Beneficial effects of polysaccharides on "two-hit" acute lung injury and endotoxic fever in rats associated with anti-complementary activities

Thunb. is a traditional herb used for clearing heat and eliminating toxins, and has also been used for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). the crude polysaccharides (CHCP) exhibited potent anti-complementary activity through both the classical and alternative pathways by acting on components C3 and C4 of the complement system without interfering with the coagulation system. This study was to investigate the preventive effects of CHCP on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by hemorrhagic shock plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation (two-hit) and LPS-induced fever in rats. CHCP significantly attenuated pulmonary injury in the "two-hit" ALI model by reducing pulmonary edema and protein exudation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, it reduced the deposit of complement activation products in the lung and improved oxidant-antioxidant imbalance. Moreover, CHCP administration inhibited fever in rats, reduced the number of leukocytes and restored serum complement levels. The inhibition on the inappropriate activation of complement system by CHCP may play an important role in its beneficial effects on inflammatory diseases. The anti-complementary polysaccharides are likely to be among the key substances for the heat-clearing function of .

Development of a C3c-based ELISA method for the determination of anti-complementary potency of Bupleurum polysaccharides

Traditionally, determination of inhibitory potency of complement inhibitors is performed by the hemolytic assay. However, this assay is not applicable to the lectin pathway, thus impeding the understanding of complement inhibitors against the overall function of the complement system. The main objective of our study was to develop a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as an alternative method to assess the anti-complement activity, particularly against the lectin pathway. By using respective coating substrates against different activation pathways, followed by capturing the stable C3c fragments, our ELISA method can be used to screen complement inhibitors against the classical pathway and the lectin pathway. The inhibitory effect of suramin on the classical pathway, as measured by our hemolytic assay is consistent with previous reports. Further assessment of suramin and Bupleurum polysaccharides against the lectin pathway showed a good reproducibility of the method. Comparison of the lectin pathway IC50 between Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium polysaccharides (1.055 mg/mL) and Bupleurum chinense polysaccharides (0.98 mg/mL) showed that, similar to the classical and alterative pathway, these two Bupleurum polysaccharides had comparable anti-complementary properties against the lectin pathway. The results demonstrate that the described ELISA assay can compensate for the shortcomings of the hemolytic assay in lectin pathway.

Renchangianin E: a new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan from Kadsura renchangiana / 药学学报

A new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan, renchangianin E (1) was isolated from the stems of Kadsura renchangiana. Its structure and stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques.

Simultaneous determination of contents of five major bioactive components contained in Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix by microwave extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a microwave extraction and UPLC method for simultaneous determination of polydatin, resveratrol, anthraglycoside B, emodin and physicion contained in Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, in order to provide scientific basis for improving quality standards of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The test solutions were prepared in a MDS-8 closed microwave system at 160 degrees C with methanol as the solvent. The UPLC analysis was performed in a Waters Acquity UPLC system. A BEH C18 column (2. 1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) was adopted for gradient elution with acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase. The temperature of column was 30 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was 226 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The five active components can be completely extracted in 10 minutes and separated completely in 12 minutes according to UPLC analysis, with a good linearity (r > or = 0. 999 6) within the linear ranges. The average recovery rate was 97.00%-103.7% with RSD < or = 2. 2%. Despite a large difference in content among tested components from Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, the total content of the five major constituents was relatiely stable (3.683 3%-7.1031%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The microwave extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography method in simultaneous determination for contents of five major bioactive components contained in polygoni cuspidati rhizoma et radix is so rapid and highly reproducible that it can be used for quality control and assessment of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix.</p>

Preparation procedures of anti-complementary polysaccharides from Houttuynia cordata / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish and optimize the preparation procedures of the anti-complementary polysaccharides from Houttuynia cordata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Based on the yield and anti-complementary activity in vitro, the conditions of extraction and alcohol precipitating process were optimized by orthogonal tests. The optimal condition of deproteinization was determined according to the results of protein removed and polysaccharide maintained. The best decoloring method was also optimized by orthogonal experimental design.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The optimized preparation procedures were given as follows: extract the coarse powder 3 times with 50 times volume of water at 90 degrees C for 2 hours every time, combine the extracts and concentrate appropriately, equivalent to 0.12 g of H. cordata per milliliter. Add 4 times volume of 90% ethanol to the extract, allow to stand for 24 hours to precipitate totally, filter and the precipitate was successfully washed with anhydrous alcohol, acetone and anhydrous ether. Resolve the residue with water, add trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to a concentration of 20% to remove protein. Decoloration was at a concentration of 3% with activated carbon at pH 3.0, 50 degrees C for 50 min. The above procedures above were tested 3 times, resulting in the average yield of polysaccharides at 4.03% (RSD 0.96%), the average concentrations of polysaccharides and protein at 80.97% (RSD 1.5%) and 2.02% (RSD 2.3%), and average CH50 at 0.079 g x L-(-1) (RSD 3.6%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established and optimized procedures are repeatable and reliable to prepare the anti-complementary polysaccharides with high quality and activity from H. cordata.</p>

Determination of tenacissoside H in Marsdeniae tenacissimae by HPLC-ELSD / 中国中药杂志

In order to improve the quality standard of Marsdenia tenacissima, a quantitative determination method of tenacissoside H was developed using high performance liquid chromatography. The method was carried out on a YMC ODS-H80 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 4 microm) column eluted with a mixture of acetonitrile and water (50:50) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. An evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) was used with the temperature of drift tube set at 60 degrees C and the gas flow rate of nitrogen set at 1.5 mL x min(-1). The calibration curve was linear in the range from 0.5625 to 36.00 microg (r = 0.9998). The average recovery and RSD were 99.41% and 1.8%, respectively. The contents of tenacissoside H in the 11 samples from different habitats varied from 0.201% to 0.862%. The method established in this paper is specific and reliable to control and evaluate the quality of M. tenacissima.

Effect of Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides on systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome induced by Campylobacter jejuni in BALB/c mice / 药学学报

Matteuccia struthiopteris is a nature plant, which contains a lot of potential active components. In the present study, we investigated the effect of polysaccharides extracted from Matteuccia struthiopteris on lupus-like syndrome induced by Campylobacter jejuni CJ-S131 in BALB/c mice. Mice were randomly divided into normal, model control, SLE model (vehicle treated), Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides treated (30 and 15 mg x kg(-1)) groups and prednisone 5 mg x kg(-1) treated groups. The effect of Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides (Ms) on weight and organ index of BALB/c mice was detected. Autoantibodies and total IgG production were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Proteinuria was measured and kidneys were examined by light microscopy. Compared with SLE model group, treatment with Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides 30 and 15 mg x kg(-1) reduced weight loss and Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides 15 mg x kg(-1) reduced spleen swelling (P < 0.05). The increased production of autoantibodies and total immunoglobulin G (IgG) were also significantly inhibited. Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides protected kidney against glomerular injury in BALB/c mice with reduced immunoglobulin deposition and lowered proteinuria (P < 0.01). Matteuccia struthiopteris polysaccharides had a protective effect on lupus-like syndrome induced by CJ-S131 in BALB/c mice.

Determination of lignans of Schisandra rubriflora by HPLC / 中草药

Object To determine the contents of schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, schisandrin B and schisandrin C in the stems and fruits of Schisandra rudriflora (Franch ) Rehd. et Wils , which were collected from different areas Methods An HPLC method was set up: Column, Sphereclone, ODS (250 mm?4 6 mm, 5 ?m); mobil phase, A: H 2O, B: MeOH; gradient elution was with 70% B from 0-4 min, 70%-100% B from 4-54 min; the flow rate was 0 4 mL/min; the column temperature was 25 ℃ and the DAD detector was used at 254 nm Results The contents of schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, schisandrin B and schisandrin C in S. rubriflora were 0.026%-0.083%, 0.007%-0.945%, 0.002%-0.121%, 0.010%-0.038%, respectively. Deoxyschizandrin exists widely in S. rubriflora and its content is higher in fruits than that in stems Conclusion Deoxyschizandrin is the main active lignan in the fruits of S rubriflora

Pharmacognostical identification of Chinese crude drug Fructus Schisandrae Sphenantherae / 中草药

Object To provide a basis for the identification of the crude drug of Fructus Schisandrae Sphenantherae Methods Morpholgical characters and microstructural features of the seed surface of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils , S. rubriflora (Franch ) Rehd. et Wils., S. viridis A. C. Smith, and S. henryi Clarke were observed under light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Identification of them was also completed by TLC qualitative analysis for deoxyschisandrin and schisantherin A Results The fruits of S. sphenanthera, S. rubriflora, S. viridis and S. henryi could be classified to three types with the characters of micromorphological features of the seed surface. The results of TLC showed that deoxyschisandrin and schisantherin A were present in the fruits of S. sphenanthera from Pingli, Shaanxi, Luanchuan, Henan, Yangcheng, Shanxi, S. rubriflora and S.viridis, Hengshan Hunan Provinces The fruit of S. henryi contained a little quantity of schisantherin A, but the fruits of S. sphenanthera from Liuba Shaanxi and Xiaolongshan Gansu Provinces did not have deoxyschisandrin and schisantherin A. Conclusion The fruits of S. sphenanthera from different geographical origin, S. rubriflora, S. viridis and S. henryi can be identified by the characters of micromorphological featrues of the seed surface and the TLC qualitative analysis for deoxyschisandrin and schisantherin A

Pharmacokinetic study of schisanhenol via femoral intravenous administration in rats / 中草药

Objective To establish an HPLC method for the determination of schisanhenol in plasma and to study the pharmacokinetics of schisanhenol in rats.Methods After sedimentation by methanol,plasma samples were then prepared based on a liquid-liquid extraction by ether.The extracted samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography.Schisanhenol was eluted on Eclipse XDB-C18 Agilent(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column,using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-H2O(65∶35),and detected at 254 nm.The plasma concentration of schisanhenol in rats was determined after iv administration of 18 mg/kg,and the data were processed with the pharmacokinetic software 3P87.Results Calibration curves were linear over 0.1—2.5 ?g/mL (r2=0.999) and the LOD was 10 ng/mL.The recoveries of schisanhenol from plasma were between 88%—110%,and the RSD values of intra-day and interday assay were below 15%.After iv administration at 18 mg/kg,the schisanhenol concentration-time curve confirmed in a two-compartment model and the pharmacokinetic parameters of t1/2?,t1/2?,V,AUC,MRT were(0.22?0.11) h,(1.19?0.22) h,(12.81?2.91) L/kg,(1.32?0.19) ?g/mL/h,(1.51?0.24) h,respectively.Conclusion A reliable HPLC-DAD method is developed for the determination of schisanhenol in rat plasma and it is applicable to the in vivo analysis.

Lignans Contents of Kadsura (Kadsura) Medicinal Plants / 中草药

Total lignans in the stems and roots of 8 species of Kadsura were determined by colourimetric method. The recoveries of interiorin, reference compound added to K. heteroclitaand K. interior were 96.7% and 97.9% respectively. Total lignans contents of kadsura medi.cinal plants vary with species, medicinal parts and sex. Higher lignans contents were foundin the root and the female plants. The highest and the lowest were 4.926% in the root of K.lancilim6a and 0.34% in the stems of K. angustifolia respectively.

Purification and Quantification of Saponin Constituents of Chinese Honeylocust (Gleditsia sinensis) / 中草药

With purified Gleditsia saponins(PGS)and their aglycone echinocystic acid as standard,the content of saponin constituents from G. sinensis were determined by spectrophotometric method. The recovery of PGS was 101 .3%.