[Quality evaluation of Gastrodiae Rhizoma standard decoction based on UPLC fingerprint and quantitative analysis multi-components method].

To establish the quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) method for six components and fingerprint of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, verify the accuracy and feasibility of the method, and evaluate the quality of standard decoction. Based on UPLC with gastrodin as the internal standard, relative correction factors of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C, parishin A and gastrodin were determined by investigating the column temperature, flow rate, chromatographic columns and multi-point concentration correction. The total contents in 18 batches of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma and the similarity were determined to calculate the similarity. The results of standard curve method, external standard one-point method and quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) were compared, and the results showed that there was no significant difference among these three methods. By analyzing the results of standard decoctions from different origins, it can be seen that the quality of Gastrodia standard decoctions derived from Anhui and Yunnan was better, followed by Shaanxi and Hubei, and relatively poor in Gansu, with similarities all above 0.90 in the fingerprints. Therefore, the QAMS method that can measure the contents of gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C and parishin A in standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma combined with fingerprint is accurate, feasible and fast, which can be used to evaluate the quality of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, and also provide a reference for the research on the quality standards of raw materials for Gastrodiae Rhizoma prepared slices and alike.

Analysis of Chemical Constituents of Volatile Oils in Menthae Haplocalycix Herba-Schizonepetae Herba and Herbal Pairs and Comparison of Anti-bacterial Effects in Vitro / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To discuss the effect of herbal compatibility on the components of volatile oils in Menthae Haplocalycix Herba and Schizonepetae Herba,and the comparison of the anti-bacterial effects in vitro,in order to provide the experimental basis for investigating the effective material basis of their herb-pair. Method: Steam distillation was used to extract volatile oils of Menthae Haplocalycix Herba, Schizonepetae Herba,and their combination. GC-MS was employed to analyze their volatile oils,and the anti-bacterial effects in vitro were compared. Result: Totally 50 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of Menthae Haplocalycix Herba;41 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of Schizonepetae Herba;and 60 compounds were identified from the volatile oils of their herbal pairs. A total of 27 common compounds were found in the samples of three volatile oils. Totally 5 new compounds were detected in the volatile oils of their herbal pairs,and 9 compounds were not detected. In vitro,volatile oils of both their herbal pairs and individual herbs had bacteriostatic effects on dung Enterococcus (ATCC2922),Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC2923),Escherichia coli (ATCC35218),and E. coli (ATCC25922). Among them,volatile oils of their herbal pairs had stronger bacteriostatic effects on dung enterococcus (ATCC2922) and staphylococcus aureus (ATCC2923) than volatile oils of individual herbs. Moreover,the order of the inhibitory effects of volatile oils on E. coli (ATCC35218 and ATCC25922) were "herbal pairs=peppermint > herba schizonepetae". Conclusion: There were some changes between the volatile oils of individual herbs and the volatile oils of their herbal pairs. These phenomena may be caused by the occurrence of certain chemical reactions and physical changes in compatibility of decocting process. The antibacterial effects of volatile oils of their herbal pairs were better than those of individual herbs in vitro.

Research progress on antidepressant effects of Sini San based on three progressive levels of "single herb, herb-pair, and complicated Chinese herbal formula" / 中国中药杂志

Depression is a kind of mental illness accompanied by complex etiology and pathogenesis in clinic. With the quickening pace of circadian rhythm and increase of life pressure in modern society, the incidence of depression is increasing year by year. Nowadays, some typical antidepressant Western medicines, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), have been used as the main therapeutic drugs in clinic. Unfortunately, administration of these drugs will result in severe adverse reactions, slow treatments, and low cure rates, thus obviously they can not be used for a long term. Sini San, which originated from written by Zhang zhongjing, is a prescription widely applied in clinic for curing mental illness and also a basic Chinese herbal formula for modern treatment of depression. This article would review the research progress on antidepressant effects of Sini San based on single herbs of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba, herb-pair of Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba, and formula of Sini San, providing directions and ideas for future research on complicated Chinese herbal formulae.

Research progress of Baizhu Shaoyao powder in treating ulcerative colitis / 中国中药杂志

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, nonspecific and complex intestinal disease. The current clinical treatment guideline of this disease recommends a variety of options with oral western medicines, such as aminosalicylic acids, glucocorticosteroids, and immunosuppressors. However, due to their unstable therapeutic effects, high toxicities, and strong drug dependence, they are not suitable for long-term administration. Baizhu Shaoyao powder, a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, is clinically and commonly used for tonifying spleen and softening liver as well as eliminating dampness and relieving diarrhea. Recent researches suggest that Baizhu Shaoyao powder has significant effect in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This article reviewed the research progress on the curative effect and action mechanism of Baizhu Shaoyao powder in treating ulcerative colitis, and provided the ideas and directions for its further research in future.

A new strategy for exploring herb-pair investigation with a case study on Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy / 中国中药杂志

As the smallest unit of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility, herb-pair has the basic characteristic of traditional Chinese medicinal formula compatibility. In recent years, herb-pair investigation has attracted much attention, which is an indispensable part of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. With the decrease of the efficiency in the discovery of new drug, how to discover new drugs from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair has also been a bottleneck for the research and development of drug. The authors reviewed the domestic and foreign literatures in the latest years and summarized the current situations and the existing problems of herb-pair study. Based on these investigations, the authors innovatively proposed a novel concept of "precision herb-pair". Difference from traditional Chinese medicinal herb-pair or formulae with extensive roles and unclear efficacies, "precision herb-pair" belongs to a developed new mini herb-pair formula with an exact treatment and a relatively clear composition based on a certain specific disease. In addition, the authors also proposed a new strategy of "herb-pair - screen of multiple constituents based on column separation and in vitro cell viability - fuzzy target recognition pharmacology - re-evaluation of precision herb-pair", and successfully applied it to the development of a precision herb-pair from Astragali Radix-Corni Fructus in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. This proposed new strategy is simple, easy to carry out, and has a wide application, and can offer references and thoughts for the modern investigation of herb-pair and the research and development of new drug.