Bio-Assay-Guided Isolation of Fractions and Constituents with Antioxidant and Lipid-lowering Activity from Allium cepa.

Active fractions and constituents with antioxidant and lipid-lowering activities were investigated using bio-assay-guided isolation and identification. The data showed that the antioxidant fraction of A. cepa was AC50%, the main constituents of which were quercetin and isoquercitrin, by way of both ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and bio-assay-guided purification and elucidation. Similarly, the lipid-lowering active fraction of A. cepa was AC30% with the main constituents of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin 3,4'-O-diglucoside. Also, bio-assay-guided isolation led to the isolation and identification of five known compounds with a purity of more than 98%, and quercetin was both the best free radical scavenger and lipid-lowering constituent. Moreover, the mechanism of the lipid-lowering effect of AC30% might be its reduction in mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and FAS gene in lipid synthesis. Otherwise, reducing the mRNA expression level of lipid synthesis genes, including SREBP1, SREBP2, fatty acid synthetase (FASN), ß-Hydroxy ß-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMGCR), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and increasing the mRNA expression level of lipid decomposition gene, such as carnitine palmitoyl transferease-1 (CPT1), might be involved in the lipid-lowering activity of quercetin. This study suggested that Allium cepa might be used to prevent and treat oxidative stress and dislipidemia-related disorders, including NAFLD.

[UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis on prototypes components and metabolites of effective fractions of Polygonum orientale flower in rat serum and urine].

Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was applied to analyze the prototypes and metabolites of the effective components of Polygonum orientale in SD rat serum and urine. The separation was performed on Agilent Eclipse Plus C_(18) column( 2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 8 µm),with 0. 1% formic acid solution( A)-acetonitrile( B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. Mass spectrometry data of biological samples were obtained under positive and negative electrospray ion mode. By comparing chromatogram differences between blank samples and drug treatment samples,prototype components and metabolites of the effective components of P. orientale extract were identified. The results showed that 12 metabolites were detected in serum and 26 metabolites in urine( including cross-components) of rats. The main metabolic pathways included hydrogenation,hydroxylation,glucuronidation,sulfation reaction,and methylation-glucuronidation,etc. The method established in this study was reliable and effective for studying the metabolic characteristics of the effective components of P. orientale in rats,and it can provide a reference for further studies on therapeutic material basis of this herb.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis on prototypes components and metabolites of effective fractions of Polygonum orientale flower in rat serum and urine / 中国中药杂志

Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was applied to analyze the prototypes and metabolites of the effective components of Polygonum orientale in SD rat serum and urine. The separation was performed on Agilent Eclipse Plus C_(18) column( 2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 8 μm),with 0. 1% formic acid solution( A)-acetonitrile( B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution. Mass spectrometry data of biological samples were obtained under positive and negative electrospray ion mode. By comparing chromatogram differences between blank samples and drug treatment samples,prototype components and metabolites of the effective components of P. orientale extract were identified. The results showed that 12 metabolites were detected in serum and 26 metabolites in urine( including cross-components) of rats. The main metabolic pathways included hydrogenation,hydroxylation,glucuronidation,sulfation reaction,and methylation-glucuronidation,etc. The method established in this study was reliable and effective for studying the metabolic characteristics of the effective components of P. orientale in rats,and it can provide a reference for further studies on therapeutic material basis of this herb.

Study on effective sites of anti-gonococcus in Polygonum capitatum extract / 中草药

Objective To analyze the components of active anti-gonococcal fractions in the extracts of Polygonum capitatum. Methods Drug sensitive paper method and Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture method were used to detect the antibacterial activity of different parts of the flower bud extract against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. UPLC-TOF-MS was used to identify the effective parts of the flower bud extract with anti-gonococcal effect. Results As a result, in the eluate obtained by extracting with a specific macroporous resin, the hydrolysable tannin was contained in the methanol (35%) eluate (fraction F3), such as trigallocyl glucose. This fraction had a good anti-gonococcal effect. The fractions of F2 and F4-6 had a weak antibacterial effect, while other fractions have no antibacterial effect. Conclusion This study provides a basis for the use of trigalactosyl glucose in the preparation of anti-gonococcal drugs, and lays a foundation for the development of a clinical drug of P. capitatum extracts against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Content Determination of Phenylpropanoids and Enhancing Exercise Ability of Effective Fractions in Pedicularis densispica.

BACKGROUND: Most researches were focused on chemical constituents and bioactivities of Pedicularis. However, there were a few reports on simultaneous determination of the series phenylpropanoids compounds in Pedicularis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of salidroside, verbascoside, iso-verbascoside, leucoseptoside A, jionoside D and martynoside in Pedicularis densispica (PD), and to assess the enhancing exercise ability of effective fractions of phenylpropanoids (EFP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The separation was performed on C18 column with step-wise gradient elution with water (A)-methanol (B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with detection wavelength at 275 nm (0-4 min) and 330 nm (4-40 min). The EFP were obtained from extracts of PD by resin gradient dilution. The enhancing exercise ability of EFP was exerted in exhaustive swimming and anoxia endurance tests in vivo. RESULTS: The contents of six marker compounds had good linear relationship in the ranges of 2.10-8.40, 13.60-54.40, 0.93-3.72, 0.53-2.12, 1.50-6.00, 0.37-1.28, respectively, and the average recoveries of the six phenylpropanoids were all in the range of 98-103%. Total contents of phenylpropanoids in EFP were more than 60%. Three medicine groups of exhaustive swimming and anoxia endurance time were higher than those of the water group. CONCLUSION: The analytical method is reliable, simple and accurate, and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of PD. This experiment suggests that PD has the effect of promoting the recovery and elimination of fatigue and improving the exercise capacity. SUMMARY: A simple, practical and low-cost RP-HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of six marker phenylpropanoids in Pedicularis densispica.Three effective fractions of phenylpropanoids groups of exhaustive swimming and anoxia endurance time were higher than those of the water group.The separation was performed on C18 column with stepwise gradient elution with water-methanol. The enhancing exercise ability was exerted in exhaustive swimming and anoxia endurance tests in vivo.This plant has the effect of promoting the recovery and elimination of fatigue and improving the exercise capacity. Abbreviation used: PD: Pedicularis densispica, EFP: Effective fractions of phenylpropanoids, DAD: Diode array detector, HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography, LOD: Limits of detection, LOQ: Limits of quantification, RSD: Relative standard deviation, BV: Bed volumes.

Metabolism of effective fractions of Polygonum capitatum in rat feces and bile / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the metabolite profile of effective fractions of Polygonum capitatum in rat feces and bile. Methods: In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC- ESI-Q/TOF-MS) was applied to the identification of metabolites of P. capitatum extracts in rat bile and feces after ig administration. Mass defect filter and Metabolite Tools software were also used. Results: The four parent components and 26 metabolites were identified in rats metabolic experiments in vivo, including 12 metabolites in feces and 19 metabolites in bile. The major metabolites were glucuronide conjugation, methyl-glucuronide conjugation, and sulfate conjugation of quercetin; Conclusion: The studies have established a high-resolution mass spectrometry method to analyze the metabolites of effective fractions of P. capitatum in vivo. The in vivo metabolic characteristics of the components presented in the fraction have been clarified. The work lays a foundation for the clinical application and development of P. capitatum.

A refined-JinQi-JiangTang tablet ameliorates prediabetes by reducing insulin resistance and improving beta cell function in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Refined-JQ (JQ-R) is a mixture of refined extracts from three major herbal components of JinQi-JiangTang tablet: Coptis chinensis (Ranunculaceae), Astragalus membranaceus (Leguminosae), and Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae). Our previous studies have indicated that JQ-R could decrease fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic mice and insulin resistance mice. Investigating the hypoglycemic effect of JQ-R on prediabetes has practical application value for preventing or delaying insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and possibly the development of clinical diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-diabetic potential of JQ-R was investigated using a high fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model. C57BL/6J mice (HFD-C57 mice) were fed with high-fat diet for 4 months. HFD-C57 mice were treated with either JQ-R (administered intragastrically once daily for 4 weeks) or metformin (as positive control), and the effects of JQ-R on body weight, blood lipids, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and beta cell function were monitored. RESULTS: The body weight, serum cholesterol, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment ratio (insulin resistance index) were significantly reduced in JQ-R or metformin-treated mice, and the glucose tolerance was enhanced and insulin response was improved simultaneously. Moreover, both JQ-R and metformin could activate liver glycogen syntheses even under a relatively high glucose loading. Although glyconeogenesis was inhibited in the metformin treated mice, it was not observed in JQ-R treated mice. Similar to metformin, JQ-R could also improve the glucose infusion rate (GIR) in hyperglycemic clamp test. JQ-R was also shown to increase the levels of phosphorylated AMPKα and phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), similar to metformin. CONCLUSION: JQ-R could reduce HFD-induced insulin resistance by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, increasing insulin sensitivity through activating the AMPK signaling pathway, and subsequently improving ß cell function. Therefore, JQ-R may offer an alternative in treating disorders associated with insulin resistance, such as prediabetes and T2DM.

Compatibility Studies of Effective Fractions in Shengmaisan on Cerebral Ischemia and Anoxia in Mice / 中药新药与临床药理

Objective To explore the proper proportion of effective fractions in Shengmaisan(saponins of Radix ginseng,saponins of Radix ophiopogonis,Lignans of Fructus schisandrae)in different anoxia models.Methods Acute cerebral hypoxia was induced by sodium nitrite and decapitation in mice,and the orthogonal design was used in these two models to find the proper proportion of three effective fractions.The gasping time of the mice,which were decapitated was observed to compare the anti-anoxia effects of XZF with other clinical drugs,and cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury model of mice was also used to study the effect of XZF on related biochemical index.Results XZF(the proportion of saponins of Radix ginseng,saponins of Radix ophiopogonis,Lignans of Fructus schisandrae as 7 ∶ 2 ∶ 6)significantly prolonged the gasping time,and decreased brain nitrogen monoxidum(NO)content after reperfusion of the mice at dosages of 50 mg/kg and 150mg/kg.Meanwhile,XZF also reduced malondialdehyde(MDA)content and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity at the higher dosage.Conclusion XZF obtained by experimental screening exerts a significant protective effect on cerebral ischemia injury in mice,which provide some pharmacological evidence for further development of new modern Chinese drug composed with effective fractions for cerebral vascular diseases.

Recent development on effective fractions of compounded prescription of Chinese crude drug / 中国药理学通报

The compounded prescription of Chinese crude drug is a key problem in the study of traditional Chinese medicine.A new research field that focuses on the group of effective fractions of Chinese crude drugs becomes more important as the result of combination of the theorem of traditional Chinese medicine and techniques of modern medicine.Up to date,the researches on this field are preliminary,remaining a lot of subjects to be explored.