Effect of Compatibility of Wujiwan on Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Representative Components / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of five representative components in Wujiwan， and to illustrate the difference of metabolism and tissue distribution before and after compatibility. MethodHealthy male SD rats were divided into four groups， including Wujiwan group（A group， 62.96 g·L-1）， Coptidis Rhizoma group（B group， 38.4 g·L-1）， processed Euodiae Fructus group（C group， 5.88 g·L-1） and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba group（D group， 18.68 g·L-1）， with 65 rats in each group， and were administered the drugs according to the clinical dose of decoction pieces converted into the dose of the extracts. Then plasma， liver， small intestine and brain were taken at pharmacokinetic set time in each group after administration. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the quantitative analysis of five representative components［berberine（Ber）， palmatine（Pal）， evodiamine（Evo）， rutecarpine（Rut） and paeoniflorin（Pae）］ in Wujiwan， their concentrations in plasma， liver， small intestine and brain were detected at different time， plasma samples were processed by protein precipitation， and tissue samples were pretreated by protein precipitation plus liquid-liquid extraction. Non-atrioventricular model was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters of each component， and the parameters of each group were compared. ResultPharmacokinetic results of A group showed that area under the curve（AUC0-t） of the five representative components were ranked as follows：Ber and Pal were small intestine>liver>blood， Evo and Rut were liver>small intestine>plasma， Pae was small intestine>plasma， which was not detected in the liver， no other components were detected in brain except for Ber. In comparison with plasma and other tissues， peak concentration（Cmax） of Ber， Pal， Evo， and Rut were the highest and time to peak（tmax） were the lowest in the liver of A group. In plasma， the AUC0-t and Cmax of Evo and Rut were increased in A group compared with C group， tmax of Pea was elevated and its Cmax was decreased in A group compared with D group. In the liver， compared with B-D groups， Cmax values of 5 representative components except Pae were elevated， AUC0-t of Pae was decreased and AUC0-t of Evo and Rut were increased in the A group. In the small intestine， half-life（t1/2） of each representative components in A group was elevated and tmax was decreased， and Cmax of each representative ingredient except Pal was decreased， AUC0-t values of Ber and Pal were increased， whereas the AUC0-t values of Evo and Rut were decreased. ConclusionThe small intestine， as the effector organ， is the most distributed， followed by the liver. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the representative components in Wujiwan are changed before and after compatibility， which is more favorable to the exertion of its pharmacodynamic effects.

Integration of plasma metabolomics and spectrum-effect correlation for profiling the mechanism and pharmacodynamic substances on attenuating hepatic fibrosis of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after vinegar-processing and compatibility / 药学学报

Plasma metabolomics based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique was developed for profiling the mechanism on attenuating hepatic fibrosis of Bupleuri Radix (BR) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) before and after vinegar-processing and compatibility, and to screen potential pharmacodynamic substances by spectrum-effect correlation method in this study. Firstly, SD rats with CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis were used as an in vivo model. The blood and tissue samples were collected for the analyses of pharmacodynamic indexes and plasma metabolomics after six weeks’ administration of BR, vinegar-processed BR (VPBR), PRA, vinegar-processed PRA (VPPRA), BR-PRA herb-pair, and VPBR-VPPRA herb-pair. The experiment was approved by the experimental animal ethics committee from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (No.202103A002). The results of pharmacodynamics indicated that the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT, P < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, P < 0.01), and hydroxyproline (HYP, P < 0.01) were decreased significantly, while the level of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, P < 0.05) was increased obviously after administration of all treatment groups. Next, UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was performed to characterize the endogenous metabolites. A total of 20 differential endogenous metabolites related to the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis were identified in positive and negative ion modes, mainly involving five metabolic pathways of retinol metabolism, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, glyceride metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Meanwhile, a concept named correction rate was introduced to evaluate the back-regulation effects of all treatment groups on differential metabolites, and 10 differential metabolites were corrected by all treatment groups. The correction effects of the vinegar-processed herb groups were better than those of the crude ones, and the correction effects of the herb-pair groups were better than those of the single ones. Interestingly, the best correction effect was found in the VPBR-VPPRA herb-pair group, which further verified the efficacy improvement through vinegar-processing and compatibility. Partial least square method and VIP analysis combined with spectrum-effect correlation were applied for screening pharmacodynamic markers, and 38 ingredients with higher correlation with four classical pharmacodynamic indexes (ALT, AST, HYP, and GSH-Px) were identified as pharmacodynamic markers of the anti-hepatic fibrosis effects of BR and PRA before and after vinegar-processing and compatibility. The results of the investigation could not only lay a foundation for clarifying the pharmacodynamic materials and mechanism of vinegar-processing and compatibility of BR and PRA in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis as well as provide a theoretical basis for demonstrating the scientific connotation of processing and compatibility, but also provide a reference for further drug design and development of BR and PRA in clinic.

Determination of chemical component and quality control evaluation of Paeoniae Radix Alba / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To establish a method for the determination of four effective components in Paeoniae Radix Alba and evaluate its quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba by principal component analysis. Methods:The effective components of Paeoniae Radix Alba were extracted by ultrasonic extraction method with ethanol. Wondasil WR C18 chromatographic column (250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) was used, and the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water, the flow rate was set at 1 ml/min, the column temperature was set at 30 ℃, and the total operation time was 65 min. The mass score of active components was imported into SPSS for principal component analysis. Results:The linear ranges of Paeoniflorin, Paeoniflorin, Benzoyl Paeoniflorin and Pallyl Paeoniflorin were 0.020 1-3.820 0 μg ( r2=0.999 4), 0.015 9-2.850 0 μg ( r2=0.999 2), 0.008 2- 1.820 0 μg ( r2=0.999 1), 0.003 2-0.970 0 μg ( r2=0.999 5). The quality of the 10 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba samples from Anhui province was the best, while that from Sichuan province was the worst. Conclusions:HPLC method was established for the determination of four effective components in Paeoniae Radix Alba, and principal component analysis and evaluation of 10 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba. Bozhou, Anhui Province, was identified as the main production area of Paeoniae Radix Alba, which can provide reference for the quality control and preparation production of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Analysis and evaluation on Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and HPLC / 中国中药杂志

In this study, an established ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was combined with multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the commonality and difference of main chemical components in the medicinal parts of Paeonia lactiflora from different cultivars; in addition, a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was established to simultaneously determine the content of eight active components in Paeoniae Radix Alba. Non-targeted analysis was carried out by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous formic acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃, and an electrospray ionization source was used to acquire mass spectrometry data in positive and negative ion modes. According to the accurate molecular weight and fragment ion information provided by multi-stage mass spectrometry and by comparison with reference substances and literature reports, thirty-six identical components were identified in Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars with positive and negative ion modes. In the negative ion mode, two groups of samples were well separated; specifically, seventeen components with significant differences in content were screened and identified, and one component unique in "Bobaishao" was obtained. Quantitative analysis was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) on an Agilent HC-C_(18)(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was at 230 nm. An HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight active components(gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin, 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose, benzoyl-paeoniflorin) in Paeoniae Radix Albaa from different cultivars. Satisfactory linearity was achieved within the investigated linear ranges and with fine coefficients(r>0.999 0), and the methodological investigation showed that the method had good precision, repeatability and stability. The mean recoveries were 90.61% to 101.7% with RSD of 0.12% to 3.6%(n=6). UPLC-Q-OF-MS provided a rapid and efficient qualitative analytical method for the identification of the chemical components in Paeoniae Radix Alba, and the developed HPLC method was simple, rapid and accurate, which could provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of the germplasm resources and herbal quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars.

Toxicity attenuation processing technology and mechanism of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction / 中国中药杂志

This study explored toxicity attenuation processing technology of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction for the first time, and further explored its detoxification mechanism. Nine processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction were prepared by orthogonal experiment with three factors and three levels. Based on the decrease in the content of the main hepatotoxic component diosbulbin B before and after processing of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae by high-performance liquid chromatography, the toxicity attenuation technology was preliminarily screened out. On this basis, the raw and representative processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae were given to mice by gavage with 2 g·kg~(-1)(equival to clinical equivalent dose) for 21 d. The serum and liver tissues were collected after the last administration for 24 h. The serum biochemical indexes reflecting liver function and liver histopathology were combined to further screen out and verify the proces-sing technology. Then, the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant indexes of liver tissue were detected by kit method, and the expressions of NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) and glutamate-cysteine ligase(GCLM) in mice liver were detected by Western blot to further explore detoxification mechanism. The results showed that the processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction reduced the content of diosbulbin B and improved the liver injury induced by Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bul-biferae to varying degrees, and the processing technology of A_2B_2C_3 reduced the excessive levels of alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST) induced by raw Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae by 50.2% and 42.4%, respectively(P<0.01, P<0.01). The processed products of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction reversed the decrease protein expression levels of NQO1 and GCLM in the liver of mice induced by raw Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae to varying degrees(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and it also reversed the increasing level of malondialdehyde(MDA) and the decreasing levels of glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPX), and glutathione S-transferase(GST) in the liver of mice(P<0.05 or P<0.01). In summary, this study shows that the optimal toxicity attenuation processing technology of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae stir-fried with Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction is A_2B_2C_3, that is, 10% of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction is used for moistening Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae and processed at 130 ℃ for 11 min. The detoxification mechanism involves enhancing the expression levels of NQO1 and GCLM antio-xidant proteins and related antioxidant enzymes in the liver.

Effect of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba on Neuroinflammation and RhoA/ROCK2 Signaling Pathway in Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba on dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease mouse model with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver Yang. MethodThe C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into normal group， a model group， low-， medium， and high-dose （3.25， 6.5， 13 g·kg-1） Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba groups， and a selegiline group （0.01 g·kg-1）. The mouse model of Parkinson's disease with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang was established by intragastric administration of Fuzitang combined with intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1，2，3，6-tetrahydropyridine （MPTP）. The behavioral changes were evaluated by rotarod test and pole test. The protein levels of Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）， Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 （ROCK2）， myosin light chain 1 （MLC1）， and α-synuclein in the substantia nigra were determined by Western blot. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and MLC1 in the substantia nigra. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. The ultrastructural changes of mouse neurons were observed under a transmission electron microscope. ResultCompared with the normal group， the modeling shortened the latency to fall， increased the average total time in the pole test （P<0.01）， and up-regulated the levels of RhoA， ROCK2， MLC1， TNF-α， α-synuclein， and IL-1β in the substantia nigra （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， different doses of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba and selegiline prolonged the latency to fall， shortened the average total time in the pole test （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the levels of ROCK2， MLC1， α-synuclein， TNF-α， and IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.05）. Further， the modeling decreased the number of cytoplasmic organelles and caused mitochondrial swelling and abnormal shape of endoplasmic reticulum compared with the normal group. The neurons in high-dose Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba and selegiline groups showed intact nuclei， clear cell boundary， and normal endoplasmic reticulum shape. ConclusionThe combination of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba may improve the motor coordination ability of Parkinson's disease mouse model with the syndrome of ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang by inhibiting the neuroinflammation mediated by the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway in the brain.

Research on quality difference of standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba based on fingerprint and multicomponent determination / 中国中药杂志

The extract rates, multicomponent content and fingerprint were determined in this study to investigate the quality diffe-rence between standard decoction of raw Paeoniae Radix Alba and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. UPLC fingerprint was established for 17 batches of standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba, and the contents of gallic acid, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin and benzoyl paeoniflorin were determined. The peak areas of standard decoction were analyzed by the independent t-test and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. There was no significant difference in extract rates between the standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. After fried processing, the content of albiflorin increased by 0.26%, while the contents of gallic acid, catechin, paeoniflorin and benzoyl paeoniflorin decreased by 13.04%, 27.97%, 10.30% and 18.79% respectively. There were 14 common peaks in the fingerprint of standard decoction of raw Paeoniae Radix Alba, and 16 common peaks in the fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. Peak 1 and peak 3 were new ones after processing, among which the peak 3 was 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The results showed that peak 1, peak 3, peak 11 and peak 15 were the key compounds to distinguish standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. In conclusion, this method is stable and can be used for the study of quantity transfer and quality control in the preparation process of standard decoction, granules and other dosage forms for raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba, providing reference for the identification of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba and related preparations.

Modern research progress of traditional Chinese medicine Paeoniae Radix Alba and prediction of its Q-markers / 中国中药杂志

Paeoniae Radix Alba is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora, which was first recorded in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica and listed as the top grade. It is a common blood-tonifying herb, and its chemical components are mainly monoterpenes and their glycosides, triterpenes, flavonoids and so on. Modern research has demonstrated that Paeoniae Radix Alba has the activities of anti-inflammation, pain easing, liver protection, and anti-oxidation, and thus it is widely used in clinical practice and has broad development prospects. In this paper, the research progress on the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and quality control of Paeoniae Radix Alba were summarized. On this basis, the Q-markers of Paeoniae Radix Alba were predicted from the aspects of mass transfer and traceability, chemical composition specificity, and availability and measurability of chemical components, which will provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Effects and evaluation of different processing and drying methods on components in Paeoniae Radix Alba / 中国中药杂志

The present study evaluates different processing and drying methods and investigates their effects on the chemical components in Paeoniae Radix Alba via content determination. The fresh medicinal materials of Paeoniae Radix Alba collected from Bozhou of Anhui province were processed(boiled and peeled) and dried(hot air-dried, infrared-dried, and microwave-dried) at different temperatures(40, 50, 60 and 70 ℃), and the 11 components(monoterpene glycosides, polyphenols, tannin, and benzoic acid) in Paeoniae Radix Alba were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-TQ-MS). Then the compounds in processed and dried samples were analyzed by partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and the contribution rates of differential components were evaluated by variable important in projection(VIP). The results indicated that the samples obtained by different processing and drying methods could be distinguished. Albiflorin, gallic acid, 1,2,3,4,6-pentakis-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, and benzoic acid were the common differential components in boiled Paeoniae Radix Alba. Benzoic acid was the common differential component in peeled Paeoniae Radix Alba. Gallic acid was the common differential component in Paeoniae Radix Alba dried by different methods. The samples could not be distinguished after drying at different temperatures due to the lack of common differential components. This study is expected to provide a reference for the selection of processing and drying methods and the optimization of processing parameters.

Research progress on processing history evolution, chemical constituents and pharmacological action of Paeoniae Radix Alba / 中草药

Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) is a clinically commonly used drug for tonifying blood and regulating meridians, which was listed as one of the highest grade herb in Shengnong's Classic of Materia Medica. The main chemical constituents of PRA are monoterpenes, triterpenes and flavonoids, and its processing methods are cleansing, cutting, adding auxiliary materials, etc. At present, the mainstream processing methods are stir-frying or stir-frying with wine. Modern studies have shown that PRA has the effects of protecting cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. In this paper, we consulted with the ancient Chinese materia medica and ancient Chinese medical book, analyzed the local traditional Chinese medicine slices processing norms and modern pharmacopoeia. Meanwhile, we reviewed the history of PRA in function and processing, and discussed the modern processing technology, chemical composition and pharmacological research in some extent. We hope it can be helpful for some related research of PRA.

Q-marker prediction analysis of Paeoniae Radix Alba based on fingerprint and network pharmacology / 中草药

Objective: To explore the potential Q-marker of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Danggui Sini Decoction based on fingerprint and network pharmacology. Methods: The fingerprints of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction and Danggui Sini Decoction were established, and the law of components transfer was also defined. The "compounds-targets-pathways" network was then established to predict the potential Q-marker of Paeoniae Radix Alba through the network pharmacology. Results: The fingerprints of 15 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction and 15 batches of Danggui Sini Decoction were established, and the five chromatographic peaks were identified, they were gallic acid, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose, and benzoyl paeoniflorin. Through the network pharmacology analysis, the potential two active components, eight core targets and 13 key pathways were screened out, which indicated that paeoniflorin and albiflorin were preliminarily predicted to the potential Q-marker of Paeoniae Radix Alba. Conclusion: The analysis and prediction of the Q-marker in this study can provide a reference for the whole control of the Paeoniae Radix Alba quality, which can also provide the basis for the further research on the efficacy-related substance and mechanism of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Study on the mechanism of two related Chinese herbs Danggui-Baishao in treating cardiovascular diseases based on network pharmacology / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective@#By adopting network pharmacology to study the mechanism of the two classical Chinese herbs Danggui-Baishao in treating cardiovascular diseases.@*Methods@#By searching from TCMSP and related literature, together with the databases of TCMSP, SWISS and STITCH, potential active compounds of Danggui-Baishao were collected, while the targets for cardiovascular diseases were obtained from TTD, OMIM and DrugBank databases. Then the PPI network was screened for the major targets. The KEGG Pathway annotation analyses of major targets were performed by using the DAVID database. The ingredient-major target-key pathway network was constructed by Cytoscape.@*Results@#There were 17 compounds and 54 major targets in the ingredient-target-pathway network, as well as 10 key pathways, including inflammation-related pathway (TNF signaling pathway), pathways related to cardiovascular system (such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway), prolactin signaling pathway and estrogen signaling pathway.@*Conclusions@#The study verified the characteristics of multi-components, multi-targets and integral regulation for Danggui-Baishao with the application of network pharmacology. It predicted that Dangui-Baishao couldtreat cardiovascular diseases mainly by regulating angiogenesis, inflammatory response and apoptosis.

Anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability for optimal compatibility ratio of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Paeoniae Radix Alba / 中国中药杂志

Trace metals deficiency or excess are associated with the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Aconiti Radix Cocta(A) and Paeoniae Radix Alba(B) are commonly used together for the treatment of RA. In this study, we aim to determine anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability in the compatibility of herb A and B for avoiding metal deficiency or excess, and optimize the combination ratio of herb A and B, accordingly. Anti-arthritic-related metal bioaccessibility were evaluated by in vitro simulator of all gastrointestinal tract(including mouth, stomach, small and large intestines), and the roles of gastrointestinal digestive enzymes and intestinal microflora were investigated. Anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability was assessed by the affinity adsorption with liposomes. The results indicated that compatibility proportion of corresponding herbal plants, gastrointestinal digestion and microbial metabolic, which could affect metal digestion and absorption. The optimal compatibility proportion of 1 A∶1 B is recommended, according to the dose of anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability, which is often chosen for clinical practice of RA therapy. Thus, anti-arthritic-related metal bioavailability might be the key active substances for RA treatment.

Effect and Mechanism of Four Kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine Moisturizers Based on Shaoyao Gancaotang on Atopic Dermatitis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of four types of Chinese herbal moisturizers made in laboratory for atopic dermatitis induced by 2，4-dinitrofluorobenzene （DNFB） in mice. Method:According to the body weight， BALA/c mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， blank cream group （moisturizer A）， Shaoyao Gancaotang group （moisturizer B）， Shaoyao Gancaotang with Portulacae Herba，Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Honeysuckle Stem group （moisturizer C）， and Shaoyao Gancaotang with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Honeysuckle Stem group （moisturizer D） ， with the dose of 25 g·kg-1 per day， as well as tacrolimus ointment group of 3 g·kg-1 per day， with 10 to 12 mice in each group. Except the normal group， the mice in the other groups were treated with 0.5% DNFB in the hair removal skin of back， 100 μL each for 7 days. Starting from the 7th day， each group was given the appropriate skin cream for external use intervention， once per day， for 15 consecutive days， except for the normal and the model groups. The animal body mass was measured once a week， and the animal back skin was graded three times a week， and the skin lesion score was recorded. After the mice were killed， the left and right ears were taken， the weight of both ears was punched and the degree of swelling was calculated. The back skin was fixed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin（HE） method， and then pathologic examination was conducted to observe and score the pathological changes of mouse back skin. Blood was obtained after the last dose and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the immunoglobulin（Ig）E content in serum. Western blot was used to measure the expression of signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， phosphorylation （p）-STAT3 in the skin tissue. Result:Compared with the normal group， the body mass decreased continuously， a series of inflammatory changes such as erythema， edema， dryness， desquamation and callus exfoliation and so on occurred in the modeling area， and the skin lesion score increased significantly in the model group. Additionally， the cuticle of ear skin was thickened and the degree of ear swelling was obviously increased in the model group. Microscopically， the occurred changes in the model mice included the local necrosis of the epidermis， epidermal thickening， epidermal hyperplasia， and the hyperkeratosis and hypokeratosis in the cuticle， as well as the subcutaneous inflammatory cell infiltration and so on. Furthermore， the content of serum IgE andthe expression of p-STAT3 in skin tissues increased significantly in the model group. Compared with the model group， the body mass of mice in group C and D was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the skin lesion status score was decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）.The degree of auricle swelling was significantly reduced in group B， C and D compared with that in the model group （P<0.01）.The degree of skin necrosis and defect and epidermal hyperplasia of mice in moisturizer C group was significantly reduced compared with that in model group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Serum IgE levels of mice in group C and D were significantly lower than those in the model group （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The expression of p-STAT3 protein in skin tissues of mice in moisturizer C group was significantly lower than that in model group （P<0.05）. Conclusion:The moisturizers B， C and D all have certain therapeutic effect on atopic dermatitis， among which moisturizers C has the most obvious therapeutic effect. The possible mechanism may be that it reduces the level of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the increase of serum IgE content and the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Herb pair Paeoniae Radix Alba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma: Mechanism analysis by systemic pharmacology approach / 中草药

Objective To study the functional material basis of herb pair Paeoniae Radix Alba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and analyze their mechanism of action by the systematic pharmacological method based on the platform of traditional Chinese medicine systematic pharmacological analysis (TCMSP) and the big data of traditional Chinese medicine. Methods TCMSP was used to search for the chemical constituents of the two Chinese herbal medicines, “Baishao” and “Gancao”. The molecular descriptors of the components were compared by the two tailed Mann-Whitney U test method, and the oral bioavailability (OB) and drug-likeness (DL) were used as indicators to screen the active components, targets and related diseases of the herb pair. The “component-target-disease” and PPI network models were constructed, and bioprocess and metabolic pathway were analyzed to explore the drug-based material basis and mechanism of action. Results Through the OB and DL parameters screening, 49 active pharmaceutical ingredients, 100 targets and 230 related diseases were obtained. The active ingredients with higher degree were formononetin, naringenin, and vestitol; The higher degree of targets were prostaglandin g/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), estrogen receptor (ESR1), and calmodulin (CALM); The higher-grade related diseases were unspecific cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, unspecified, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, mainly involving 16 categories of diseases such as cancer, nervous system diseases, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and certain infectious diseases and parasitic diseases. Target proteins are involved in bioprocess including signal transduction, drug response, cell proliferation, RNA polymerase II promoter regulation, positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascades, regulating metabolic pathways such as PI3K-Akt and 5-hydroxytryptamine synapses. Conclusion This study preliminarily verified the basic pharmacological effects and mechanisms of the Paeoniae Radix Alba-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma herb pair, and explored new ideas for the study of the herb pair and related traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Study on mechanism of Xiaoyao Powder antidepression based on Arrowsmith tool / 中草药

Using the literature retrieval tool Arrowsmith to explore the possible modern medical mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder and single herb in the treatment of depression from the theoretical level. The related literature retrieval tool Arrowsmith was used to search and find the associated literature. The results were analyzed and summarized from the single drug, compound of Xiaoyao Powder, and common key terms. Correlation analysis between the composition of Xiaoyao Powder and the mechanism of antidepressant effect by Cytoscape tool. The results showed that different single drugs in Xiaoyao Powder may affect the nerve-endocrine-immune and other key pathways by regulating TLR4, TRPV1, Caspase-3, PPARG, COX-2, NRF2, PI3K, ERK1, MAPK, p38 MAPK, and other targets. Anxiety, restraint stress, spleen deficiency, learning, and memory play an antidepressant role. The main acting site of Xiaoyao Powder anti-depression is in the hippocampus. The antidepression effect of Xiaoyao Powder embodies the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway of traditional Chinese medicine. Through Arrowsmith search, this study provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of antidepression effect of Xiaoyao Powder, and provides research directions and ideas for the research of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription.

Quality standard analysis and research for Wuji-Jianwei granules / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To establish the quality standard of Wuji-Jianwei granules. Methods The contents of Bupleuri Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Corydalis Rhizoma in Wuji-Jianwei granules were identified by using the thin layer chromatography (TLC) method. The contents of peoniflorin was determined by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results The TLC had strong specificity and high separation, negative control without interference. The linear range was 0.124 8-0.748 8 μg for peoniflorin (r=0.999 6). The average recovery was 94.42% (RSD=1.46%) and the content of peoniflorin was 0.725 3 mg/g. Conclusions The method is accurate and reasonable, and can be used for the quality control of Wuji-Jianwei granules.

Molecular mechanism of Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba drug pair against sepsis based on integrative pharmacology platform of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Guizhi Decoction is a resolving agent,which is a classic prescription for traditional Chinese medicine. It is effective in the treatment of sepsis in clinical practice. However,due to the complexity of the prescription,its anti-sepsis mechanism is difficult to be clarified. The " Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba" drug pair,as the classic compatibility for medicinal and medicinal herbs,is the core of Guizhi Decoction. In this study,Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba drug pair was used as the research object and the molecular mechanism of its treatment of sepsis was investigated by analyzing the chemical compositions with integrative pharmacology platform( TCMIP,http://www.tcmip.cn/),predicting disease target,analyzing gene function and pathway of " Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba" in treatment of sepsis,and establishing a multi-dimensional network relationship of " Chinese medicine-chemical components-core targets-key pathways". The prediction results of " Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba" drug pair showed that its anti-sepsis effect was associated with 45 active components,and the active components played an anti-sepsis role through multiple targets and pathways,involving inflammatory targets such as PF4,MyD88,TLR4,BDKRB2,CD14,and NOS3. The sepsis was relieved mainly by regulating Toll like signaling pathway,Fox O signaling pathway,chemokines signaling pathway,thyroid and insulin endocrine signaling pathways and biological processes. This study provides a scientific basis for further development of Cinnamomi Ramulus-Paeoniae Radix Alba drug pair and Guizhi Decoction against sepsis.

Research progress on antidepressant effects of Sini San based on three progressive levels of "single herb, herb-pair, and complicated Chinese herbal formula" / 中国中药杂志

Depression is a kind of mental illness accompanied by complex etiology and pathogenesis in clinic. With the quickening pace of circadian rhythm and increase of life pressure in modern society, the incidence of depression is increasing year by year. Nowadays, some typical antidepressant Western medicines, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), have been used as the main therapeutic drugs in clinic. Unfortunately, administration of these drugs will result in severe adverse reactions, slow treatments, and low cure rates, thus obviously they can not be used for a long term. Sini San, which originated from written by Zhang zhongjing, is a prescription widely applied in clinic for curing mental illness and also a basic Chinese herbal formula for modern treatment of depression. This article would review the research progress on antidepressant effects of Sini San based on single herbs of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba, herb-pair of Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba, and formula of Sini San, providing directions and ideas for future research on complicated Chinese herbal formulae.

Profiling and identification of chemical components of Shenshao Tablet and its absorbed components in rats by comprehensive HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS analysis / 中国天然药物

Shenshao Tablet (SST), prepared from Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) and total ginsenoside of Ginseng Stems and Leaves (GSL), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation prescribed to treat coronary heart disease. However, its chemical composition and the components that can migrate into blood potentially exerting the therapeutic effects have rarely been elucidated. We developed an HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS approach aiming to comprehensively profile and identify both the chemical components of SST and its absorbed ingredients (and metabolites) in rat plasma and urine. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C column using acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. MS detection was conducted in both negative and positive ESI modes to yield more structure information. Comparison with reference compounds (t, MS), interpretation of the fragmentation pathways, and searching of in-house database, were utilized for more reliable structure elucidation. A total of 82 components, including 21 monoterpene glycosides, four galloyl glucoses, two phenols from PRA, and 55 ginsenosides from GSL, were identified or tentatively characterized from the 70% ethanolic extract of SST. Amongst them, seven and 24 prototype compounds could be detectable in the plasma and urine samples, respectively, after oral administration of an SST extract (4 g·kg) in rats. No metabolites were observed in the rat samples. The findings of this work first unveiled the chemical complexity of SST and its absorbed components, which would be beneficial to understanding the therapeutic basis and quality control of SST.