Molecular Identification of Bupleurum chinense Seeds Based on DNA Barcoding Technology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To establish a molecular identification method for Bupleurum chinense seeds based on ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, ensuring the species authenticity of the cultivated seeds of B. chinense. Method:A total of 59 seeds samples of B. chinense and its main cultivated species, marketed B. chinense were collected. The effect of different sampling amounts and different water bath conditions on DNA extraction quality of the seeds was investigated, a DNA extraction method for seeds of Bupleurum was established. Their ITS sequences were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bidirectional sequencing. In addition, 34 ITS sequences of main cultivated Bupleurum species, such as B. chinense, B. scorzonerifolium, B. falcatum and B. smithii, were downloaded from GenBank to enrich identification database of B. chinense seeds. The neighbor-joining (NJ) dendrogram were constructed by MEGA-X 10.0.5 software to investigate the the species identification ability of ITS sequences for B. chinense seeds. And DNA barcoding identification of marketed B. chinense seeds was conducted based on BLAST method and NJ dendrogram method. Result:In total, 59 ITS sequences were obtained. ITS sequences of B. chinense could be divided into six haplotypes, including seven variable sites. The NJ dendrogram indicated that all the haplotypes of B. chinense could form independent branches, which could be distinguished from other cultivated species of Bupleurum in the collected samples, and possessed the ability to identify species of B. chinense seeds. Based on ITS sequence barcoding identification, 3 of the 19 marketed B. chinense seeds were B. falcatum with a counterfeit rate of 15.8%. Conclusion:DNA barcoding technology based on ITS sequence can accurately and reliably identify B. chinense seeds and its adulterants, providing reference for the standardization construction of Chinese medicinal materials seeds.

Identification of water buffalo horn and its adulterants using COI barcode / 药学学报

Bubali cornu (water buffalo horn) has been used as the substitute for Cornu rhinoceri asiatici (rhino horn) in clinical applications, and is the essential ingredient of Angong Niuhuang Wan. In recent years, there are a number of adulterants on the commercial herbal medicine markets. An efficient tool is required for species identification. In this study, 155 Bubali cornu samples have been taken from original animals and collected from commercial herbal medicine markets. 153 COI sequences have been successfully obtained from 155 samples through DNA extraction, PCR amplification, bidirectional sequencing and assembly. 93 COI sequences have been added to the DNA barcoding database of traditional Chinese animal medicine after validation using DNA barcoding GAP and tree-based methods. The species identification of the 62 commercial Bubali cornu medicines has been accomplished on the DNA barcoding system for identifying herbal medicine using the updated animal medicine database (www.tcmbarcode.cn). Except two samples failed to obtain COI sequences, 54.8% of the commercial Bubali cornu medicines were water buffalo horns and 29% were yak horns. Our results showed that yak horn was the major adulterant of Bubali cornu and the DNA barcoding method may accurately discriminate Bubali cornu and their adulterants. Therefore, we recommend that supervision on the herbal medicine markets should be strengthened with this new method to warren the effectiveness of herbal medicines.

Application of 3S technology in resources survey of medicinal plants / 中草药

The authors introduced the current situation of resources survey in Chinese materia medica (CMM) and 3S technology applied in the investigation of medicinal plant resources, summarized the applications in cultivars, wild widespread species, rare species of wild special ecological medicinal plant resources, and reserves estimation research by 3S technology in recent years. Presenting the hyperspectral remote sensing in CMM resources survey and reserves estimates for a case. More about the 3S technology was in medicinal plant suitability assessment application, but fewer were studies in terms of resource survey and estimating reserves. Most are concentrated in a large area of cultivated or wild species widely distributed species such as ginseng, licorice, saffron, and a few of several medicinal plants. Especially the application of rare species of wild medicinal plant resources investigation is still blank. With the launch of high-resolution satellite and development of hyperspectral remote sensing technology, making use of 3S technology on rare species of wild medicinal plant resources investigating is possible.

Study on estimating reserves of wild Seutellaria baicalensis in Inner Mongolia region based on 3S technology / 中草药

Objective: To establish the reserve estimation model, which can estimate the reserves of the wild Scutellaria baicalensis in Inner Mongolia region. Methods: Combined 3S technology with the traditional field survey methods, four habitat factors (vegetation type, altitude, rainfall, and temperature) have been selected as indicators for categorizing the habitat region of Inner Mongolia. According to the habitat suitability of wild S. baicalensis in Inner Mongolia region, stratified for each indicator, all indicators are divided into the most suitable, suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable four layers. Each layer in a simple random sampling method conducted field surveys. Results: Finally, the method and model to estimate the reserves in Inner Mongolia have been established. This model has been used to estimate the reserve of wild S. baicalensis in Inner Mongolia. The total number of wild S. baicalensis in Inner Mongolia is 19000 tons. Conclusion: It can provide an important parameter for the fourth national survey of Chinese materia medica (CMM) resources and the estimation of CMM resources based on 3S technology by multiple spatial scales model.

Simultaneous determination of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin-A in Scutellaria baicalensis by UPLC / 中草药

Objective: To establish a UPLC method for the simultaneous determination of five constituents (baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin-A) in Scutellaria baicalensis. Methods: Five constituents in S. baicalensis were simultaneously determined by UPLC with Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). With a gradient program of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid at the flow rate of 0.6 mL/min, and the detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. Results: Baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin-A in S. baicalensis were clearly and respectively separated in 15 min. The relationship between the concentration and the peak areas of the five constituents in S. baicalensis was all linear. The RSD of recovery, precision, and reproducibility was all less than 3.0%. Conclusion: The method is rapid, simple, reliable, and accurate, and has been successfully used to the quantification of the five constituents in S. baicalensis.

Management of Chinese materia medica market based on information asymmetry / 中国中药杂志

Pharmaceutical market is a typical market with information asymmetry, and which can lead to "lemons" problem. In all developed countries, firms must receive regulatory approval to market a pharmaceutical product. Such administrative department including SFDA, EMA, FDA and so on. Chinese materia medica is a special part of pharmaceutical market in China. The management of Chinese materia medica is a special challenge in China.

Hyperspectral characteristics of Carthamus tinctorius in Xinjiang region / 中国中药杂志

Investigation of traditional Chinese medicine resources is the most important issue of the protection and use of traditional Chinese medicine resources. Real-time monitoring of medicinal plant species and coverage of an area are of great significance to the sustainable development of the medicinal plant species diversity and ecological environment. Flower has unique spectral characteristics. Comparing the vegetative stage through the flowering stage it is easier to identify species. The flowering stage is a critical period for identifying species with remote sensing. Carthamus tinctorius as a traditional Chinese medicine resources in XinJiang region, attracted widespread attention in recent years. In this paper, the hyperspectral data of canopy and other vegetation canopy was measured in 2011. The spectral curve was analyzed, the result indicated that C. tinctorius canopy and the canopy after picking showed absorption peak near 770 nm, the first derivative of red edge spectra and invert-Gaussian model were analyzed, the result indicated that there was significant difference between C. tinctorius canopy and other vegetation canopy. The proposed method is designed to provide initial theoretical foundation for growth condition and physiological parameters of C. tinctorius, and make theoretical groundwork for the distribution and elaborate monitoring of C. tinctorius in future.

Construction and application of "digital medicine-box" theory / 中草药

Combining the digital earth technology and basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, this paper constructs the "Digital Medicine-Box" (DMB) theory. Taking the digital Chinese Medicine Resource in Beijing region as a case, the suitability of Chinese Medicinal Materials' habitat and production is assessed, which is supported by "3S" and grid digital technique. Then a series of available assessment thematic maps have been drawn. These results show that DMB can display quantitative and locational massive spatial information of natural resources of Chinese medicinal materials' habitat conditions. The application of DMB is able to provide the scientific guidance on the cultivation layout of genuine medicinal materials and dynamic management of resources, so as to promote the sustainable development of Chinese medicinal materials.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) inhibits lung cancer-induced pulmonary microvascular angiogenesis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of bevacizumab (Avastin) on pulmonary microvascular angiogenesis induced by lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effects of Avastin on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis of lung microvascular endothelial cells were assayed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Avastin inhibited the growth of lung microvascular endothelial cells and induced increase of cell apoptosis index in a concentration-dependent manner. With the increment of Avastin concentration from 25 to 100 microg/ml, avascular area increased from 0.944-/+0.073 cm square to 5.189-/+0.192 cm square, and the cell apoptosis index increased from 32.5%-/+1.5% to 39.25-/+1.6%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Avastin can inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis of lung microvascular endothelial cells in three-dimensional culture, possibly in association with cell cycle arrest in G(0/1) phase.</p>

The chest image appearances of penicilliosis marneffei in patients with AIDS / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To study the chest image appearances of penicilliosis marneffei(PSM)in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS).Methods Chest imaging features of PSM in 36 patients with AIDS were retrospectively analyzed.Results Radiographic features of infiltrative lesions and focal lung consolidation were found in 14 cases(38.89%),in which 2 cases were with single lung disease(5.56%)and 12 cases with bilateral lung involvement(33.33%).Eight cases had diffuse lesions (22.22%),10 cases had reticular image patterns(27.78%),9 cases had nodular patterns(25.00%), 7 cases had ground-glass shadows(19.44%),6 cases had diffuse miliary lesions(16.67%),4 cases had enlarged bilar and enlarged mediastinum lymph nodes(11.11%).Cystic lesions was found in 5 cases (13.89%).Four cases had pleural effusion(11.11%),and 2 cases had nodular bump(5.56%). Pericardial effusion and pneumothorax each appeared in 1 case(2.78%).By HRCT,infiltrative lesion and focal lung consolidation were found in 32 patients(88.89%),in which 4 cases were with single lung lesions (11.11%)and 28 cases were with bilateral lung lesions(77.78%).Thirteen cases had diffuse lesions (36.11%),10 cases had pulmonary interstitial hyperplasia(27.78%),9 cases had nodular patterns (25.00%),8 cases had ground-glass shadows(22.22%),9 cases had diffuse miliary lesions(25.00%), 21 cases had enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum(58.33%).Cystic lesions were found in 8 cases (22.22%).Thirteen cases had pleural effusion(36.11%),and 2 cases had nodular bump(5.56%). Pericardial effusion and pneumothorax each appeared in 1 case(2.78%).Conclusion The image appearances of PSM in patients with AIDS include infiltrative lesions or focal lung consolidation,ground- glass shadow,enlarged hilar and mediastinum lymph nodes,pleural effusion,interstitial involvement or reticular image pattern(pulmonary interstitial hyperplasia),diffuse miliary lesion,and cystic lesion.