Composition and morphology of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma decoction co-precipitate and effect on in vivo behavior of decocting liquid / 中国中药杂志

Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma(SR-CR) herbal pair is commonly used in many compound prescriptions for their synergistic heat-clearing and dampness-drying properties. During the decoction process, a substantial amount of precipitate is generated. However, there have been no explicit reports on the composition, morphology, and potential effects of this precipitate on the in vivo behavior of SR-CR decoction. This study employed high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), high-resolution mass spectrometry, and other techniques to analyze the composition of the co-precipitate in the decoction of SR-CR. Scanning electron microscopy and mass spectrometry imaging were used to analyze its appearance and morphology. Additionally, rats were used to investigate the effects of the co-precipitate on the in vivo behavior of the main components in the SR-CR decoction. The research findings indicated that eight components, including coptisine, berberine, epiberberine, palmatine, baicalin, oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, wogonoside and baicalein, constituted the primary composition of the co-precipitate. Among these, baicalin and berberine hydrochloride were the most abundant, accounting for about 60% of the total weight. Moreover, the co-precipitate contained 18% tannins. Morphological analysis revealed that the particles in the SR-CR decoction precipitate were spherical microparticles with an average diameter of around 600 nm. Pharmacokinetic research demonstrated that there were significant differences in the AUC, C_(max), t_(1/2), and T_(max) of baicalin, a major component, in rats administered with lyophilized powders of the combined decoction and single decoctions of SR-CR orally, suggesting that the precipitate generated during the decoction process can affect the in vivo behavior of the main components of the SR-CR decoction. It can reduce the absorption of baicalin in the body, decrease the extent of rapid drug release, and to a certain extent, prevent adverse reactions or side effects.

GC-MS analysis of volatile oil components of Mastiche and Olibanum and study on antibacterial activity of Helicobacter pylori / 中国中药杂志

The volatile oil from Mastiche and Olibanum medicinal materials was extracted by steam distillation, and the chemical components of the volatile oil were analyzed by GC-MS technology. The differences of the volatile oil components were compared and study on the Helicobacter pylori in vitro antimicrobial activitiy was conducted. The results showed that the yields of the volatile oil from Mastiche and Olibanum were 11.93% and 2.40%, respectively. A total of 46 compounds(91.31%) were identified from the volatile oil from Mastiche annd 35 compounds(92.49%) from Olibanum. The classification and comparison study of the components showed that the content of monoterpenes in the volatile oil from Mastiche was the highest(40.69%), followed by alcohols(28.48%); while the content of alcohols in the volatile oil from Olibanum was the highest(35.81%), followed by esters(24.92%). There were significant differences in the components of volatile oil from Mastiche and Olibanum, which might be one of the reasons for the difference in efficacy and application. In vitro bacteriostatic experiments showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of the volatile oil from Mastiche against H. pylori was 1 mg·mL~(-1), and the MIC of the volatile oil from Olibanum against H. pylori was more than 1 mg·mL~(-1). In combination with the results of the oil yield experiment, Mastiche had the advantage of inhibiting H. pylori activity. The research results provide scientific basis for the rational application of Mastiche and Olibanum.

Rheology and in vitro release properties of thermosensitive in situ gel of Yihuang Decoction and its common gel for vaginal use / 中国中药杂志

To evaluate the traits and rheological properties of thermosensitive in situ gel of Yihuang Decoction and its common gel for vaginal use, and predict the release behavior of Yihuang Decoction in situ gel in vitro. Poloxamer was used as thermosensitive material to prepare Yihuang Decoction vaginal in situ gel, and Yihuang Decoction common gel was prepared with carbopol. Then the differences of the two gels before and after diluting with vaginal fluid were compared. The rheological parameters of Yihuang Decoction in situ gel and its common gel were determined with Anton Paar MCR102 rheometer. In addition, berberine hydrochloride was selected as an index component to evaluate the in vitro release properties of Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel. Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel was Newtonian fluid under low-temperature conditions, which was yellow and transparent. After reaching the gelling temperature of 24.5 ℃, it became semi-solid, pseudoplastic fluid. The gelling temperature was predicted to be 37 ℃, and the phase transition time was 30 s after diluting with simulated vaginal fluid. However, the rheological properties of Yihuang Decoction common gel had no significant changes with temperature. Compared with in situ gel, the color of common gel was darker and more translucent. Besides, its mobility was stronger after diluting with simulated vaginal fluid. The in vitro release study showed that the kinetic behavior of berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction vaginal thermosensitive in situ gel was matched with the Higuchi equation. Through simulation of vaginal administration, physical properties and dynamic rheological parameters were used to intuitively and scientifically evaluate the two gels. Compared with the common gel, the thermosensitive in situ gel could quickly attached to the vaginal mucosa and release drug, and thus was more suitable for developing vaginal administration of Yihuang Decoction, which also provides references for studying new vaginal preparation of Yihuang Decoction.

Potential molecular mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in treatment of colon cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to explore the potential molecular mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in the treatment of colon cancer through pharmacology network and molecular docking methods. The chemical constituents and action targets of 7 herbs from Banxia Xiexin Decoction were collected by using TCMSP database,Chinese Pharmacopoeia and literatures consultation. GeneCards database was used to predict the potential targets of colon cancer. GO biological process analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the disease and drug intersection targets were carried out through DAVID database. "Component-target-pathway" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were construction by using Cytoscape and STRING database,and then the core components and targets of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in the treatment of colon cancer were selected according to the topological parameters. Finally, Autodock Vina was used to realize the molecular docking of core components and key targets. The prediction results showed that there were 190 active compounds and 324 corresponding targets for Banxia Xiexin Decoction,involving 74 potential targets for colon cancer. Cytoscape topology analysis revealed 11 key targets such as STAT3,TP53,AKT1,TNF,IL6 and SRC, as well as 10 core components such as quercetin,β-sitosterol,baicalein,berberine,and 6-gingerol.In bioinformatics enrichment analysis, 679 GO terms and 106 KEGG pathways were obtained, mainly involving PI3 K-AKT signaling pathway,TNF signaling pathway and TP53 signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that baicalein,berberine,licochalcone A and 6-gingerol had a high affinity with SRC,STAT3,TNF and IL6. The results suggested that Banxia Xiexin Decoction could play an anti-colon cancer effect by inhibiting cell proliferation, regulating cell cycle, inducing apoptosis and anti-inflammatory function. The study revealed the multi-components,multi-targets and multi-pathways molecular mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction,which could provide scientific basis and research ideas for the clinical application of Banxia Xiexin Decoction and the treatment of colon cancer with compound Chinese medicines.

Quantitative and Fingerprint of Ilex pubescens Slices / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To establish HPLC-UV fingerprints of Ilex pubescens pieces,and simultaneously determine two components in 46 batches of I. pubescens in pieces of I. pubescens saponin A1 and B1,in order to provide a reference for the quality standard of I. pubescens slices. Method:Methanol was used to extract the I. pubescens saponin samples,and the extracts were measured by HPLC-UV with the absorption wavelength at 210 nm. Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) was used for determining the extracts at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1. The mobile phase condition was acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution with gradient mode. The chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine (2012 edition) was used to analyze I. pubescens fingerprints. SPSS 20.0 software was used to cluster the peak area of common peaks. Principal component analysis was performed to reduce the dimension of common peaks. Result:There were great differences between the root and stem parts in I. pubescens fingerprints. The fingerprints of roots and stems of I. pubescens were established respectively,cluster results assorted the roots of I. pubescens into three categories andthe branches of I. pubescens into two categories. The integrity and difference of I. pubescens decoction pieces from different parts and places of origin were compared,and the principal component analysis was performed to screen out the common components that played a decisive role in fingerprint of I. pubescens pieces. And the common peaks were determined. The content of saponin A1 and saponin B1 in Radix I. pubescens were determined. Conclusion:The established I. pubescens fingerprints and content determination methods are simple and suitable. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis are used to screen out the key components of quality control of I. pubescens. The results can provide references for quality control of I. pubescens.

Simultaneous determination of daphnetin, daphnoretin, daphneticin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in pharmacokinetic study / 中国中药杂志

To establish HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of daphnetin, daphnoretin, and daphneticin in rat plasma after oral and intravenous administration of Daphne giraldii extract, and then use them in the calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters. Six sprague-dawley rats received intragastric administration of D. giraldii extract (daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin were 88.40, 3.24 and 4.28 mg•kg⁻¹, respectively). Their drug plasma concentration was determined by LC-MS/MS with schisandrin as an internal standard to draw plasma concentration-time curve. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 4.4. The results showed that the linear range was 5-1 000 μg•L⁻¹ for daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin, and the method ological test showed conformance to the requirements.The intraday and inter-day variable coefficients (RSD) were both less than 15.0%, indicating that both of legitimate precise and accuracy were consistent with the analysis requirements of biological samples. For daphnetin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 4 h, 858.96 μg•L⁻¹, 10 566.4 μg•L⁻¹•h, 5.19 h and 9.43 h, respectively. For daphnoretin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 2.92 h, 178.00 μg•L⁻¹, 905.89 μg•L⁻¹•h, 3.50 h and 6.95 h, respectively. For daphneticin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 2 h, 36.67 μg•L⁻¹, 355.11 μg•L⁻¹•h, 4.95 h and 8.27 h, respectively. The LC-MS/MS analysis method established in this study was proved to be so accurate and sensitive that it can be applied to the pharmacokinetic study of daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin.

Study on fingerprint of xiaochaihu granules sold in the market / 中国中药杂志

To establish a fingerprint of Xiaochaihu granules sold in the market with HPLC method, and study fingerprints of Xiaochaihu granules produced by different manufacturers and in different batches of the same manufacturer. Seven major index components were identified for the first time. The established method provided an all-around analysis on the quality assessment of Xiaochaihu granules.