The inclusion of extract from aerial part of Scutellaria baicalensis in feeding of pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × Epinephelus lanceo-latus♂) promotes growth and immunity.

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis (Scutellaria Radix) has been used as herbal medicine for years in China; however, its stem and leaf (aerial part) are considered as waste. The water extract of aerial part of S. baicalensis, named as SBA, having anti-microbial property has been applied in fish aquaculture. To extend the usage of SBA in fish feeding, SBA was employed to feed pearl gentian grouper (a hybrid of Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus♂), and subsequently the total fish output, the levels of digestive enzymes and inflammatory cytokines were determined. Feeding the fish with different doses of SBA for two months, the body length and weight were significantly increased by 5%-10%. In parallel, the expressions of alkaline phosphatase and growth-related factors in bone, liver and muscle of SBA-fed fish were doubled, which could account the growth promoting effect of SBA. Besides, the activity of digestive enzyme, lipase, and the expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines were markedly stimulated by 2-3 times under the feeding of 3% SBA-containing diet. The results indicated the growth promoting activity of SBA in culture of pearl gentian grouper, as well as the effect of SBA in strengthening the immunity. These beneficial effects of SBA feeding can increase the total yield of pearl gentian grouper in aquaculture. Thus, the re-cycle of waste products during the farming of S. baicalensis herb in serving as fish feeding should be encouraged.

[Quantitative analysis of fermented aerial part of Bupleurum chinense and prediction of their antimicrobial activity].

The aim of this study was to predict the anti-microbial components in the aerial part of Bupleurum chinense fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum through analyzing the correlation between contents of bioactive components and their inhibitory action for pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the UPLC-MS-MS detection method was established for eight flavonoids(kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-rutinoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, rutin, iridin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside, kaempferol) and DL-3-phenyllactic acid, and the dynamic change of their contents at fermentation course were monitored. Meanwhile, the experiment employed five common no-naquatic pathogenic bacteria(Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis), and four common aquatic pathogenic bacteria(Aeruginosa hydrophila, Delayed Edwards, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio harveyi) to validate in vitro anti-microbial activity of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense at different fermentation time points. Finally, the Pearson correlation analysis was applied to predict the anti-microbial components of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense.The established UPLC-MS-MS method showed a good linearity and the widest linear range was from 0.19 µg·mL~(-1) to 50 µg·mL~(-1). The limit of quantitation and the limit of detection were 0.19-1.56 µg·mL~(-1) and 0.1-0.78 µg·mL~(-1) respectively. During the fermentation within 48 h, the contents of three flavonoids(rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside, isoquercitrin) and DL-3-phenyllactic acid from the fermented aerial part of B. chinense increased sharply. In the process of fermentation, the anti-microbial effect of the fermented aerial part of B. chinense on aquatic pathogens was significantly stronger than that on non-aquatic pathogens. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis predicted that isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside and DL-3-phenyllactic acid showed significant correlation with the four aquatic pathogens. This study revealed that the fermented aerial part of B. chinense had a high sensitivity to aquatic pathogens, which may be caused by the increased contents of isoquercitrin, rutin, quercetin-3-O-ß-L-arabinoside and DL-3-phenyllactic acid. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical basis and new idea for the further development of the large amount of wasteful aerial part of Bupleurum chinense.

Integration of organ metabolomics and proteomics in exploring the blood enriching mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction in hemorrhagic anemia rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), as a classical Chinese medicine prescription, is composed of Danggui (DG) and Huangqi (HQ) at a ratio of 1:5, and it has been used clinically in treating anemia for hundreds of years. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to explore the treatment mechanisms of DBD in anemia rats from the perspective of thymus and spleen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a successful hemorrhagic anemia model was established, and metabolomics (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) and proteomics (label-free approach) together with bioinformatics (Gene Ontology analysis and Reactome pathway enrichment), correlation analysis (pearson correlation matrix) and joint pathway analysis (MetaboAnalyst) were employed to discover the underlying mechanisms of DBD. RESULTS: DBD had a significant blood enrichment effect on hemorrhagic anemia rats. Metabolomics and proteomics results showed that DBD regulated a total of 10 metabolites (lysophosphatidylcholines, etc.) and 41 proteins (myeloperoxidase, etc.) in thymus, and 9 metabolites (L-methionine, etc.) and 24 proteins (transferrin, etc.) in spleen. With GO analysis and Reactome pathway enrichment, DBD mainly improved anti-oxidative stress ability of thymocyte and accelerated oxidative phosphorylation to provide ATP for splenocyte. Phenotype key indexes were strongly and positively associated with most of the differential proteins and metabolites, especially nucleosides, amino acids, Fabp4, Decr1 and Ndufs3. 14 pathways in thymus and 9 pathways in spleen were obtained through joint pathway analysis, in addition, the most influential pathway in thymus was arachidonic acid metabolism, while in spleen was the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. Furthermore, DBD was validated to up-regulate Mpo, Hbb and Cp levels and down-regulate Ca2+ level in thymus, as well as up-regulate Fabp4, Ndufs3, Tf, Decr1 and ATP levels in spleen. CONCLUSION: DBD might enhance thymus function mainly by reducing excessive lipid metabolism and intracellular Ca2+ level, and promote ATP production in spleen to provide energy.

Determination of morusin in cortex mori / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the contents of morusin in Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori) of different commercial grades and species and obtained from different regions.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Contents of morusin were determined by HPLC on an Alltima C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-water (58:42) as mobile phase. UV detection was conducted at 270 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The amounts of morusin were found to vary among samples of Cortex Mori bearing a yellow-brown outer layer and those without the yellow-brown cork layer. The morusin contents were also related to the thickness of Cortex Mori.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method was simple, reproducible and reliable. It can be applied to the quality assessment of Cortex Mori.</p>

Determination of heavy metals in four traditional Chinese medicines by ICP-MS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a ICP-MS method for the determination of heavy metals, including As, Hg, Pb, Cd, in four traditional Chinese medicines.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples were digested by closed-versel microwave. The four heavy metals were directly analyzed by ICP-MS. Select internal standard element in for the method by which the analyse signal drife is corrected by the signal of another element (internal standard elements) added to both the standard solution and sample.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>For all of the analyzed heary methals, the correlative coefficient of the calibration curves was over 0.999 2. The recovery rates of the procedure were 97.5%-108.0%, and its RSD was lower than 11.6%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method was convenient, quick-acquired, accurate and highly sensitive. The method can be used for the quality control of trace elements in traditional Chinese medicines and for the contents determination of traditional Chinese medicines from different habitats and species.</p>

The fingerprint of Ezhu by GC-MS / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the fingerprint of Ezhu by GC-MS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>GC-MS analysis was performed for 18 samples of three species of Curcuma used as Ezhu. TIC profiles were evaluated by "Computer Aided Similarity Evaluation System" (MATLAB5.3 based, Ver. 1.240, developed by Research Center for Modernization of Chinese Medicine, Central South University). The characteristic peaks in chromatograms were identified by comparing mass data with literatures. Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed by SPSS based on the relative peak area (RPA) of identified peak to germacrone in 18 samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Resemblance values of 18 samples of Ezhu were pretty low. The mutual mode fingerprint plots of Ezhu were failed to develop. However, 18 samples were divided into two main clusters based on hierarchical clustering analysis, Curcuma wenyujin cluster and Curcuma phaeocaulis cluster, but the samples of Curcuma kwangsiensis were dispersive. Therefore, based on hierarchical clustering analysis, two mutual mode fingerprint plots of Curcuma wenyujin and Curcuma phaeocaulis were developed. But that of Curcuma kwangsiensis was failed because of low resemblance among samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutual mode fingerprint is the basis for quality control of Chinese materia medica from multi-origins. Development of GC-MS fingerprint of Ezhu was failed, which indicates that the chemical components in different species of herbs used as one Chinese materia medica may be significantly different. The relationship of chemical components and pharmacological activities should be further studied so as to elucidate the rationality of Chinese materia medica from multi-origins.</p>