Therapeutic effects of benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin in rats with collagen-induced arthritis

Abstract To explore the effects and mechanisms of benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Weight, paw swelling, arthritis index and joint pathologic changes were examined in each group after CIA induction. PGE2, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, VEGF, MMP-3, IgG and anti-CII Ab were assessed by ELISA; STAT1 and STAT3 expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically, and the ultrastructure of synovial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Therapeutic effects were determined in CIA rats via injecting benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin, which could alleviate the degree of swelling and arthritis index (AI) and pathological lesions of the sacroiliac gland; decrease the levels of PGE2, IL-1ß, TNF-α, VEGF and IgG in serum; reduce STAT1 and STAT3 expression in the membrane tissue; and inhibit the secretion and proliferation of synovial cells. These results showed that benzoylaconitine and paeoniflorin could significantly palliate the arthritic symptoms of CIA rats, and better therapeutic effects could be achieved if the two components were used in combination

Changes of processing process of Aconiti Radix Cocta based on bionic technology / 中草药

Objective: To study the characteristics of gas and taste changes in different stages during the processing of Aconiti Radix Cocta (ARC), and characterize the relationship between the changes of gas and taste and the internal active components. Methods: The changes of gas and taste of three batches of ARC samples with different processing time were detected by using electronic nose and electronic tongue system, the obtained data from processing were analyzed through the radar map, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), principal component analysis (PCA), and the correlation analysis was made with alkaloids from ARC processing. Results: Electronic nose and electronic tongue could distinguish the samples of different processing degree of ARC. Pearson correlation analysis showed that electronic nose FAC1 was significantly correlated with aconitine, neoaconitine, benzoylaconitine, benzoylneoaconitine and monoester alkaloids (P < 0.01). Electronic tongue FAC2 was significantly correlated with the total amount of benzoylaconitine and monoester alkaloids (P < 0.01), and correlated with the content of benzoylaconitine (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The bionic technology of electronic nose and electronic tongue could be used to study the processing quality of ARC. This method provides a new way of thinking for the Chinese medicine processing study.

Fragmentation pathways of six aconitine alkaloids using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology / 中草药

Objective: To study the fragmentation pathways of six aconitine-type alkaloids (aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine, benzoylaconitine, benzoylhypaconitine, and benzoylmesaconitine) in mass spectra (MS). Methods: The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Results: In positive mode, The typical fragmentation pathways of the six aconitine-type alkaloids were mainly continuous loss of CH3OH and H2O. The characteristic fragmentation pathway of diester-diterpene type aconitine was losing an acetic acid molecule from C-8 position; However this fragmentation could not be observed in MS of mono-ester aconitine alkaloids. Conclusion: The study on fragmentation pathways could be adopted for the structural identification of the six aconitine-type alkaloids.