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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the similarities and differences of the quality of agarwood produced by agar-wit from China and Southeast Asian countries. METHODS: The sensory characteristic, identification item, extract, content determination, characteristic chromatogram and total chromone content of agarwood produced by agar-wit from 11 place of origins of China and Southeast Asian countries were mainly evaluated, according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition). RESULTS: The morphological characteristics, TLC and characteristic chromatograms of 11 batches of agarwood produced by agar-wit were similar. Special structures such as included phloem, vessel and rays were observed in all samples. The extract and total chromone contents of agarwood produced by agar-wit from the six producing areas in China were higher than those from the five producing areas in Southeast Asia. Compared with other agarwood-inducing method, the sensory characteristics of the agarwood produced by agar-wit were relatively stable, and the average contents of the extract and total chromone were significantly higher, but the average content of agarotetrol was slightly lower than that of the agarwood produced by peripheral-inducing and iron-inducing. CONCLUSION: In terms of quality, the agar-wit is superior to the traditional agarwood-inducing method. It is not only applicable to the agarwood production of Aquilaria sinensis in China, but also applicable to the species of Aquilaria Lam. in Southeast Asian countries. The quality of agarwood produced by agar-wit is good in general, but the quality of the agarwood produced by A. sinensis is better than the species of Aquilaria Lam. in the Southeast Asian.
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OBJECTIVE: To research the teratogenic and mutagenic toxicity of agarwood extracts produced by agar-wit technique for functional food development (slices dose 0.60 g•d-1). METHODS: Pregnant rats of 6 to 15 d were given with agarwood extracts at 45, 105, 150 mg•kg-1 by gastric perfusion directly every day, then killed and anatomized after being pregnant for 20 d. During the whole course of treatment, the activity and body weight of pregnant rats, fetal survival rate, absorption number, malformation type and number of fetus were observed and recorded. RESULTS: The agarwood extracts had no effect on the body weight of pregnant rats at 45, 105, 150 mg•kg-1 dosages, and the numbers of implantation, live fetuses, fetuses and stillbirths of fetus, malformation type and number had no significant difference compared with the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Agarwood extracts have no teratogenic and mutagenic toxicity for rat fetuses.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the chronic toxicity of agarwood extracts produced by agar-wit. METHODS: Agarwood usage in Chinese Pharmacopoeia was referred. SD rats were used as the experimental animal and fed with agarwood extracts at pharmaceutical dosages (1 262.4, 631.2 and 157.8 mg•kg-1) and functional food dosages (150, 105 and 45 mg•kg-1) for 90 d. The weight and food utilization were recorded. The rats were killed on the 90th day, blood and urine were collected for routine blood, serum biochemical indicators and urine index tests, and the bodies were dissected for histological examination. RESULTS: The two groups of rats showed same results. The body weight, food utilization, routine blood, serum biochemical indicators and urine index were not significantly changed compared with the control group (P>0.05). Histological examination showed that the male and female rats both had some lesions, but the group of high dose extracts had no significant difference compared with the control group, also indicating that the lesions had no relationship with agarwood extracts. CONCLUSION: The agarwood extracts produced by agar-wit have no chronic toxicity for mammal in regards of body weight, biochemical indicators and pathology at both pharmaceutical dosages and functional food dosages.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of agarwood extracts produced by agar-wit technology for functional food development (slices dose 0.60 g•d-1). METHODS: SD rats were used as animal model, the total dose of 10 g•kg-1 was administered to the rats twice within 24 h, activity and poisoning of rats were observed and recorded in the next 14 d, and Ames test, mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test and in vitro mammalian cells chromosome aberration test were used to research the genotoxicity comprehensively. RESULTS: The rats showed normal activity and no poisoning symptoms appeared during acute toxicity test at 10 g•kg-1 dose. In the three genotoxicity test, extracts had no significant difference compared with the negative control (P>0.05), but significant difference compared with positive control (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Under the condition of this study, the agarwood extracts have neither acute toxicity nor genotoxicity on rats.
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Objective to evaluate the sedative-hypnotic effect of agarwood different extracts produced by whole-tree agar- wood-inducing technique (Agar-Wit agarwood) to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Method Collaborative pentobarbital sodium hypnosis experiment was employed to assess the index of fell asleep rate, sleep latency time and sleep time. And locomotor activity assay was used to test the index of moved distance, travel time and average velocity. Then a functional comparison was made between Agar-Wit agarwood and commereial agarwood. Result The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract and essential oil could significantly increase sleep rate and prolong sleep time. At the same time, essential oil could also decrease sleep latency time significantly. Additionally, both ethanol extract and oil significantly decreased the mice locomotor activity, including reduced total distance, movement, move time and average velocity. However, the water extract did not have significant effect. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract and oil have significant effect on sedation in mice, whose function is similar to, or even better than that of the commerical agarwood.
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Objective To evaluate the gastrointestinal regulative effect of agarwood extracts produced by the whole-tree agar- wood-inducing technique (Agar-Wit agarwood) to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Methods Intestinal propelling effect assay marked by carbon powder, and gastric empting effect assay marked by methyl orange were used to evaluate the gastrointestinal effects of Agar-Wit agarwood on mice by single or constant repeated intragastric (ig) administration of water extract and ethanol extract, and then the index of intestinal peristaltic rate and methyl orange relative residual rate were calculated. Gastrtic ulcer model was established under water stress to appraise their protective function on rat stomach and to obtain the gastric ulcer index and inhibitory rate. Results The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract significantly improved intestinal peristalsis and gastric empting function by single or constant repeated ig administration at the dose of 150 mg/kg. The ethanol extract of commercial agarwood also had the similar effect at the dose of 450 mg/kg. But the water extract did not have significant effect. The gas ulcer assay results showed that the ethanol extract significantly inhibited gastric ulcer happening by single ig administration. Additionally,constant repeated ig administration of ethanol extract showed the consistent results and the gastric ulcer inhibitory rate was (73.1±5.6)% at the dose of 300 mg/kg. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extracts have significant intestinal peristaltic effect,gastric empting effect and gastric ulcer inhibitory function.
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Objective To evaluate the gastrointestinal regulative effect of agarwood extracts produced by the whole-tree agar?wood-inducing technique(Agar-Wit agarwood)to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Methods Intestinal propelling effect assay marked by carbon powder,and gastric empting effect assay marked by methyl orange were used to evaluate the gastrointestinal effects of Agar-Wit agarwood on mice by single or constant repeated intragastric(ig)adminis?tration of water extract and ethanol extract,and then the index of intestinal peristaltic rate and methyl orange relative residual rate were calculated. Gastrtic ulcer model was established under water stress to appraise their protective function on rat stomach and to ob?tain the gastric ulcer index and inhibitory rate. Results The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract significantly improved intestinal peri?stalsis and gastric empting function by single or constant repeated ig administration at the dose of 150 mg/kg. The ethanol extract of commercial agarwood also had the similar effect at the dose of 450 mg/kg. But the water extract did not have significant effect. The gas? tric ulcer assay results showed that the ethanol extract significantly inhibited gastric ulcer happening by single ig administration. Addi?tionally,constant repeated ig administration of ethanol extract showed the consistent results and the gastric ulcer inhibitory rate was (73.1±5.6)%at the dose of 300 mg/kg. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extracts have significant intestinal peristaltic ef?fect,gastric empting effect and gastric ulcer inhibitory function.
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Objective To evaluate the sedative-hypnotic effect of agarwood different extracts produced by whole-tree agar?wood-inducing technique(Agar-Wit agarwood)to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Method Collaborative pentobarbital sodium hypnosis experiment was employed to assess the index of fell asleep rate ,sleep latency time and sleep time. And locomotor activity assay was used to test the index of moved distance,travel time and average velocity. Then a functional comparison was made between Agar-Wit agarwood and commereial agarwood. Result The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol ex?tract and essential oil could significantly increase sleep rate and prolong sleep time. At the same time ,essential oil could also decrease sleep latency time significantly. Additionally,both ethanol extract and oil significantly decreased the mice locomotor activity,includ?ing reduced total distance,movement,move time and average velocity. However,the water extract did not have significant effect. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract and oil have significant effect on sedation in mice,whose function is similar to,or even better than that of the commerical agarwood.