Chemical constituents in Dolomiaea plants and their pharmacological activities: a review / 中国中药杂志

Dolomiaea plants are perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family with a long medicinal history. They are rich in chemical constituents, mainly including sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, triterpenes, and steroids. The extracts and chemical constituents of Dolomiaea plants have various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-gastric ulcer, hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. However, there are few reports on Dolomiaea plants. This study systematically reviewed the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Dolomiaea plants to provide references for the further development and research of Dolomiaea plants.

Metabonomics and its application in Chinese medicine processing / 中国中药杂志

Chinese medicine processing is a procedure to process medicinal materials under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theories by using unique methods in China. The medicinal materials can only be used clinically after proper processing. With the development of the modernization of TCM, it is difficult to solve the problems in the inheritance, development, and internationalization of Chinese medicine processing. Metabonomics, a new omics technology developed at the end of the last century, is used to infer the physiological or pathological conditions of the organism with the methods such as NMR and LC-MS via investigating the changes in endogenous small molecule metabolic network after the organism is stimulated by external environment. Metabonomics coincides with the holistic view of TCM because it displays the characteristics of integrity, comprehensiveness, and dynamics, and it has been widely applied in the field of Chinese medicine processing in recent years. This study summarized the application of metabonomics in the processing mechanism and quality control of Chinese medicine processing and prospected the development of this technology in the field of Chinese medicine processing.

Application of metabonomics in study of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome:a review / 中国中药杂志

Syndrome is a nonlinear "internal-excess external-deficiency", "dynamic spatial-temporal" and "multi-dimensional" complex system and thus only by using a versatile method can the connotation be expounded. Metabonomics, which is dynamic, holistic, and systematic, is consistent with the overall mode of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)(holistic view and syndrome differentiation and treatment). Therefore, metabonomics is very important for the research on the differentiation, material basis, and metabolic pathways of syndromes, and efficacy on syndromes. This study reviewed the application of metabonomics in the study of TCM syndromes in recent years, which is expected to objectify the research on TCM syndromes.

Research progress on chemical constituents from Bacopa monnieri and their pharmacological activities / 中草药

The revelant literatures about chemical constituents from the plant Bacopa monnieri and their pharmacological activities were consulted and summarized. The plant contains major chemical compounds including triterpenoids and their glycosides, flavonoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and sterols. It has the impact on central nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, respiratory system and endocrine system, in addition to anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidation, hypoglycemic, antitumor, anti-microbial and liver and kidney protection and other pharmacological activities. This paper reviewed the chemical compositions and pharmacological activities, and provided a scientific basis for further research and development of the plant.

Research progress in mechanism of intestinal microorganisms in human diseases / 药学学报

The international cooperated research projects of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) and Metagenomics of The Human Intestinal Tract (MetaHIT) were officially launched in 2007, which indicated the era of metagenomics research of microorganisms in human gastrointestinal tract had been coming. Each human body is a superorganism which is composed of 90% commensal microorganisms, especially the intestinal microorganisms. The intestinal microorganisms play an important role on health maintenance since they are involved in the absorption and metabolism of nutrients in the human bodies. Herein, we review the research progress in the mechanism of intestinal microorganisms in human diseases. Our purpose is to provide novel ideas on human health and therapeutic targets of diseases.

Interaction of effective ingredients from traditional Chinese medicines with intestinal microbiota / 中国中药杂志

A large number and wide varieties of microorganisms colonize in the human gastrointestinal tract. They construct an intestinal microecological system in the intestinal environment. The intestinal symbiotic flora regulates a series of life actions, including digestion and absorption of nutrient, immune response, biological antagonism, and is closely associated with the occurrence and development of many diseases. Therefore, it is greatly essential for the host's health status to maintain the equilibrium of intestinal microecological environment. After effective compositions of traditional Chinese medicines are metabolized or biotransformed by human intestinal bacteria, their metabolites can be absorbed more easily, and can even decrease or increase toxicity and then exhibit significant different biological effects. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicines can also regulate the composition of the intestinal flora and protect the function of intestinal mucosal barrier to restore the homeostasis of intestinal microecology. The relevant literatures in recent 15 years about the interactive relationship between traditional Chinese medicines and gut microbiota have been collected in this review, in order to study the classification of gut microflora, the relationship between intestinal dysbacteriosis and diseases, the important roles of gut microflora in intestinal bacterial metabolism in effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines and bioactivities, as well as the modulation effects of Chinese medicine on intestinal dysbacteriosis. In addition, it also makes a future prospect for the research strategies to study the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicines based on multi-omics techniques.

Water soluble chemical constituents of Valeriana officinalis Linn. var. latiofolia Miq / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the water soluble chemical constituents in the root of Valeriana officinalis Linn. var. latio folia Miq. and to identify their structures. Methods The water soluble chemical constituents were isolated and purified by macroporous resin Diaion HP-20, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20; the chemical structures of the components were determined by MS, 1D NMRand 2D NMR spectral analysis. Results and conclusion Thirteen constituents were isolated and identified from the root o f Valeriana officinalis Linn. var. latio folia, including Ganxinoside A (1), (-)-angelicoideno 1-2-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (-)-angelicoidenol-2-0-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 6-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylenehexahydrocyclopenta [c] pyran-1 (3H)-one (4), kanokoside A (5), prinsepiol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), (+)-pinoresinol-4-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), sinenoside I (8), lanicepsides A (9), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol-1-O-β-D-glucoside (10), (+)-pinoresinol-4, 4′-0-bisglucopyranoside (11), (+)-cycloolivil 6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12), and coniferin (13). All the 13 compounds are isolated from the root o f Valeriana officinalis Linn. var. latio folia Miq. for the first time.