Effects of different drying methods on quality of male flowers of Eucommia ulmoides based on color and chemical composition / 中国中药杂志

To study the effects of different drying methods on the quality of male flowers of Eucommia ulmoides(MFOEU), we treated fresh MFOEU samples with drying in the shade(DS), vacuum freeze drying(VFD), high-or low-temperature hot air drying(HTHAD, LTHAD), microwave drying(MD), and vacuum drying(VD), respectively. The color, total flavonoid content, total polysaccharide content, and main active components such as geniposide, geniposidic acid, rutin, chlorogenic acid, galuteolin, pinoresinol diglucoside, and aucubin in MFOEU were taken as the evaluation indicators. The quality of MFOEU was comprehensively evaluated by entropy weight method combined with color index method, partial least squares discriminant analysis and content clustering heat map. The experimental results showed that VFD and DS basically kept the original color of MFOEU. The MFOEU treated with MD had higher content of total polysaccharides, phenylpropanoids, lignans, and iridoids. The MFOEU treated with LTHAD had higher content of total flavonoids and that treated with VD had lower content of active components. According to the results of comprehensive evaluation, the quality of MFOEU dried with different methods followed the order of MD>HTHAD>VFD>LTHAD>DS>VD. Considering the color of MFOEU, the suitable drying methods were DS and VFD. Considering the color, active components, and economic benefits of MFOEU, MD was the suitable drying method. The results of this study are of a reference value for the determination of suitable methods for MFOEU processing in the producing areas.

Effects of Alcohol Extracts of Bark and Male Flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on Airway Allergic Inflammation of Model Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on airway allergic inflammation induced by chicken ovalbumin (OVA) in mice; To explore its mechanism of action. Methods On day 0, day 7, mice were intraperitoneally injected OVA for sensitization, followed by nasal stimulation for 21 days to establish airway allergic inflammation mice models. The mice were divided into normal group, model group, alcohol extract of bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group, alcohol extract of male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.group,and Dexamethasone group.Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. The lung tissue was embedded in HE and PAS dyeing, to observe the pathological changes of bronchus and surrounding lung. The levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-13 were measured by ELISA. The expression of ICAM-1, VEGF, MMP9 and TIMP1 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Th17 cells in peripheral blood. The expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in lung tissue were detected by RT-PCR. Results The model group showed changes of airway allergic inflammatory such as eosinophils and other inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchial spasm, and mucus secretion. Lung histopathology in alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.groups was improved significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the normal group, the levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 increased in model group, while the level of IFN-γ decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of ICAM-1, VEGF and MMP9 increased, while the expression of TIMP1 decreased (P<0.01); peripheral blood IL-17+cells increased (P<0.01); the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA increased. Compared with the model group, the levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 decreased in alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the expressions of ICAM-1 and VEGF decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the expression of TIMP1 increased. Alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.could down-regulate IL-17+cells,reduce the expression of IL-6 mRNA(P<0.05,P<0.01). Alcohol extract of bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group could induce the secretion of IFN-γ (P<0.01), and down-regulate the expression of TNF-α mRNA(P<0.05).Alcohol extract of male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group could significantly down-regulate the expression of MMP9 (P<0.05). Conclusion Alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.can induce the production of OVA-IgE,inhibit secretion of Th2 cytokines, inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules, depress Th17 cells, so as to inhibit the airway allergic inflammation.

Study on the Total Flavonoids Content and Antioxidant Activity in Different Parts of Eucommiae ulmoides / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To compare the total flavonoids content and antioxidant activity in the barks,leaves,male flowers and seeds of Eucommiae ulmoides. METHODS:UV spectrophotometry was used to determine the total flavonoids content in differ-ent parts;tests was conducted to clear 2,2′-nitrilobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS+),1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitro-phenylhydrazine(DPPH)radicals and the reducing ability of Cu2+,using half clear/reduction concentration value(IC50)as evalua-tion indexes,and vitamin C was regarded as positive control. RESULTS:The total flavonoids content of the E. ulmoides from hight to low was as follows as leaves>male flowers>barks>seeds,except there was no significant difference in barks and seeds (P>0.05),the other parts had significant differences (Pmale flowers>seeds>barks,except there was no significant difference in the indicators of leaves and male flowers(P>0.05),the other parts had significant differences(Pmale flowers>barks>seeds,there was significant difference in leaves and males flowers with barks and seeds (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The content of total flavonoids in leaves and male flowers is high,and the antioxidant activity is strong,which has a great prospect of exploitation and utilization to make up for deficiencies in barks of E. ulmoides.