Identification of Q-Markers from Hedan Tablet by employing “spider-web” mode and taking compounds’ hepatotoxicity into account / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Due to the complicated compounds and the synergistic effect of multi-compounds, the quality control and assessment of Chinese materia medica (CMM) encounters a great challenge about how to identify the key compounds, which are directly correlated with its efficacy and safety. On the guidance of study on quality marker (Q-Marker), identification of Q-Markers was performed from Hedan Tablet (HDT) by the aid of the “spider-web” mode and hepatotoxicity evaluation derived from our previous researches and literatures. Methods: By the established ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA) method, online UPLC-DPPH· and offline antioxidant assay, 21 candidate compounds of HDT were systematically investigated and comprehensively evaluated by the “spider-web” mode for them properties of Q-Marker based on “content-stability-activity”. In addition, the Q-Markers related with hepatotoxicity based on our previous researches and literatures were identified. Results: Salvianolic acid B (SaB), quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Qug), isoquercitrin (IQ) and hyperoside (Hyp) were adopted as the preferable Q-Markers of HDT according to the shaded area (A) of tested compounds in “spider-web” mode. Psoralen (Ps), isopsoralen (IP), psoralenoside (PO) and isopsoralenoside (IPO) were also strongly recommended as Q-Markers closely related with safety by considering hepatotoxicity of the accumulated Ps and IP and conversion between glycoside (PO and IPO) and aglycone (Ps and IP). Conclusion: This study provided scientific evidence for quality control and assessment of HDT, and also provided a meaningful reference for application of Q-Markers in CMM.

A possible role of decorations in spiderwebs as protection devices that distract predators

Several functions have been proposed for silk decorations (i.e., stabilimenta) in spiderwebs. One hypothesis is that web decorations protect spiders from predators, either by concealing the spiders, physically shielding them, or by deflecting predatory attacks. This study uses data gathered in opportunistic manner when studying the behavior of Stenolemus giraffa, an assassin bug that preys almost exclusively on web-building spiders. Stenolemus giraffa approach orb spiders on foot, and usually capture the spiders at the hub region of the web. When pursuing spiders, S. giraffa routinely tap the web with their antennae, and also tap the spiders prior to attacking them. The observations available from this study suggest that S. giraffa got "distracted" momentarily by the decorations in the webs of Purumitra sp. (Uloboridae) and Argiope katherina (Araneidae). In some instances, the assassin bugs tapped these structures for several seconds or minutes instead of tapping the adjacent spiders. In interactions with A. katherina, S. giraffa was more successful at capturing the spiders when the webs lacked decorations; however, sample sizes are small (this could not be tested for Purumitra sp. because only one web lacked decorations). Finally, some of the spiders detected S. giraffa tapping the decorations or that had begun tapping the spiders and that had interrupted this behavior to tap the decorations. The data available suggest that, for S. giraffa, the decorations in these webs interfered with the process of locating the spiders. If further experiments corroborate this idea, this information would be in accord with Hingston's (1927) hypothesis that web decorations can confuse spider predators.

Muchas arañas agregan a sus telas estructuras de seda, detritos, u otros, que son conocidas como "estabilimentos" o "decoraciones". Varias funciones han sido propuestas para estas estructuras. Una de las hipótesis plantea que las decoraciones protegen a las arañas de los depredadores, ya sea porque ocultan a las arañas, o porque funcionan como una barrera física que separa al depredador de la araña, o porque desvían los ataques de los depredadores. En este estudio, se utilizan datos que fueron tomados de manera oportunista mientras se estudiaba el comportamiento del chinche asesino Stenolemus giraffa, un insecto que se alimenta casi exclusivamente de arañas que hacen tela. Stenolemus giraffa ataca a las arañas en el meollo de la tela, y se acerca hasta estas caminando. Stenolemus giraffa usualmente "toquetea" a las arañas con sus antenas (comúnmente sin hacer contacto con la araña) antes de atacarlas. Las observaciones de este estudio sugieren que S. giraffa se distrajo de forma momentánea con las decoraciones en las telas de Purumitra sp. (Uloboridae) y Argiope katherina (Araneidae). En algunas ocasiones, los chinches toquetearon con sus antenas estas estructuras por algunos segundos o incluso minutos, en vez de toquetear a las arañas que estaban adyacentes a estas. En interacciones con A. katherina, S. giraffa capturó en mayor proporción a las arañas que se encontraban en telas sin decoraciones; sin embargo, el tamaño de la muestra es pequeño. No se pudo realizar una comparación similar para Purumitra sp., ya que todas las telas, excepto una, tenían decoraciones. Algunas de las arañas detectaron a los chinches cuando estos estaban toqueteando las decoraciones, o después de que hubieran toqueteado a las arañas e interrumpieran este comportamiento para toquetear las decoraciones. Dichas observaciones sugieren que las decoraciones en estas telas interfirieron con el proceso de S. giraffa de localizar a las arañas. Si esto se corrobora mediante futuros experimentos, esta información apoyaría la idea de Hingston (1927) de que las decoraciones en las telas funcionan para confundir a los depredadores de arañas.

Application of “spider-web” mode in research of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

Chinese materia medica (CMM) is characterized with complicated components, diverse structures and multiple activities, whose quality and efficacy are difficult to display only by detection of single component. The comprehensive evaluation is greatly applied in CMM research by integrating assessment of multi-components, multi-indexes and multi-influence factors, and the challenge of which is how to choose the suitable method for data analysis. Radar chart is one of the most widely used multi-index comprehensive evaluation methods. Because of its high similarity with spider web in form, the concept of “spider-web” mode was put forward and used in the screening of quality marker (Q-maker), the quality evaluation of CMM, the stability study, the selection of bioactive components, and so on. In order to preferably apply the “spider-web” mode in CMM study, this paper systematically summarized the application of “spider-web” mode and radar chart in CMM and introduced its advantages, characteristics and application fields.