Network pharmacology-based study on mechanism of Zhi-Huang-Zhi-Tong powder in rheumatoid arthritis treatment / 中国药理学通报

Aim To discover the potential active compounds and possible mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment with Zhi-Huang-Zhi-Tong powder (ZHZTP) by using network pharmacology and in vitro study. Methods The active ingredient targets and disease targets of Zhihuang Zhitong Powder were searched and screened by database; they intersected to get a common target; and the "drug-component-target" relationship network diagram was constructed for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the overlapping genes; then the core components were docked with the core targets. Finally, based on the inflammation model of HUVECs in vitro, the efficacy and mechanism of Zhihuang Zhitong powder were verified by MTT method, plate scratch test and Western blot. Results Active compounds involved in RA treatment were screened in the present study, and the top two were ursolic acid and emodin, all playing crucial roles in RA treatment with ZHZTP. Additionally, the key target was AKTA, TNF and IL-6. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that ZHZTP regulated BP, MF and CC, and also focused on regulating AKTA, TNF and IL-6 signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that interactions between key active compounds and key targets were stable. In vitro ZHZTP significantly inhibited cell viability and migration of TNF-a-stimulated HUVECs, and the involved mechanism may be associated with PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling. Conclusions The present study reveals that the potential active compounds of ZHZTP are ursolic acid and emodin, and moreover, the involved mechanisms of ZHZTP for RA treatment are associated with PI3 K/AKT/m-TOR signaling.

Tissue distribution of Qingfei Paidu Decoction based on HPLC-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

The tissue distribution of Qingfei Paidu Decoction was studied by HPLC-MS/MS in vivo. Hypersil GOLD C_(18) column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.9 μm) was used for gradient elution with acetonitrile as the mobile phase A and 0.1% formic acid solution as the mobile phase B. High-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion scanning mode and multiple response monitoring(MRM) mode was employed to analyze the behaviors of the active components of Qingfei Paidu Decoction in diffe-rent tissues. The results showed that 19, 9, 17, 14, 22, 19, 24, and 2 compounds were detected in plasma, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, large intestine, and brain, respectively. The compounds belonged to 8 groups, covering 14 herbs in the prescription. After administration with Qingfei Paidu Decoction, the compounds were rapidly distributed in various tissues, especially in the lung, liver, large intestine, and kidney. The majority of the compounds displayed secondary distribution. This study comprehensively analyzed the distribution rules of the main active components in Qingfei Paidu Decoction and provided a basis for the clinical application.

Systematic comparison of two kinds of Bufonis Venenum derived from different Bufo gargarizans subspecies based on metabolomics and antitumor activity / 中国中药杂志

This paper compared the differences between two kinds of Bufonis Venenum produced by Bufo gargarizans gargarizans and B. gararizans andrewsi, and verified the rationality of the market value orientation of Bufonis Venenum based on the zebrafish mo-del. Twenty batches of Bufonis Venenum from Jiangsu province, Hebei province, Liaoning province, Jilin province, and Liangshan, Sichuan province, including B. gargarizans gargarizans and B. gararizans andrewsi, were collected. The UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS combined with principal component analysis was used to compare the differences between two kinds of Bufonis Venenum. According to the limiting conditions of VIP>1, FC<0.5 or FC>2.0, and peak total area ratio>1%, 9 differential markers were determined, which were cinobufagin, cinobufotalin, arenobufagin, resibufogenin, scillaredin A, resibufagin, 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-arenobufagin, 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-marinobufagin, and 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-resibufogenin. The content of 20 batches of Bufonis Venenum was determined according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the 2 batches of Bufonis Venenum, CS7(8.99% of total content) and CS9(5.03% of total content), with the largest difference in the total content of the three quality control indexes of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(bufalin, cinobufagin, and resibufogenin) were selected to evaluate their anti-liver tumor activity based on the zebrafish model. The tumor inhibition rates of the 2 batches were 38.06% and 45.29%, respectively, proving that only using the quality control indexes of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the value orientation of Bufonis Venenum market circulation was unreasonable. This research provides data support for the effective utilization of Bufonis Venenum resources and the establishment of a rational quality evaluation system of Bufonis Venenum.

Clinical application value of Huanglian Jiedu Pills in improving syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin based on phase Ⅱ clinical trial study on plasma ATP, 4-HNE, and ACTH levels / 中国中药杂志

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center phase Ⅱ clinical trial design was used in this study to recruit subjects who were in line with the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, and were diagnosed as recurrent oral ulcers, gingivitis, and acute pharyngitis. A total of 240 cases were included and randomly divided into a placebo group and a Huanglian Jiedu Pills group. The clinical efficacy of Huanglian Jiedu Pills in treating the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin was evaluated by using the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scale. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine and evaluate the levels of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), 4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE), and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) in plasma of the two groups before and after administration and to predict their application value as clinical biomarkers. The results showed that the disappearance rate of main symptoms in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group was 69.17%, and that in the placebo group was 50.83%. The comparison between the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and the placebo group showed that 4-HNE before and after administration was statistically significant(P<0.05). The content of 4-HNE in the Huanglian Jiedu Pills group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05), but that in the placebo group had no statistical significance and showed an upward trend. After administration, the content of ATP in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly(P<0.05), indicating that the energy metabolism disorder was significantly improved after administration of Huanglian Jiedu Pills and the body's self-healing ability also alleviated the increase in ATP level caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin to a certain extent. ACTH in both Huanglian Jiedu Pills group and placebo group decreased significantly after administration(P<0.05). It is concluded that Huanglian Jiedu Pills has a significant clinical effect, and can significantly improve the abnormal levels of ATP and 4-HNE in plasma caused by the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin, which are speculated to be the effective clinical biomarkers for Huanglian Jiedu Pills to treat the syndrome of excess heat and fire toxin.

Mechanism of Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules in clearing heat and removing food stagnation in suckling rats with fever and food accumulation based on metabolomics / 中国中药杂志

Children's fever is often accompanied by food accumulation. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that removing food stagnation while clearing heat of children can effectively avoid heat damage. To systematically evaluate the efficacy of Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules(XRCQ) in clearing heat and removing food accumulation and explore its potential mechanism, this study combined suckling SD rats fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet with injection of carrageenan to induce rat model of fever and food accumulation. This study provided references for the study on the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of XRCQ. The results showed that XRCQ effectively reduced the rectal temperature of suckling rats, improved the inflammatory environment such as the content of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-2(IL-2), interferon-γ(IFN-γ), white blood cells, and monocytes. XRCQ also effectively repaired intestinal injury and enhanced intestinal propulsion function. According to the confirmation of its efficacy of clearing heat, the thermolytic mechanism of XRCQ was further explored by non-targeted and targeted metabolomics methods based on LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. Non-target metabolomics analysis of brain tissue samples was performed by QI software combined with SIMCA-P software, and 22 endogenous metabolites that could be significantly regulated were screened out. MetaboAnalyst pathway enrichment results showed that the intervention mechanism was mainly focused on tyrosine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, inositol phosphate metabolism, and other pathways. At the same time, the results of targeted metabolomics of brain tissue samples showed that XRCQ changed the vitality of digestive system, and inhibited abnormal energy metabolism and inflammatory response, playing a role in clearing heat and removing food stagnation from multiple levels.

Component profile analysis of Sanhan Huashi Formula based on UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS, GC-MS, and UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

This study comprehensively analyzed the active components of Sanhan Huashi Formula using qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry techniques, laying the foundation for understanding its pharmacological substance basis. UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS and GC-MS technologies were used to analyze and identify the volatile and non-volatile components in Sanhan Huashi Formula. UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS technology was used to simultaneously determine the content of 27 major active components in the formula. The results showed that 308 major chemical components were identified in Sanhan Huashi Formula, among which 60 compounds were identified by comparing with reference standards, mainly including alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenoid saponins, amino acids, and nucleosides. GC-MS technology preliminarily identified 52 volatile compounds, with γ-eudesmol and β-eudesmol as the main components. The quantitative results demonstrated good linearity(r>0.99) for the 27 active components, indicating the stability, simplicity, and reliability of the established method. Among them, amygdalin, nodakenin, arecoline, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine had relatively high content and were presumably the main pharmacologically active substances. In conclusion, this study systematically and comprehensively characterized the major chemical components and patterns in Sanhan Huashi Formula, providing a basis for understanding its pharmacological mechanisms and clinical applications.

Study on biomarkers of acteoside in treating puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy in young rats based on non-targeted urine metabolomics technology / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to reveal the endogenous metabolic characteristics of acteoside in the young rat model of purinomycin aminonucleoside nephropathy(PAN) by non-targeted urine metabolomics and decipher the potential mechanism of action. Biochemical indicators in the urine of rats from each group were determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The potential biomarkers and related core metabolic pathways were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) combined with principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA). MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used to establish the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve for evaluating the clinical diagnostic performance of core metabolites. The results showed that acteoside significantly decreased urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio in PAN young rats. A total of 17 differential metabolites were screened out by non-targeted urine metabolomics in PAN young rats and they were involved in phenylalanine metabolism and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. Thirtten differential metabolites were screened by acteoside intervention in PAN young rats, and they were involved in phenylalanine metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. Among them, leucylproline and acetophenone were the differential metabolites that were significantly recovered after acteoside treatment. These pathways suggest that acteoside treats PAN in young rats by regulating amino acid metabolism. The area under the curve of two core biomarkers, leucylproline and acetophenone, were both greater than 0.9. In summary, acteoside may restore amino acid metabolism by regulating endogenous differential metabolites in PAN young rats, which will help to clarify the mechanism of acteoside in treating chronic glomerulonephritis in children. The characteristic biomarkers screened out have a high diagnostic value for evaluating the treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis in children with acteoside.

Application of Three Blood Stasis Models in Zebrafish in Evaluation of Anti-thrombosis and Anti-myocardial Hypoxia Activities of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish blood stasis models in zebrafish using three inducers and select the optimal model for evaluating the activity of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in promoting blood circulation. MethodArachidonic acid （AA）， ponatinib， and isoprenaline （ISO） were used to induce blood stasis models in zebrafish. A normal group， a model group， a positive drug group， and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract freeze-dried powder groups at different concentrations were set up. The staining intensity of cardiac erythrocytes and the fluorescence intensity of cardiac apoptotic cells were calculated， the anti-thrombotic effect and anti-myocardial hypoxia activity of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were evaluated. The activities of water extract and 70% methanol extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were compared based on the preferred AA- and ISO-induced blood stasis models in zebrafish and the difference in the chemical composition was analyzed by UHPLC LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS. ResultAfter induction by AA and ponatinib， the staining intensity of cardiac erythrocytes was reduced （P<0.01）， and the fluorescence intensity of cardiac apoptotic cells increased after the induction by ISO （P<0.01）. The freeze-dried powder of the water extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could antagonize the thrombosis in the AA-induced model （P<0.01） and the myocardial apoptosis in the ISO-induced model （P<0.05）， while no significant improvement in the thrombosis was observed in the ponatinib-induced model. The freeze-dried powder of 70% methanol extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could inhibit myocardial apoptosis in the ISO-induced blood stasis model （P<0.01）， and the effect was stronger than that of the freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract. The difference in chemical composition lay in some saponins （such as ginsenoside Re）， amino acids， and acetylenic alcohols. ConclusionAA， ponatinib， and ISO all can serve as inducers for the blood stasis model in zebrafish. AA- and ISO-induced models can be used to evaluate the activity of freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract in promoting blood circulation. The chemical compositions of the freeze-dried powders of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma extracted with water and 70% methanol are quite different. For the ISO-induced blood stasis model， the freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma extracted with 70% methanol has a stronger ability against myocardial hypoxia. Saponins and acetylenic alcohols may be closely related to the effects of promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis.

Comprehensive evaluation system for quality of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces based on "experience-ingredients-activity-electronic sensing" / 中国中药杂志

Quality evaluation of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces is vital for the development of the downstream industries, and is an important channel for implementing the strategy of "higher quality, higher price, and priority for the high quality" for traditional Chinese medicine. At the moment, the quality of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces is mainly evaluated based on chemical component examination. Considering the weak preliminary research foundation and poor research conditions, traditional experience-based evaluation is undervalued in the quality rating of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces. However, traditional experience is a summary of the quality of Chinese medicinal materials based on clinical experience, which thus can be a potential basis for the quality evaluation of the decoction pieces. It is a challenge in the evaluation of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces to objectify the traditional experience-based evaluation from multiple aspects such as chemistry, effect, and characterization via modern techniques. Therefore, this study developed the "experience-ingredients-activity-electronic sensing" evaluation system for Chinese medicinal decoction pieces on the basis of experience-based assessment, chemical ingredients that can truly reflect the traditional experience, biological effect assessment, and electronic sensory evaluation, which is expected to quantify the traditional experience of quality evaluation of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces via chemistry, biology, and sensory simulation. The evaluation system can serve as a reference for clinical experience-based quality evaluation of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces.

Historical Evolution and Modern Clinical Application of Qingxin Lianzi Yin / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Qingxin Lianzi Yin （QXLZY）， as an ancient classical formula for clearing the heart and nourishing the Yin， was composed of nine herbs （Scutellariae Radix， Ophiopogonis Radix， Lycii Cortex， Plantaginis Semen， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle， Nelumbinis Semen， Poria， Astragali Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）， coming from Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People's Welfare Pharmacy. It could clear away the heart-fire， promote the interaction of the heart and kidney， replenish Qi and Yin， and stop strangury-turbidity. It was used to treat gonorrhea of urination， seminal emission， restlessness， wasting-thirst and so on. At present， the usage and dosage of QXLZY and its addition and subtraction are different in clinical practice. Most of the studies just focus on its clinical efficacy， and there is few review literature reflecting its historical evolution. Based on this， this paper systematically clarified the historical evolution， composition， preparation， interpretation， function， and modern clinical application of QXLZY. This work has been explained the historical evolution of QXLZY， and found that it was wildly used in modern clinical， especially suitable for the treatment of chronic urinary system diseases. At the same time， QXLZY also had significant therapeutic effects on neurasthenia， stomatitis， diabetic nephropathy and other aspects. Through the comprehensive analysis of ancient and modern literature， this work explores the true connotation of QXLZY from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine theory， which can point out the direction of the clinical application and positioning of this famous classical formula after it comes into the market， and also can provide reference basis for its subsequent in-depth research and development.

Effect of Different Extracts and Monomers of Lepidium meyenii on Proliferation of Mouse Splenic Lymphocyte and Induction of IL-2 and TNF-α / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore effects of different extracts and monomers of <italic>Lepidium meyenii </italic>（Maca） on the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes and induction of interleukin-2 （IL-2） and tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>） by observing their immunomodulatory effects. Method:An octadecylsilyl （ODS） column was used to enrich the methanol extract of <italic>L. meyenii</italic> in stages to obtain six fractions and three monomers. Different groups of extracts and monomers of <italic>L. meyenii </italic>at different doses were set up. Cell counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to detect the effect on the proliferation of mitogen-free， concanavalin A （Con A）-induced， and lipopolysaccharides （LPS）-induced mouse splenic lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the levels of IL-2 and TNF-<italic>α</italic>. Result:<italic>L. meyenii </italic>extracts Fr₃ and Fr₆， and monomers <italic>N</italic>-benzyl hexadecanamide and 1，2-dihydro-4-carboxaldehyde-3-benzyl-<italic>N</italic>-hydroxypyridine slightly promoted the proliferation of Con A-induced T lymphocytes and LPS-induced B lymphocytes （<italic>P</italic><0.01） as compared with the conditions in the model group. <italic>L. meyenii</italic> extracts and monomers significantly induced the secretion of IL-2 and TNF-<italic>α</italic> by splenic lymphocytes （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:<italic>L. meyenii</italic> extracts and monomers can achieve immunological enhancement by promoting the secretion of IL-2 and TNF-<italic>α</italic>， and facilitate the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes. The active components are presumedly macamides and pyridine alkaloids， and the specific mechanism still needs to be further explored.

Study on anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of indolealkylamines in toad skin on LPS-activated neutrophils / 中国中药杂志

Indolealkylamines(IAAs) are the main hydrophilic substances in toad skin, mainly including free N-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, bufotenine, bufotenidine, dehydrobufotenine, and binding bufothionine. In this study, the LPS-activated neutrophils were used to investigate the structure-activity relationship and anti-inflammatory mechanism of the above-mentioned five monomers from the toad skin in vitro. The neutrophils were divided into the control group, model group(1 μg·mL~(-1) LPS), positive drug group(100 μg·mL~(-1) indometacin), as well as the low-(50 μg·mL~(-1)), medium-(100 μg·mL~(-1)) and high-dose(200 μg·mL~(-1)) free N-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, bufotenine, bufotenidine, dehydrobufotenine, and binding bufothionine groups. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in the neutrophil supernatant of each group was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) after LPS stimulation, followed by the detection of apoptosis in each group after Annexin V/PI staining. The protein expression levels of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, beclin1, LC3-I, and LC3-Ⅱ were assayed by Western blot. The results showed that IAAs reduced the excessive secretion of inflammatory cytokines caused by LPS compared with the model group. Besides, the activity of each free IAAs(N-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, bufotenine, bufotenidine and dehydrobufotenine), especially bufotenine, was stronger than that of the binding bufothionine. As revealed by Annexin V/PI staining, LPS delayed the early apoptosis of neutrophils compared with the control group, while bufotenine promoted the apoptosis of neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner, which might be related to the elevated expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, LPS activated the autophagy pathways in neutrophils. This study confirmed the efficacy of IAAs in reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in neutrophils induced by LPS for the first time. For instance, bufotenine exerts the anti-inflammatory effect possibly by inducing the apoptosis of neutrophils.

Identification of chemical constituents of Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules based on UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and network pharmacology analysis / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to qualitatively analyze the chemical components in Xiaoer Chiqiao Qingre Granules(XRCQ) by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and identify its material basis. The absorbed components in plasma were combined for exploring the potential action mechanism by integrated network pharmacology. ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) column and mobile phase system of 0.1% formic acid solution(A)-acetonitrile(B) were used for gradient elution, followed by high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion scanning modes. According to the precise relative molecular mass and MS/MS fragment ions, a total of 124 chemical components were identified in XRCQ by the comparison with references and literature reports, among which 29 compounds were completely confirmed by comparison with reference substances. Then, the main absorbed components of XRCQ in plasma were also analyzed and clarified by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS. BATMAN-TCM and SwissTargetPrediction were used for target prediction of absorbed components in plasma. Following the plotting of association network with Cytoscape 3.8.2, the core targets were subjected to GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and a component-target-pathway network was constructed. A total of eight main targets of XRCQ against fever in children were obtained together with eight absorbed components in plasma, including glycyrhydinic acid, hesperidin, emodin, reticuline, daidzein, magnolignan C, magnolignan A, and magnolaldehyde D. It was inferred that XRCQ might improve alimentary system abnormality, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endocrine disorder through tumor necrosis factor, PI3 K-AKT, and other signaling pathways. The present study comprehensively expounded the chemical profiles of XRCQ and the main absorbed components in plasma and predicted the potential mechanism of XRCQ based on integrated network pharmacology, which has provided certain theoretical reference for the clinical application of XRCQ.

Effect of fucoxanthin on insulin resistance in obese mice induced by high fat diet / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to study the effect and mechanism of fucoxanthin on insulin resistance of obese mice induced by high-fat diet. Fifty C57 BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into control group and high-fat diet group. The insulin resistance model was induced with high-fat diet for 12 weeks, and model mice were randomly divided into model group, fucoxanthin-0.2% group, fucoxanthin-0.4% group and metformin group. After dietary treatment for 6 weeks, the body weight and epididymal fat weight in each group were measured. Fasting blood glucose(FBG), fasting insulin(FINS), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C) were measured, and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was calcula-ted. The pathological morphology in liver was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining, and the expressions of some key proteins in insulin receptor substrate 1(IRS-1)/posphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3 K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ)/sterol regulatory element binding protein-1(SREBP-1)/fatty acid synthetase(FAS) pathways in liver were detected by Western blot. According to the findings, compared with the model group, levels of body weight, epididymal fat weight, FBG, FINS, TC, TG, LDL-C and HOMA-IR, as well as protein expressions of PPARγ, SREBP-1 and FAS in liver were significantly reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01), while level of HDL-C and protein expressions of p-IRS-1, IRS-1, PI3 K and p-Akt in liver were signi-ficantly increased after treatment with fucoxanthin(P<0.05 or P<0.01). And the pathological changes of liver tissue in fucoxanthin-treated mice were also improved obviously. The results showed that fucoxanthin could improve obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and alleviate insulin resistance in obese mice, and its mechanism is possibly related to the regulation of IRS-1/PI3 K/Akt and PPARγ/SREBP-1/FAS pathways.

Chemical variation in Aconti Kusnezoffii Radix before and after processing based on UPLC-Orbitrap-MS / 中国中药杂志

Some Chinese herbal medicine needs to be processed before it can be used as medicine, especially toxic Chinese medicine. Highly toxic Aconti Kusnezoffii Radix(Caowu in Chinese) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and Mongolian medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, Caowu is usually processed by boiling with water(CW) until no white part inside and being tasted without tongue-numbing. In Mongolian medicine, it is usually soaked in Chebulae Fructus(Hezi in Chinese) decoction for several days(CH). Both methods could reduce toxicity according to reports. The biggest difference between CW and CH is that CW needs to be heated for 4-6 h, while CH needs Hezi as processing adjuvants. To explore the toxicity reduction mechanism of CW and CH, we studied the contents of various compounds in Caowu processed by two methods by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS. The results indicated that CW had 14 new ingredients, such as 14-O-anisoylneoline and dehydro-mesaconitine, while N-demethyl-mesaconitine and aconitine disappeared. At the same time, it could significantly decrease the content of diester diterpenoid alkaloids and increase the contents of monoester diterpenoid alkaloids and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids. CH had 9 new ingredients from Hezi, like gallic acid, chebulic acid and shikimic acid. Neither the kinds nor the contents of compositions from Caowu in CH changed little. This suggested that the processing mechanism of CW reduced highly toxic components(diester diterpenoid alkaloids) and increased the content of lowly toxic components(monoester diterpenoid alkaloids and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids). Attenuated principle of CH may be related to the components of Hezi. In this experiment, the conclusion shows that the chemical constituents of CW and CH are essentially different, and the two methods have different toxicity reduction principles.

Application of MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging in spatial distribution of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants -- a case study of Lepdium meyenii root / 中国中药杂志

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging(MALDI-MSI) is a novel technique for in-situ distribution of various substances in tissue without labeling. This technique is increasingly applied to the study of medicinal plants owing to its high spatial resolution and its potential of in-situ analysis in small molecules. In this study, the structural information and their fragmentation patterns of the midazole alkaloids(1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolium chloride and 1,3-dibenzyl-2,4,5-trimethylimi-dazolium chloride) and benzylglucosinolate in the medicinal plant Maca(Lepdium meyeni) root were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid phase combined with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-HR-MS). The localization of these active ingredients in the cross-sections of Maca root was performed by MALDI-MSI. These results demonstrated that the two types of imidazole alkaloids had a similar distributed pattern. They were located more in the cortex and the periderm than those in the medulla of a lateral root, while the localization of benzylglucosinolate was concentrated in the center of the root rather than in the cortex and the periderm. The precise spatial distribution of various secondary metabolites in tissue provides an important scientific basis for the accumulation of medicinal plant active ingredients in tissues. In addition, this imaging method is a promising technique for the rapid evaluation and identification of the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine in plant tissues, as well as assisting the research on the processing of medicinal plants.

Identification and attribution of chemical constituents of Qingfei Paidu Decoction based on UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS technology / 中国中药杂志

UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS was developed for the identification of chemical constituents in Qingfei Paidu Decoction, which will clarify its material basis. ACQUITY UHPLC HSS T3 chromatography column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) was used with 0.1% formic acid(B)-acetonitrile(A) as the mobile phase in gradient elution. The decoction was detected by high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry equipped with an ESI ion source in positive and negative mode. Based on the accurate mass measurements, retention time, mass fragmentation patterns combined with comparison of reference and literature reports, a total of 87 major compounds including 43 flavonoids, 9 alkaloids, 4 triterpenoid saponins, 1 sesquiterpene, 2 coumarins, 10 phenolic acids and 18 other compounds were tentatively screened and characterized. UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS was employed to comprehensively elucidate the chemical components in Qingfei Paidu Decoction, which basically covered 20 Chinese medicines except gypsum in Qingfei Paidu Decoction. These collective results provide a scientific basis for further research on the quality control standard of Qingfei Paidu Decoction.

Meta-analysis on effectiveness and safety of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid on child upper respiratory infection / 中国中药杂志

To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid on child upper respiratory infection and conduct Meta-analysis. We electronically retrieved databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, VIP, WanFang and CNKI, for published articles of randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid on child upper respiratory infection from inception to April 2019. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened out literatures, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias in included studies. Then, Meta-analysis were conducted by Stata 15.0 software. A total of 16 RCTs involving 1 924 patients with upper respiratory infection were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the improvement of clinical symptoms, such as fever subsided time(WMD=-3.66, 95%CI[-4.61,-2.72], P<0.001), cough time(WMD=-1.89, 95%CI[-2.51,-1.27], P<0.001), time of runny noses(WMD=-4.60, 95%CI[-5.85,-3.34], P<0.001) and time of sore throat(WMD=-2.62, 95%CI[-3.54,-1.70], P<0.001). Meanwhile, the results of Meta-analysis showed the improvement of laboratory indications, including TNF-α(WMD=-2.68, 95%CI[-2.98,-1.58], P<0.001) and IL-6(WMD=-2.26, 95%CI[-3.36,-2.36], P<0.01). The current evidence shows that Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid may significantly improve the effectiveness and safety. According to the limited quality of included studies, the above conclusion needs be to verified with more high-quality studies.

Pharmacokinetics of active ingredients of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid in rats and effect on liver drug-metabolizing enzymes / 中国中药杂志

This study is aimed to establish a method for the determination of baicalin,baicalin and purpurin in the plasma of rats after oral administration of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid( PDL) by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry( LC-MS),analyze the pharmacokinetics of three components in rats,and investigate the effects of PDL on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver. C18 column was used for liquid chromatography separation,with acetonitrile-water( containing 0. 2% formic acid) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The mass spectrometry was detected by electrospray ion source( ESI) under multi-reaction monitoring mode( MRM),as well as positive and negative ion alternating mode. Plasma sample collection was performed by using an automatic blood collection meter for small animals. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Win Nonlin software. The total protein concentration of rat liver microsomes and the total enzyme content of CYP450 were determined by BCA method and spectrophotometry respectively. The methodological study in terms of linear range,recovery rate,precision and sample stability,was used to confirm that the LC-MS analysis method established in this experiment was simple,exclusive,accurate and reliable,and can meet the requirement of determining the content of baicalin,oroxindin and corynoline in plasma after PDL administration in rats. The drug-time curve showed that baicalin and oroxindin had a bimodal phenomenon,and the pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that baicalin,oroxindin and corynoline in PDL had certain drug-like properties. After 7 consecutive days of PDL administration,the rat liver coefficient,total liver microparticle protein and CYP450 enzyme content were increased,but there was no significant difference,indicating that PDL was less likely to develop drug-drug interaction based on CYP enzyme. The results of this experiment can provide reference for the research on in vivo efficacy and drug interaction of PDL as well as on its clinical application.

Identification and attribution of chemical compounds of Pudilan Antiphlogistic Oral Liquid / 中国中药杂志

UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS was used to analyze,identify and attribute the chemical constituents in Pudilan Antiphlogistic Oral Liquid. The analysis was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18(4.6 mm × 150 mm,3.5 μm) with a gradient mobile phase of methanol-0.1% formic solution system at the flow rate of 0.5 m L·min-1. The sample volume was 2 μL. The column temperature was30 ℃. The high-resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry was used as detector,with electrospray ion source in both positive and negative models,and the MS scanning ranged between m/z 50 and 2 000. Based on the analysis of mass spectrometry and literature reports,79 compounds were confirmed,including 30 alkaloids,28 organic acids,18 flavonoids and 3 coumarins. Finally,39 compounds,such as rutin,esculetin,gallic acid,caffeic acid,cichoric acid,were identified from Taraxacum mongolicum; 11 compounds,such as baicalin,baicalein,apigenin,chrysin,oroxylin A,were identified from Scutellaria baicalensis; 13 compounds,such as arginine,proline,hypoxanthine,epigoitrin,indirubin,were identified from Isatis indigotica; and 18 compounds,such as dehydrocheilanthifoline,oxysanguinarine,corynoline,protopine,spallidamine,were identified from Corydalis bungeana. After the analysis of chemical model and attribution,the contents of some compounds were high in Pudilan Antiphlogistic Oral Liquid,such as baicalin,wogonoside,baicalein,wogonin,apigenin,chrysin,skullcapflavonⅡ,oroxylin A,cichoric acid,chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,esculetin,dehydrocheilanthifoline,dihydrosanguinarine,protopine,corynoline and indirubin. The established method is simple,accurate,rapid,sensitive and reproducible,and thus suitable for the qualitative identification and quantitative determination of Pudilan Antiphlogistic Oral Liquid,which lays a foundation for the systematic quality control and the establishment of whole-course traceability system of active ingredients.