A spectrum-effect based method for screening antibacterial constituents in Niuhuang Shangqing Pill using comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

To investigate and screen the active antibacterial constituents of Niuhuang Shangqing Pill (NSP), the current study developed a two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) method combining microcalorimetry technique. 60% ethanol extracts from 10 batches of different commercial NSP samples were analyzed and their chemical fingerprint were developed by the comprehensive 2DLC system of Shimadzu Nexera X2. Anti-streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) constituents were determined by microcalorimetry. Thermal kinetic parameters of the SP thermogram affected by 60% ethanol extracts from 10 NSP samples were analyzed by principal component analysis. Spectrum-effect correlation between comprehensive 2DLC fingerprint and the antibacterial activity were analyzed by orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Findings showed that peak X1 (unknown), X9 (aloe-emodin), X10 (baicalein), X11 (unknown), X14 (wogonin), X15 (glycyrrhizic acid) and X17 (unknown) are the relevant components that are in positive correlation with inhibitory rate. Regarding inhibitory rate, X17 is the most powerful one, followed by X14, X15, X10, X11, X1 and X9, suggesting that compound X17, wogonin, glycyrrhizic acid and baicalein are the major active antibacterial components of NSP. The current method employing 2DLC with microcalorimetry technique proposes a new insight for screening and identifying antibacterial components in complex herbal formula.

[Analysis of classical prescription Jinshui Liujun Jian based on ancient literature].

To provide the ancient literary evidence support for the clinical application and development of classical prescription based on systematical collection and analysis of the ancient Chinese medical literature containing Jinshui Liujun Jian, including its origin and development. Bibliometric analysis was used and information of Jinshui Liujun Jian in ancient Chinese medical literature was then collected for statistical analysis of formula compositions, main indications, dosage, preparation methods, etc. A total of 151 valid items of data were obtained from 48 ancient Chinese medicine books. Jinshui Liujun Jian was first recorded in Jingyue Quanshu written by ZHANG Jiebin. This prescription consisted of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Pinelliae Rhizome, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Poria and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome Praeparata cum Melle, and it was mainly used to treat the deficiency of lung and kidney, edema and excess production of phlegm, or Yin deficiency in the old, insufficient blood-qi, wind-cold evil, cough and disgusting, asthma and excessive phlegm. Doctors in later dynasties mostly followed the prescription compositions, dosages and indications in Jingyue Quanshu, and extended the clinical application of this prescription.

[Dynamic changes of soil microbial biomass in the restoration process of shrub plantations in loess hilly area].

By the method of spatiotemporal substitution and taking a slope farmland and a natural Platycladus orientailis L. forest as the controls, this paper studied the dynamic changes of soil microbial biomass, microbial respiration, metabolic quotient (qCO2) and physicochemical properties under the Caragana korshinkii and Hippophae rhamnoides plantations with different restoration age in loess hilly area. The results showed that with the increasing restoration age of the shrubs, soil physicochemical properties improved obviously, and soil microbial biomass had a significant increase. After 7 years restoration of C. korshinkii plantation, soil microbial biomass C increased apparently, compared with that in farmland, and the increments after each 5-7 years were all significant. Microbial biomass N and P had no significant increase in the first 13 years but kept relatively stable in the 20-30 years restoration of C. korshinkii plantation, and were significantly higher than those in farmland but lower than those under P. orientailis plantation after 30 years restoration of C. korshinkii plantation. Soil microbial respiration was enhanced with the increasing restoration age of the shrubs, with the peak in the 20-25 years restoration. After then, it decreased rapidly, and bottomed out in the 30 years restoration. qCO2 was significantly higher under P. orientailis plantation than in farmland in the early periods of shrubs restoration, and then decreased rapidly. After 30 years restoration of C. korshinkii plantation, qCO2 was lower than that in farmland but still much higher than that under P. orientailis plantation. Different shrub plantations had different effects on soil properties. H. rhamnoides with the same restoration age of C. korshinkii contributed more to the increase of soil microbial biomass and respiration. There were significant correlations between the restoration age of test shrub plantations and the microbial biomass, qCO2, and physicochemical properties of soil. It was considered that vegetation restoration could be a feasible way in improving the eco-environment and soil quality in loess hilly area, but a longer period should be required to reach to the climax before vegetation destruction. It is necessary to strengthen and improve forest management to interfere and accelerate plant succession for a sustainable and healthy ecosystem.