Two-Dimensional High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography with Bioautography for Distinguishing Angelicae Dahuricae Radix Varieties: Chemical Fingerprinting and Antioxidant Profiling.

Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (ADR) holds a prominent place in traditional medicine for its remarkable antioxidative, anti-allergic, and antiproliferative capabilities. Recognized within the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP 12th), Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. and Hook.f. ex Franch. and Sav. (AD) and Angelica dahurica var. formosana (H. Boissieu) Yen (ADF) serve as the botanical origins for ADR. Differentiating these two varieties is crucial for the formulation and quality control of botanical drugs, as they are categorized under the same medicinal label. This research utilized two-dimensional high-performance thin-layer chromatography (2D-HPTLC) to effectively distinguish AD from ADF. Additionally, a quantitative analysis reveals significant differences in the concentrations of key active constituents such as oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin, with AD showing higher total coumarin levels. We further enhanced our investigative depth by incorporating a DPPH bioautography, which confirmed known antioxidant coumarins and unearthed previously undetected antioxidant profiles, including byakangelicin, byakangelicol, falcarindiol in both AD and ADF, and notably, 2-linoleoyl glycerol detected only in AD as an antioxidant spot. This comprehensive approach affords a valuable tool set for botanical drug development, emphasizing the critical need for accurate source plant identification and differentiation in ensuring the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine products.

So Shiho Tang Reduces Inflammation in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages and Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis Mice.

So Shiho Tang (SSHT) is a traditional herbal medicine commonly used in Asian countries. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of SSHT and the associated mechanism using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and murine dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis models. Pre-treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with SSHT significantly reduced LPS-induced inflammation by decreasing nitrite production and regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Meanwhile, in mice, DSS-induced colitis symptoms, including colon shortening and body weight loss, were attenuated by SSHT. Moreover, representative compounds of SSHT, including glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Rb1, baicalin, saikosaponin A, and saikosaponin B2, were quantified, and their effects on nitrite production were measured. A potential anti-inflammatory effect was detected in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings suggest that SSHT is a promising anti-inflammatory agent. Its representative components, including saikosaponin B2, ginsenoside Rb1, and baicalin, may represent the key active compounds responsible for eliciting the anti-inflammatory effects and can, therefore, serve as quality control markers in SSHT preparations.