Efficacy-related substances of blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicinals derived from Curcuma plants: a review / 中国中药杂志

Derived from Curcuma plants, Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Rhizoma, Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum, and Curcumae Radix are common blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicinals in clinical practice, which are mainly used to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, chest impediment and heart pain, and rheumatic arthralgia caused by blood stasis block. According to modern research, the typical components in medicinals derived from Curcuma plants, like curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, curdione, germacrone, curcumol, and β-elemene, have the activities of hemorheology improvement, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-thrombosis, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, and anti-fibrosis, thereby activating blood and resolving stasis. However, due to the difference in origin, medicinal part, processing, and other aspects, the efficacy and clinical application are different. The efficacy-related substances behind the difference have not yet been systematically studied. Thus, focusing on the efficacy-related substances, this study reviewed the background, efficacy and clinical application, efficacy-related substances, and "prediction-identification-verification" research method of blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicinals derived from Curcuma plants, which is expected to lay a theoretical basis for the future research on the "similarities and differences" of such medicinals based on integrated evidence chain and to guide the scientific and rational application of them in clinical practice.

Breeding of a new cultivar "Chuanjianghuang 1" of Sichuan Dao-di herbs Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix / 中国中药杂志

The systematic breeding method was adopted to breed a new good cultivar of Curcuma longa, named "Chuanjianghuang 1". From 2014 to 2015, two consecutive years of multi-point test were carried out in Shuangliu, Chongzhou and Wenjiang. The biological characters, phenology, agronomic characters, yield and quality indexes of "Chuanjianghuang 1" were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that compared with local traditional species, the rhizome yield of the new cultivar "Chuanjianghuang 1" increased by 20.61%.The average content of volatile oil was higher than 24.17% and the average content of curcumin in root tuber was higher than 26.62%. The yield of root tuber increased by 54.59%.The average content of volatile oil is higher than 36.28% and the average content of curcuminoids is higher than 25.31%. Compared with "Huangsi Yujin 1", "Chuanjianghuang 1" increased the average yield of rhizome by 123.68%,the volatile oil increased by an average of 7.69%and the curcumin content increased by an average of 58.23%. The average content of volatile oil is higher than 52.82% and the average content of curcuminoids in root tuber was higher than 38.34%. The new variety "Chuanjianghuang 1" has better yield than the local traditional species, and the internal quality of rhizome and root tuber is better. Compared with "Huangsi Yujin 1", the yield of rhizome is significantly increased, and the internal quality of rhizome and root tuber is better, especially the content of curcumin in rhizome and curcuminoids in root tuber is significantly higher than that of "Huangsi Yujin 1". "Chuanjianghuang 1" is high yield, good quality, good stability and strong adaptability, which is suitable for cultivation and promotion in Chengdu Jinma River Basin, such as Shuangliu, Chongzhou, Wenjiang.

Application of Photoshop in Measurement of Microsphere Diameter and Microstructure Drawing of Medicinal Materials / 中国实验方剂学杂志

<b>Objective::To explore the feasibility of Photoshop image processing software in the micro-spherical diameter measurement and identification of medicinal materials, in order to provide a new method for the measurement and mapping of traditional Chinese medicine. <b>Method::Photoshop (CS3 version and above) software was used to measure the diameter of 200 Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma albumin microspheres in the same batch, digital microscopy and Photoshop image processing software was used to draw schematic diagrams of microstructures of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma medicinal powders and its four common pseudo-products and powders, namely Bletillae Radix, Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and <italic>Manihot esculenta,</italic> and make the identification table for classification and identification. <b>Result::The average diameter of the microspheres was (30.62±4.21)μm, and the diameter was mainly distributed in 20-40 μm. The average diameter of the microspheres was verified by laser particle size analyzer (30.18±4.67)μm. The differences between the two methods were not statistically significant. There were many starch granules in Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder, with no calcium oxalate needle, oil cell, brown pigment and stone cell. Microscopic identification could be made for Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma powder and 4 common counterfeits. <b>Conclusion::Photoshop image processing software measures the diameter of the microspheres with a high speed, high accuracy, simplicity, and low requirements for measuring instruments. It provides a new way to quickly measure the diameter of microspheres. Photoshop image processing software draws a schematic diagram of the microstructure, which is convenient and faster. The original morphology of the ground-reactive microstructure provides a new method for the microstructural drawing.

High-throughput screening of ochratoxin A in Chinese herbal medicines using enzyme-linked immunoassay / 中国中药杂志

An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ic-ELISA) was developed for the rapid detection of ochratoxin A( OTA) in nutmeg( Myristicae Semen),ginger( Zingiberis Rhizoma) and turmeric( Curcumae Longae Rhizoma). The matrix matching standard curve was used instead of the standard curve of sample diluent,and the sample extract and sample diluent were optimized. The sensitivity( IC_(50)) of this method for OTA in nutmeg,ginger and turmeric were determined as 0. 146,0. 157 and 0. 153 ng·m L~(-1),respectively and the limits of detection( LODs) were 0. 040,0. 032 and 0. 031 ng·m L~(-1),respectively. The recovery of samples ranged from 75. 99% to 122. 3%,with RSD<10%. Two positive samples for nutmeg and one positive sample for turmeric occurred in 50 samples,and the highest OTA contamination value was 1 167. 8 μg·kg~(-1). The results were further confirmed by LC-MS/MS. It shows that the developed ic-ELISA method is simple,rapid and sensitive,and can be applied for rapid and high-throughput screening of OTA in nutmeg,ginger and turmeric,as well as some other CHMs.

Nature-effect relationship research of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma,Curcumae Radix,and Curcumae Rhizoma based on nature combination / 中国中药杂志

Curcumae Longae Rhizoma,Curcumae Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma are different medicinal parts of the same plant.Nevertheless,they are different in medicinal effects due to the different Chinese herbal nature. In this study,traditional Chinese medicines database( TCMD2009),traditional Chinese medicine system( TCMSP),and Ch EMBL database were retrieved to screen the active components and targets,and construct the target PPI network. By a graph theoretic clustering algorithm identifying protein complex algorithm( IPCA),the protein modules were identified and analyzed by gene ontology( GO) enrichment. A comparative study of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and Curcumae Radix illustrate that Curcumae Longae Rhizoma regulates blood coagulation through P2 RY12,GNG2 and other genes to exert the analgesic effect. Curcumae Radix regulates lipid metabolism,plasma lipoprotein particle levels,platelet activation,response to oxidative stress,apoptotic process through LDLR,APOB,PRKCA,SOD1,TP53 and other genes to perform a function in clearing the heart and cooling the blood. A comparative study of Curcumae Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma demonstrate that Curcumae Rhizoma on regulates the nervous system by GRIA2,GRIA4 and other genes to exert blood-breaking effect; Curcumae Radix regulates lipid metabolism,plasma lipoprotein particle levels,platelet activation,response to oxidative stress,apoptotic process by genes such as CALM1,LPL,APOB,SOD1 and TP53 to play the role of clearing heart and cooling blood. Cluster analysis of the protein interaction network of the nature combination is helpful to explain the intrinsic link between the nature combination and efficacy.

Preparation and characterization of SiO2 solid dispersions of Curcumae longae Rhizoma extract / 中成药

AIM To prepare and characterize SiO2 solid dispersions of Curcumae longae Rhizoma extract.METHODS For the solid dispersions prepared by solvent evaporation method,its ratio of extract to carrier (SiO2) was screened by in vitro dissolution test,and the characterization was achieved by determination of particle size,specific surface area,porosity,micromorphology observation,infrared spectroscopy and X-ray.RESULTS When the ratio of extract to carfer was 1:8,three main components (bisdemethoxycurcumin,demethoxycurcumin and curcumin) in the extract reached the highest accumulative dissolution rates.Compared with physical mixture,the solid dispersions demonstrated lower particle size,specific surface area and porosity.Extract was dispensed in the carrier in an amorphous state.CONCLUSION SiO2 solid dispersions can obviously improve the dissolution rates of the main components in Curcumae longae Rhizoma extract.

Research on standard decoction of processed Curcumae Longae Rhizoma containing volatile oil / 中国中药杂志

To prepare processed Curcumae Longae Rhizoma standard decoction, establish its quality standard, provides quality reference for formulated Jianghuang granules and lay a foundation for standard decoction research for the pieces containing volatile oil. Thirteen batches of processed Curcumae Longae Rhizoma standard decoctions were prepared according to the preparation requirements for standard decoction of Chinese herbal medicine containing volatile oil. With curcumin as the detection index, the transfer rate and extraction ratio were calculated; the pH value was determined and HPLC fingerprint analysis method was established. The results showed that the transfer rate ranged from 0.67% to 2.24%; the extraction rate was at a range of 9.95% to 18.36% and pH value was 3.86 to 6.05. Then the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2012A) was used to analyze and compare the fingerprint. Sixteen common peaks were determined and three were identified including bisdemethoxycurcumin (peak 7), demethoxycurcumin (peak 8) and curcumin (peak 9). Moreover, the similarity was over 0.78 in the similarity evaluation of 13 batches of samples. HPLC fingerprint analysis method of processed Curcumae Longae Rhizoma standard decoction was established, showing good precision, stability and repeatability with certain identification effect, suitable for the quality control of formulated Jianghuang granules.

Correlation between heavy metal elements in Curcuma herbs and their genuineness / 中草药

Objective To study the correlation between the heavy metal elements and the genuineness of Curcum. Methods ICP-MS technique was used to determine the difference of heavy metal elements content in 20 batches of Curcumae Rhizoma, Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, and Curcumae Radix in different original regions and different original plants, and study the effect of water extraction on heavy metal elements content. The relationship between heavy metals content and genuineness in medicinal materials and the distribution change of trace elements in the decoction process from slices into the decoction were studied by systematic cluster analysis. Results The medicinal herbs of the same origin can be grouped together, and the three medicinal herbs which were different medicinal parts of the same original plants could be separated clearly. For the Curcumae Rhizoma from different original plants, C. phaeocaulis and C. kwangsiensis produced from different places have more similar characteristics, and had more similar enrichment of heavy metal elements. The content of heavy metal elements in different producing areas and different original plants tablets were different: Cu > Pb > Cd > As > Hg; Results indicated that heavy metal element of Chinese medicinal materials in the process of decoction had low dissolution rate, and the content of each element changed greatly after decoction. The element content of dissolution was As > Pb > Hg > Cu > Cd, which showed that the content of Cu was greater than other elements in the original slices, but its dissolution rate was low. Conclusion The content of heavy metals in Curcuma from different habitats was obviously different, and it had certain regularity with the varieties of medicinal materials and distribution of producing areas. The origin environment has asignificant effect on the enrichment of heavy metal elements, and the selective enrichment ability of heavy metal elements in different varieties is different. Heavy metal elements distribution changes in the process of decoction from slices into the decoction showed that the content of heavy metals in slices could have no positive correlation with that in patients with oral decoction, and each element had low dissolution rate, which reveals the scientificity and rationality of the clinical application of Chinese materia medica into traditional Chinese medicine decoction, and provides reference for the limited standard content of heavy metals.

Relationship between Hot & Cold Characteristics and Curcumin Content in Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix and Curumae Rhizoma / 中国药师

Objective: To evaluate the cold and hot characteristics of Curcumae longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix and Curumae Rhizoma, and study the relationship between the content of curcumin in the three herbs and the hot and cold characteristics.Methods: MTT assay was used to investigate the effect of the three herbs on the growth of SGC-7901 in vitro.Trypan-blue staining was used to analyze the cytotoxicity, and the content of curcumin was detected by HPLC.Results: Curcumae longae Rhizoma and Curumae Rhizoma could promote the proliferation of SGC-7901 at the dose of 5 μg·ml-1 and showed hot characteristics;Curcumae Radix could inhibit the growth and proliferation of SGC-7901 within the concentration range of 5-800 μg·ml-1.Trypan-blue staining showed the three herbs had no cytotoxicity on SGC-7901.The content of curcumin in Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix and Curumae Rhizoma was 4.88%, 0.15% and 0.042%, respectively.Conclusion: The content of curcumin in the three herbs affects the hot and cold characteristics, and curcumin may be the important material basis for the hot and cold characteristics.

Textual research on original plants of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma / 中草药

Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (CLR) is a commonly used drug in clinic, it is widely used as an important drug of activating blood and Qi in ancient prescription. But the records of the original plant of CLR are not consistent in modern literature: Wenyujin Concisa Rhizoma (WCR) was recorded as the main plants of CLR originally, and then it was excluded. The historical evolution of WCR used as medicine and the similarities and differences among WCR, CLR, and Curcuma Rhizoma (CR) in efficacy were tracked down through the records in ancient and modern literatures. It showed that from the materia medica in Tang and Song Dynasty, WCR was recorded as one of the original plants of CLR which was continually used until the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. In modern literature, WCR was also firstly recorded as one of the original plants of CLR. The longitudinal section of WCR was different from CR in efficacy, but identical with CLR exactly. So that, the means of classifying WCR as a part of the original plant of CLR not only conform to the ancient and modern literatures, but also in accordance with the rules of drug efficacy and the actual clinical application. So this method is beneficial to clinical application of ancient prescriptions.