AIM:To determine the content of the trace arsenic and mercury in Fructus Mume and Fructus Mume charcoal. METHODS:Atomic fluorescence spectrometry was used. RESULTS:The content of arsenic in Fructus Mume is 0.0597～1.0001 mg?g -1, that of mercury is 0.0198～0.0300 mg?g -1. CONCLUSION:This method is simple to handle, the quantitative analysis is accurate.

Objective To investigate the changes of iron-related proteins in different sex mice before and after burns.Methods The burn model in mice were prepared with 90 ℃ vapor.Both liver and spleen iron contents were measured by colorimetric method.Hepatic hepcidin and Fpn1 mRNA content were determined with RT-PCR.The Fpn1 protein was determined with Western blot.Results After burns,the content of spleen iron was increased and the expression of hepatic hepcidin was decreased in male mice,and at the same time the Fpn1 of liver and spleen was reduced.The content of iron homeostasis abnormality in female mice was less serious.Conclusion The change of iron-related proteins after burns may be one cause of iron homeostasis abnormality.The differences of iron-related protein expression in different sex after burns suggest that estrogen has a potentially protective function.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC-ELSD internal standard method for determination of astragaloside IV in Astragali Radix.

METHODWith Ginsenoside Rb2 as internal standard, the separation were carried out on an Agilent TC-C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 3.5 microm) column with methanol-water (72: 28) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the drift tube temperature of the ELSD was 75 degrees C. The gas pressure was set at 172.4 kPa using the clean and dry compressed air as spray gas.

RESULTThere was good linearity in the range of 0.5624-5.624 microg of astragaloside IV (r = 0.9999); The average recovery was 98.06% with RSD of 0. 98%.

CONCLUSIONThe internal standard method is accurate and reproducible, and suitable for quality control of radix astragali.

Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Linear Models ; Reference Standards ; Saponins ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis