donepezil for modern clinic medicine.

Comparative study on promoting blood effects of Danshen-Honghua herb pair with different preparations based on chemometrics and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods / 中国中药杂志

To evaluate the promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis effects of Danshen-Honghua(DH) herb pair with different preparations (alcohol, 50% alcohol and water) on blood rheology and coagulation functions in acute blood stasis rats, and optimize the best preparation method of DH based on principal component analysis(PCA), hierarchical cluster heatmap analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods. Ice water bath and subcutaneous injection of adrenaline were both used to establish the acute blood stasis rat model. Then the blood stasis rats were administrated intragastrically with DH (alcohol, 50% alcohol and water) extracts. The whole blood viscosity(WBV), plasma viscosity(PV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and haematocrit(HCT) were tested to observe the effects of DH herb pair with different preparations and doses on hemorheology of blood stasis rats; the activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), thrombin time(TT), prothrombin time(PT), and plasma fibrinogen(FIB) were tested to observe the effects of DH herb pair with different preparations on blood coagulation function and platelet aggregation of blood stasis rats. Then PCA, hierarchical cluster heatmap analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods were all used to comprehensively evaluate the total promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis effects of DH herb pair with different preparations. The hemorheological indexes and coagulation parameters of model group had significant differences with normal blank group. As compared with the model group, the DH herb pair with different preparations at low, middle and high doses could improve the blood hemorheology indexes and coagulation parameters in acute blood stasis rats with dose-effect relation. Based on the PCA, hierarchical cluster heatmap analysis and multi-attribute comprehensive index methods, the high dose group of 50% alcohol extract had the best effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Under the same dose but different preparations, 50% alcohol DH could obviously improve the hemorheology and blood coagulation function in acute blood stasis rats. These results suggested that DH herb pair with different preparations could obviously ameliorate the abnormality of hemorheology and blood coagulation function in acute blood stasis rats, and the optimized preparation of DH herb pair on promoting blood effects was 50% alcohol extract, providing scientific basis for more effective application of the DH herb pair in modern clinic medicine.

Quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(4→1)-α-L-rhamnoside metabolites in the rat using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS / 中国天然药物

Ultraperformance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and the Metabolynx™ software, combined with mass defect filtering, were applied to identity the metabolites of quercetin-3-O-β-D-gluco-pyranosyl-(4→1)-α-L-rhamnoside (QGR) in rats after intravenous administration. MS(E) was used for simultaneous acquisition of precursor ion information and fragment ion data at high and low collision energy in one analytical run, which facilitated the rapid structural characterization of eight metabolites in rat plasma, urine and bile. The results indicated that methylation and glucuronidation were the major metabolic pathways of QGR in vivo. The present study provided important information about the metabolism of QGR which will be useful for fully understanding the mechanism of action of this compound. Furthermore, this work demonstrated the potential of the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS approach using Metabolynx for rapid and automated research of the metabolites of natural products.

Determination of terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba leaves in different ages by UPLC-TQ-MS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass (UPLC-TQ-MS) for determination of four terpene lactones.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Chromatographic separation was carried out on a ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) with isocratic elution of 70% methanol at a flow rate of 0.4 mL x min(-1), the column temperature was set at 30 degrees C; Waters Xevo TQ worked in multiple reaction monitoring mode.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>All calibration curves were linear (r > 0.990 3) over the tested ranges. The average recoveries ranged from 98.83% to 103.9% with RSD value below 3.0%. The contents of total terpene lactones in Ginkgo biloba leaves were significantly different in different ages. The contents in the leaves of young ginkgo tree were higher than that in old tree.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was simple and fast with high precision, sensitivity and repeatability, which can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of terpene lactones in G. biloba leaves.</p>

Study on chemical constituents of Ginkgo biloba kernel / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Ginkgo biloba kernel. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated by silica gel chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by physical-chemical and spectroscopic data. RESULTS: Nineteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as hexacosanoic acid (I), palmitic acid (II), ginnol(III), β-sitosterol (IV), 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl hexadecoate (V), ursolic acid(VI), sciadopitysin (VII), ginkgetin (VIII), isoginkgetin (IX), daucosterol(X), ginkdolide A (XI), ginkdolide B (XII), ginkdolide C (XIII), uracil(XIV), coniferin (XV), liquirtin (XVI), adenosine (VII), D-glucose (XVIII) and sucrose (XIX). CONCLUSION: Compounds VI, XV-XVII are obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds I-V, VII-X and XIV are obtained from Ginkgo biloba kernel for the first time. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.