ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To study active components and antitussive effect of aboveground part of Pinellia ternata （non- medicinal stems and leaves）， and compare them with the underground part of P. ternata （medicinal underground tubers）， providing scientific basis for the comprehensive utilization and product development of P. ternata. METHODS TLC， GC， HPLC and UPLC- MS/MS were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of amino acids， volatile oil， total flavonoids and succinic acid from the aboveground and underground parts of P. ternata. The antitussive effects of the aboveground and underground parts of P. ternata were compared and studied through cough inducing experiment with concentrated ammonia water. RESULTS Results of TLC showed that at the corresponding positions on the chromatograms of the reference substances of P. ternata， and arginine， alanine， valine， leucine and rutin control， the aboveground and underground parts of P. ternata showed spots of the same color. Results of GC showed that the similarity among characteristic chromatograms of volatile oil from aboveground and underground parts of P. ternata was 0.767； results of HPLC and UPLC-MS/MS showed that compared with underground parts of P. ternata， the contents of succinic acid， quercetin， kaempferol and isorhamnetin increased by 0.15%， 0.15%， 0.09% and 0.03%， and aspartate content decreased by 2.5 mg/g. Pharmacodynamics results showed that compared with model control group， the cough incubation period of rats was prolonged significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05）， and the cough frequency within 3 min was significantly decreased （P＜0.05）； there was no statistical significance in the cough frequency within 3 min among administration groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The composition of amino acids， volatile oils and total flavonoids in aboveground part of P. ternata are similar to underground part of P. ternata， while the content of aspartic acid is lower than that in underground part. The aboveground part of P. ternata can prolong the cough incubation period of rats and reduce the number of coughs， which has a certain antitussive effect， but the effect is slightly weaker than that of the underground part.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To compare the protective effects model mice between the aboveground and underground parts of Astragalus membranaceus on immunosuppression ，and to provide reference for further utilization and development of A. membranaceus. METHODS ：A total of 240 ICR mice were divided into 4 batches，60 mice in each batch ，with half male and half female. Each batch of mice were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，A. membranaceus aboveground part and undergroud part low-dose and high-dose groups （3，6 g/kg，by crude drug ）according to body weight and sex ，with 10 mice in each group. Blank group and model group were given normal saline intragastrically. A. Membranaceus groups were given corresponding concentration of drug intragastrically ，10 mL/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 30 days. Except for blank group ， other groups were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide 40 mg/（kg·d）for consecutive 3 days，since 24th day of treatment，to establish immunosuppression model. The levels of serum immunoglobulin （IgG，IgM，IgA），inflammation factors [nitric oxide ，interleukin-2（IL-2），IL-6，tumor necrosis factor-α] and half hemolysis value were detected in each group. Body weight ，thymus index ，spleen index ，phagocytic index ，activity of natural killer （NK）cell，splenic lymphocyte proliferation ability，dinitrofluorobenzene-induced delayed metamorphosis reaction in mice （by weight difference between left and right ears ） and the number of hemolytic plaque were determined. RESULTS ： Compared with blank group ， the serum levels of immunoglobulin，body weight ，thymus index ，spleen index ，phagocytic index ，NK cell activity ，the proliferation ability of splenic lymphocyte，the number of hemdytic plaque and half hemolysis value were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）， while inflammation factor level as well as weight difference between left and right ears were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group ，above indexes of mice in A. membranaceus groups were improved significantly ，in dose-dependent manner（P＜0.05）. Compared with A. membranaceus undergroud part group ，above indexes of A. membranaceus aboveground part group were improved significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：Aboveground and underground part of A. membranaceus both have pretective effect on immunosuppression model mice ，and the effect of aboveground part of A. membranaceus is stronger than underground part of A. membranaceus .
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the anti-tumor effects of total saponins,extracted from stems and leaves ofParispolyphyllavar.yunnanensis. Methods Taking mouse stomach carcinoma MFC cell line,human mammary cancer cell line(MCF-7)and human cervical carcinoma cell line(Hela),and their tumor-bearing mice as models,the antitumor activity was carried out in vitro and in vivo. CCK-8 assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect in vitro. The tumor-bearing mice model was induced by tumor cell vaccination in normal mouse forelimb left axillary subcutaneous and these mice were randomized into NS group,cytoxan group(30 mg/kg),saponins high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups(60,30 and 15 mg/kg). They were given intraperitoneal injection once a day for consecutive 15 days. The tumor inhibition rate and survival of the tumor-bearing mice were measured. Results Saponins,extracted from both aboveground and underground ofP.polyphyllavar.yunnanensis could significantly inhibit the growth of MFC,MCF-7 and Hela cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. The tumor weight in each drug treated group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusion Saponins,extracted from both aboveground and underground ofP.polyphyllavar.yunnanensis have antitumor activity.