[In situ investigation to three dimensional structures of Chinese medicines seeds].

This paper is aimed to microscopic identification of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) using an in situ imaging method. In this study, two kinds of Zingiberaceae seeds, Amomi Rotundus Fructus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, were investigated by synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (IXPCT) imaging method. The results showed that the microstructures of these Zingiberaceae seeds could be clearly obtained from the virtual slices information in different observing angles. It proves that IXPCT is an effective imaging method, which can provide the imaging information for the microscopic identification of the intact TCMs in situ and non-destructively.

[Macroscopic and microscopic identification of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko fruits].

OBJECTIVE: To compare macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the fruits of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko. METHODS: Transverse section and powder of pericarp and seeds of these two species were identified. RESULTS: The fruits of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko had similar microscopic characteristics. They could be distinguished from each other by the peri-carp color, furrows and ribs, and the shape of seeds. CONCLUSION: Above characteristics can be used as basis of pharmacognostical study of Amomum tsao-ko and Amomum paratsao-ko.

Cytotoxic, apoptotic and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Amomum tsao-ko.

The antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and mechanism of induction of HepG2 cell death of essential oil from Amomum tsao-ko were determined. The essential oil was cytotoxic to HepG2, Hela, Bel-7402, SGC-7901 and PC-3 cell lines. The lowest IC(50) of 31.80+/-1.18microg/ml was measured for HepG2 carcinoma cell lines. The IC(50) for normal human cell lines (HUVEC and HL-7702) was 163.91+/-5.11-272.41+/-0.97microg/ml. Analyses by flow cytometry, Hoechst 33258 staining and agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the essential oil induced apoptosis. The essential oil has weak antioxidant activity as measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The data suggest that the essential oil of A. tsao-ko could be a potential medicinal resource.