Investigation of the metabolites of five major constituents from Berberis amurensis in normal and pseudo germ-free rats / 中国天然药物

Berberis amurensis (Berberidaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which is often used to treat hypertension, inflammation, dysentery and enteritis. It contains alkaloids, mainly including berberine, berbamine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine. Berberis amurensis extracts (BAEs) is often orally taken. Oral herbs might be metabolized by intestinal bacteria in the small intestine. However, the interaction between the herb and the gut microbiota is still unknown. In the current study, UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with Metabolitepilot and Peakview software was used to identify the metabolites of BAEs in anti-biotic cocktail induced pseudo germ-free rats and normal rats. As a result, a total of 46 metabolites in normal rats were detected and its main metabolic pathways include demethylation, dehydrogenation, methylation, hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation. Only 29 metabolites existed in pseudo germ-free rats. Dehydrogenated metabolites (M29, M30, M34 and M36), methylated metabolites (M33, M41 and M46) and other metabolites were not detected in pseudo germ-free rats. The result implied that the intestinal bacteria have an influence on the metabolism of BAEs. Furthermore, this investigation might contribute to the understanding of the metabolism of BAEs, and further promote its clinical application.

Efecto del extracto de alcaloides de Berberis darwinii Hook sobre respuestas celulares innatas en fagocitos murinos / Effect of the extract of Berberis darwinii Hook alkaloids on innate cellular responses in murine phagocytes

Berberis darwinii Hook es una especie que habita el sur de Chile y la Patagonia. Siendo utilizada por la etnia mapuche para el tratamiento de procesos inflamatorios, estados febriles, y dolor estomacal. El propósito del siguiente estudio fue evaluar in vitro las propiedades del extracto de alcaloides de raíz de B. darwinii sobre respuestas celulares en monocitos desde sangre periférica de rata. Los resultados de la cuantificación del extracto muestran una concentración de alcaloides totales de 1,67 mg/g y la caracterización por HPLC- MS determinó la presencia de berberina y palmatina. In vitro se observó que los extractos disminuyeron la capacidad de adhesión y la actividad fagocítica de los monocitos e inhibieron la translocación del factor nuclear NF-κB asociado a la modulación de la inflamación, pero no así la producción de anión superóxido. Estos resultados indicarían que los alcaloides totales de B. darwinii inhiben algunos mecanismos específicos de defensa celular.

Berberis darwinii Hook is a species that inhabits southern Chile and Patagonia. This is being used by the Mapuche ethnic group for the treatment of inflammatory processes, febrile states, and stomach pain. The purpose of the following study was to evaluate in vitro the properties of an alkaloid extract of B. darwinii root on cellular responses in monocytes from the rat peripheral blood. The results of the quantification of the extract showed a total alkaloid concentration of 1.67 mg/g and the characterization by HPLC-MS determined the presence of berberine and palmatine. In vitro, it was observed that the extracts decreased the adhesion capacity and phagocytic activity of the monocytes and inhibited the translocation of the nuclear factor NF-κB associated with the modulation of inflammation, but not the production of superoxide anion. These results indicate that the total alkaloids of B. darwinii inhibit some specific mechanisms of cellular defense.

Chemical constituents of lipophilic parts in water extrct from stem of Mahonia fortunei / 中草药

Objective To study the chemical constituents of lipophilic parts in water extracts from the stem of Mahonia fortunei. Methods The compounds were isolated and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica gel and high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis. Results Thirty-eight compounds were obtained from lipophilic parts in water extracts from the stem of M. fortunei and identified as maltol (1), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylethanol (2), syringylethanone (3), 1-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propanone (4), α-hydroxypropiosyringone (5), corydaldine (6), zhebeiresinol (7), vanillic acid (8), springic acid (9), noroxyhydrastinine (10), (+)-syringaresinol (11), episyringaresinol (12), schisandrin (13), neoechinulin A (14), 8-oxyjatrorrhizine (15), 8-oxyberberine (16), 5-hydroxymaltol (17), methyl-5- hydroxy-2-pyridinecarboxylate (18), vomifoliol (19), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (20), oleracein E (21), acortatarin A (22), 5-epi-acortatarin A (23), 5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (24), (+)-lyoniresinol (25), (−)-secoisolariciresinol (26), ciwujiatone (27), protocatechuic acid (28), adenosine (29), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-1-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (30), 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) ethyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (31), tortoside B (32), oldhamioside (33), (+)-syringaresinol-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (34), episyringaresinol-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (35), berberine (36), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6′-O-syringoyl)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (37), and salidroside (38), respectively. Conclusion Compounds 3—7, 13—15, 17—19, 21—27, 29, 31, 33, and 38, are isolated from the genus Mahonia for the first time. Moreover, the nuclear magnetic resonance data of compound 15 is assigned for the first time.

A 14-Day Repeated Dose Toxicity of Epimedii Herba Aqueous Extract Administered by Oral Gavage in F344 Rats

The objective of this study is to characterize a toxicity of Epimedii Herba (EH) in F344 rats and to find a dose levels for the 13 weeks toxicity study. EH is well known as medicinal herb in many Asian countries for traditional medicines of antibacterial and antiviral effects, estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects, and for treatment of osteoporosis, hypotensives, fatigue, kidney disorders, and related complications. However, the indispensable and basic information of toxicological evaluation of EH extract is insufficient to support its safe use. Therefore, we conducted toxicological evaluation of this drug in compliance with OECD and MFDS guideline in this study. The extract of EH was administered orally to F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3500, and 5000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Each group was composed of 5 male and female rats. In this study, there were no treatment of EH-related adverse changes in clinical observations, mortality, body weights, food consumption, urinalysis, gross finding at necropsy, and organ weight examination. Total red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total cholesterol, and phospholipid were decreased in males and females at 5000 mg/kg/day compared to the control animals. Mean corpuscular volume and reticulocyte counts were increased in males and females at 5000 mg/kg/day compared to control animals. Therefore, we recommend that dose level of 5000 mg/kg/day is a highest treatment group in 13-week EH extract exposure study for further toxicity assessment.

A New furan flavonol glycoside from epimedium koreanum / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Epimedium koreanum. Methods: Separation was carried out through silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and HPLC method. The chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic method including 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR. Results: A new furanflavonol glycoside (1) was isolated and identified. Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new furanflavonol glycoside, and its structure is corroborated as 5,4'-dihydroxyfurano [2″,3":7,8] flavonol 3- O-α- L-rhamnoside. © 2014 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Berberidaceae endémicas del Perú

La familia Berberidaceae es reconocida en el Perú con un género, Berberis, y 32 especies (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), mayormente arbustos. Esta familia incluye 14 endemismos. La mayoría de estas especies endémicas ocupan la región Mesoandina, entre los 2000 y 4200 m de altitud. Dos de estos taxones endémicos están representados dentro del Sistema Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado.

The Berberidaceae are represented in Peru by 32 species in the genus Berberis (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), most of them shrubs. Most of the 14 endemic species grow in the Mesoandean region, between 2000 and 4200 m elevation. Two of these endemic species have been reported in the Peruvian System of Protected Natural Areas.