Similarities and differences between Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng in treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease / 中国中药杂志

Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng are both herb medicines for cerebrovascular disease, and play an active role in treating ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICVD). Their mechanisms of action include antioxidant stress, nerve protection, vascular protection. According to the comparative study of literatures, G. biloba has a certain protective effect from the early stage of free radical formation throughout the whole process of causing cell inflammation and apoptosis in antioxidant stress; while P. notoginseng has mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis effects. In the nerve protection and repair of nerve damage caused by glutamate, both could promote neurogenesis, repair damaged axons and protect nerve cells. In addition, G. biloba could also relieve neurotoxicity caused by glutamate damage, while P. notoginseng have a unique effect in repairing blood-brain barrier(BBB) and blood vessel regeneration. In clinic, they are used as auxiliary drugs in combination with thrombolytic therapy, and play curative effects in alleviating inflammation, eliminating edema, improving the cure rate and the prognosis. For cerebral diseases caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, G. biloba could reduce inflammation and improve cognition. In addition, G. biloba could protect neurocyte by adjusting the secretion of dopamine in vivo, and has a certain effect on antidepressant diseases, which however needs further studies.

Study on specific chromatograms of Crocus sativus and authenticity identification / 中草药

Objective: To establish the method for the specific chromatograms analysis of Crocus sativus, so as to distinguish the active constituents between saffron and gardenia. Methods: HPLC with ZorBax XDB-C18 column was used, the mobile phase was a linear gradient of methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid and water containing 0.5% acetic acid in 45 min, the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm and the flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min. Results: Multi batches of samples were analyzed to establish the specific chromatograms. Eight marked peaks were separated. The methodological evaluation showed that the method had a good repeatability. The active constituents between saffron and gardenia could be significantly distinguished by this method. Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid, and accurate with good reproducibility and can be used for the quality control and identification of C. sativus.