ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish the fingerprint of Althaeae Roseae Flos by HPLC and the molecular identification method of DNA barcode of rbcL sequence. Methods: The fingerprint establishment of Althaeae Roseae Flos was performed on Welchrom Column C18 (300 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with acetonitrile - 0.1% formic acid solution as mobile phase for gradient elution, with flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, column temperature of 35 ℃, detection wavelength of 365 nm, injection volume of 10 μL. DNA barcode molecular identification method was used for PCR amplification and determination of rbcL sequence. Results: The fingerprints of 11 samples were established, 21 common peaks were obtained, their similarities were calculated, and four components (hyperoside, quercetin, apigenin and kaempferide) were determined. The total length of rbcL sequence of 11 samples was measured, and the G + C content was 44.10%-44.40% and genetic distance (K2P) was 0.001 4. There were 10 ectopic points and the similarity was 99.00%. Conclusion: The two methods are stable and reliable, which can provide basis for the identification and quality control of A. rosea.
ABSTRACT
Althaea rosea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat numerous diseases, but no studies have investigated its anti-influenza properties to date. In this study, we investigated the anti-influenza effects of Althaea rosea. BALB/c mice orally pretreated with Althaea rosea (200 µL, 0.1 mg/mL concentration in phosphate-buffered saline) and followed by infection of influenza A virus nasally showed higher survivability and lower lung virus titer against divergent subtypes of influenza A virus infection. We also found that oral administration of Althaea rosea elicited antiviral innate immune responses in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, small intestinal fluid, and the lungs. Taken together, these findings suggest that aqueous extracts of Althaea rosea are a potential candidate for use as an anti-influenza drug.