[Content comparison of buddleoside and pectolinarin in Cirsium japonicum, C. leo and C. leducei].

OBJECTIVE: To compare Cirsium japonicum characteristics with C. leo and C. leducei, along with the content of buddleoside and pectolinarin, and lay the foundation for the quality control of C. japonicum. METHOD: Samples were collected and the relevant drugs were bought. The samples were divided into root, stem, leaf and flower, and the content of buddleoside and pectolinarin was determine by the HPLC. Chromatographic column: Waters XBridge C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm), mobile phase: methanol-water (45: 55), measurement wavelength: 326 nm, flow rate: 0.8 mL x min(-1), column temperature: 30 degrees C. RESULT AND CONDUSION: Standard curve equation of buddleoside: Y = 74 064X-47 748, R2 = 0.991. Standard curve equation of pectolinarin: Y = 1 711 64X - 180 707, R2 = 0.999. The content of buddleoside: C. japonicum leaf was 1.987 3%, C. leo leaf 1.412 2%, C. leducei leaf 0.149 2%. The content of buddleoside was lower in root and stem. Pectolinarin was not detected in the C. japonicum and C. leo. The pectolinarin content was 0.069 0% in C. leducei leaf.

Phenolic compounds from Eurycorymbus cavaleriei.

Three new phenolic compounds, eurycorymboside A (1), eurycorymboside B (6), and eurycorymbic acid (8), were isolated from the stem part of Eurycorymbus cavaleriei (Sapindaceae) along with five known phenolic compounds, glucosyringic acid (2), vanillic acid 4-O-ß-d-glucoside (3), koaburaside (4), tachioside (5), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzaldehyde (7). The structures were established on the basis of spectral analysis. The antioxidant activities of compounds 1-6 were evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free radical scavenging assay. Compound 4 exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC(50) value of 9.0 µM. Compound 4 also showed weak inhibitory activity against influenza A neuraminidase.

[Chemical constituents and anti-tuberculosis activity of root of Rhodiola kirilowii].

The chemical constituents of Rhodiola kirilowii were separated and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica gel, RP - 18, Sephadex LH -20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Each compound was characterized by spectroscopic and physical data. Twelve compounds have been purified and identified to be beta-sitosterol (1), tyrosol (2), trans-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), geranyl beta-glucopyranoside (4), neryl beta-glucopyranoside (5), hexyl beta-glucopyranoside (6), gallic acid (7), (-) -epigallocatechin gallate (8), rhodiolgin (9), isolariciresinol-9-O-beta-glucopyranoside (10), rhodiooctanoside (11), and sacranoside B (12). Among them, compounds 3, 6, 9-12 were isolated from Rhodiola kirilowii for the first time; Compounds 4 and 5 were obtained for the first time from the genus Rhodiola. The in vitro activities against Macobacterium tuberculosis (ATCC 27294) of its extracts and pure components were evaluated by testing their MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration). The 80% (a. q.) EtOH extract, EtOAc-soluble extract, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited in-vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities against Macobacterium tuberculosis in different extent.

Identification of Swertia mussotii and its adulterant Swertia species by 5S rRNA gene spacer.

OBJECTIVE: This research focused on analyzing the differences of 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences on Swertia mussotii and its commonly used adulterants, including S. franchetiana, S. wolfangiana and S. chirayita. METHOD: DNA was extracted from the collected Swertia samples. 5S rRNA intergenic spacers were amplified by PCR, sequenced and analyzed. RESULT: 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences were different between S. mussotii and its other three adulterants. Sequence divergence among species ranged from 30.6% to 65.0%. CONCLUSION: 5S rRNA spacers may be used as molecular authentication markers to differentiate S. mussotii and other commonly used Swertia adulterants. This result provides reliable and simple reference for the authentication of Swertia genus species.

[The microscopical and HPLC identification of several" Muxiang" raw materials].

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate and identify several species of "Muxiang". METHODS: The main microscopic features and HPLC chromatograms of diagnostic components were studied. RESULTS: Distinguishable characters were found in two methods. CONCLUSION: The results provide reliable and simple reference for the authentication of raw materials of" Muxiang" species, especially the toxic species.

[Determination of morusin in cortex mori].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of morusin in Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori) of different commercial grades and species and obtained from different regions. METHOD: 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. RESULT: 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. CONCLUSION: The method was simple, reproducible and reliable. It can be applied to the quality assessment of Cortex Mori.

[Determination of sulphur dioxide in commonly used Chinese herbal medicines with both food and medicine function for health care by ion-chromatographic method].

OBJECTIVE: To dertermine SO2 in Chinese herbal medicine with both food and medicinal functions. METHODS: A distilling and ion-chromatorgraphic method was applied. RESULTS: The results indicated that among 32 commonly used Chinese herbal medicines, 26 samples contained sulphur dioxide, varying in its contents and up to 3180 microg/g. The amount of sulphur dioxide did not change much after samples were washed by water. On the other hand, sulphur dioxide contents decreased after samples were exposed outdoor or boiled in water. CONCLUSION: The method was simple, accurate and reproducible.