The aim of the present study was to increase distribution of yuanhuacine in the lungs and achieve the purpose of reducing toxicity and increasing efficiency.Therefore,yuanhuacine was designed to be dry powder inhalers innovatively and directly delivered to the lungs.Accordingly,inhaled lactose was used as a carrier to adsorb yuanhuacine on the surface of lactose.Fine particle fraction (FPF) was utilized as evaluation index to filtrate the optimal prescription for pulmonary administration.Besides,an UHPLC-MS/MS method was established for the analysis of heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,brain and reproductive system of rats.Intravenous injection was taken as reference to investigate the distribution of yuanhuacine and calculate relevant targeting parameters.The experimental result indicated that the prescription (rough lactose ∶fine lactose =10 ∶ 1) has the highest FPF,which can be chosen as the most suitable prescription for pulmonary administration of yuanhuacine.Moreover,by comparing the distribution of yuanhuacine through pulmonary administration and intravenous injection,it was found that the concentration of yuanhuacine in the lung tissue was greatly increased by pulmonary administration,which decreased the distribution in heart,liver,spleen,kidney,brain and reproductive system,thus sequentially reducing the toxicity in other tissues and increased the efficiency.

OBJECTIVETo study the population structure and ecological distribution of the rhizosperic microorganisms of Angelica sinensis.

METHODThe isolation, culture and identification of microorganisms were studied by the biological methods, and the achieved data were analyzed by the statistical methods for analysis of species diversity.

RESULTWith the growing stages of A. sinensis from Min county of Gansu province, Heqing of Yunnan province and Baoxing of Sichuan province, the quantity of rhizosperic microorganisms increased; and it had reduced since October. In the area of Min county Gansu province, the number ratio of bacteria and fungi was higher than that in the other two areas. In addition, the population diversity and dynamic change were different in three areas. In the area of Min county Gansu province, the number of dominant microbial populations and the population diversities of bacteria, actinomyces and fungi in the rhizosphere were greater than those in the other two areas.

CONCLUSIONThe microecological system and microbial population structure in the rhizosphere of Min county Gansu province were stable. And it was suitable for the growth of A. sinensis in this area.

Angelica sinensis ; microbiology ; Bacteria ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; microbiology ; Soil Microbiology

To investigate the protective effect of the seed oil of Abelmoschus esculentus on gastric ulcer,two acute gastric ulcer mice models were established by intragastric administration of aspirin or absolute ethanol,respectively.Clinical index of ulcer area,ulcer index,gastric volume,gastric pH value,free acidity,total acidity,and histopathological assessment were measured to evaluate the injuries of gastric ulcer and the protective effect of okra seed oil In order to comprehensively uncover the possible underlying mechanism,a series of biochemical assays were also performed,including serum TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 and Tbil,NO,MPO and SOD in the stomach included.Moreover,the ALT,AST and ALP in the liver of mice were also tested to evaluate the possible hepatic toxicity of the seed oil.The results indicated that the seed oil of A.esculentus exerted protective effect in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer mice by reducing the ulcer area and ulcer index,declining the free and total acidity,and increasing the pH value of gastric content.Histopathological observation showed the gastric mucosa of the acute gastric ulcer mice induced by alcohol was incomplete and severely damaged,with submucosal edema and nuclear pyknosis,as well as glandular structure disappearing,compared with that of normal mice.What's more,a number of inflammatory cell infiltration occured in the gastric mucosa of alcohol-model mice,with messes of neutrophils,lymphocytes,eosinophils and plasma cells.Okra seed oil could improve the damaged structure of the gastric mucosa and gland caused by ethanol,but could not ameliorate the condensation of nucleus and infiltration of inflammatory cells.Biochemical analysis revealed that the seed oil of A.esculentus could counteract the damage induced by ethanol via decreasing Tbil and TNF-α in serum,decreasing NO and myeloperoxidase,and increasing SOD in stomach.Meanwhile,okra seed oil exhibited protective effect in aspirin-induced gastric ulcer mice by increasing the gastric content pH,and reducing free and total acidity.Compared with the control group,the gastric mucosa of aspirin-model group showed multifocal coagulation necrosis,sheet edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells by histopathological assessment.Compared with the aspirin-model group,the soybean oil group and okra seed oil group could ameliorate the inflammatory cell infiltration.Biochemical analysis revealed that okra seed oil could counteract the injury induced by aspirin via decreasing TNF-α and IL-6,and increasing IL-1O in serum,decreasing NO and MPO and increasing SOD in stomach.In a word,the okra seed oil exerted protective effect on acute gastric ulcer by anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation and hepatocyte protection.The okra seed oil deserves further development and utilization.

OBJECTIVETo establish the technical systems of callus induction and the cell suspension culture of Changium smyrnioides.

METHODEffects of different plant growth regulators on leaf, petiole and root callus induction were studied by orthogonal design, and cell suspension cultures from different explants were carried out.

RESULTPetiole was optimal to form callus, followed by the root and leaf. Four kinds of plant growth regulators showed a significant effect on the petiole and root callus induction. The optimal plant growth regulators for petiole callus induction was 0.5 mg x L(-1) NAA, 0.5 mg x L(-1) 2,4-D, 0.1 mg x L(-1) KT and 0.5 mg x L(-1) 6-BA; and induction rate reached to 100% when petiole was cultured for 14 days. In addition, when cell from petiole callus was cultured for 21 days, the maximum yields of cell biomass and polysaccharide were 1090.28 mg x L(-1) and 36.85 mg x L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONPetiole was taken as the optimal explant for inducing callus and the optimal cell origin for the cell suspension culture of C. smyrnioides.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Magnoliopsida ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVETraditional Chinese medicine is an approach for malignant tumor treatment with Chinese characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of Maimendong & qianjinweijing decoction extract on A549 human lung cancer cell line proliferation and explored its probable molecular mechanisms.

METHODSA549 cells were treated with drugs in different does and time. The effects on the proliferation of A549 cells were detected by MTT assay and clonogenic assay in vitro. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Morphological changes of the apoptosis of cancer cells were observed by Hochest 33258 staining. Western blot was performed to detect apoptosis-related gene expression.

RESULTSEthyl acetate extract inhibited the growth of A549 cells but not in HFL-1 cells. Compared with controls, administration of 10 microg/mLethyl acetate extract resulted in 73.86% decrease in colony formation (P < 0.01), apoptotic rates of 33.86% (P < 0.01), and morphological changes of apoptosis in A549 cells. The expression of anti-apoptotic protein EGFR and ERK were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEthyl acetate extract might inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in A549 cells via downregulation of EGFR/ERK signal transduction pathway. Therefore, ethyl acetate extract should be further separated in order to identify the material fundamentals on anti-cancer effect.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of patulin producing strains on the different Chinese medicinal materials and the toxin biosynthesis mechanism.

METHODMicrobiology and HPLC analytical methods were adopted in this paper.

RESULTIt was showed that the materials rich in starch and other polysaccharides were easily polluted by the patulin producing strain. This strain grew well and produced more toxins under 25 degrees C, 95% moisture content and bulk package. And the effect of low illumination intensity on the strain growth and toxin biosynthesis was not notable. Sample stability, precision, repeatability and rate of recovery were studied. HPLC analytic method was established and it revealed that the test method was suitable.

CONCLUSIONThe pollution of Chinese medicinal materials by toxin producing microbes will be effectively controlled through establishing the suitable storage methods. So the study on the growing characteristics and toxin biosynthesis mechanism of toxin producing strains will be an important practical significance for controlling the toxin pollution of herbal medicines and contribute to establish the evaluation system of Chinese medicine safety.

Drug Compounding ; standards ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; standards ; Fungi ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Patulin ; biosynthesis ; Quality Control ; Safety

OBJECTIVETo analyze naringin, naringenin and its metabolites in rat plasma after intragastric administration of exocarpium Citri grandis alcohol extract.

METHODRat blood samples were collected 1.0 hour after oral administration of 50 g x kg(-1) exocarpium Citri grandis alcohol extract and analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF with MS(E) function. The post-acquisition data were processed using Metabolynx.

RESULTNaringin (M1), naringenin (M2), naringin-5-O-glucuronide (M3), naringin-4-O-glucuronide (M4), glucuronide conjugate of naringenin (M5), naringin-4-O-sulfate (M6), methylated conjugate of hydroxylated naringenin (M7), glucuronide and sulfate conjugate of naringenin (M8), glucuronide conjugate of hydroxylated naringenin (M9) in rat plasma were detected. M3, M4, M6 were first reported as the metabolites of naringin. M7, M9 were first reported as the metabolites of naringenin.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that naringin, naringenin can be metabolited as the forms of glucuronidation, sulfation and naringenin can also be metabolited as the forms of methylation with hydroxylation and glucuronidation with hydroxylation in vivo after administration.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drug Administration Routes ; Flavanones ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; blood ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study dynamic change of total ginkgolic acids in Ginkgo biloba leaves of the different aged trees and different collecting seasons.

METHODThe content of total ginkgolic acids in G. biloba leaves was determined by HPLC. A Alltima C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) and the mobile phase of methanol and 1% acetic acid (90:10) were used, the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and the wavelength was 310 nm. The content were calculated with external standard method.

RESULTThe content of total ginkgolic acids in G. biloba leaves was in the range of 0.48% to 2.51% in different collecting seasons. The content reached maximum at the end of May and the beginning of June, and then declined gradually. In different aged trees, the content in the older ages was lower than that in the younger ages.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide scientific basis for the collecting season of G. biloba leaves.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ginkgo biloba ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Linear Models ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salicylates ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Trees ; growth & development ; metabolism

Primary processing is important links and closely related to the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. The methods and technologies system of traditional primary processing were derived from the long-term practices and experiences, which is distinctive, colorful and diverse, and scientific, it is not only to cleaning of remove the non-officinal parts, drying for termination the physiological status of organisms, but also to retain the most active substances, decrease the toxic components, and promote the transformation among chemical ingredients through primary processing. So the traditional primary processing endowed with characters, quality, specifications and properties of traditional Chinese medicine, and embodied some important science truth. This paper analyzed the traditional experiences and modern cognition on primary processing of TCM materials based on the changes of chemical compositions and explored the scientific truth. These data may be providing foundation and support for process of normalization and standardization of primary processing of TCM materials.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antioxidant effects of Taohong Siwu decoction and to exploit the bioactive constituents.

METHODThe samples were prepared by macroporous adsorptive resins (TH-1-TH-15). Three antioxidant models were adopted to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Taohong Siwu decoction and its different separated fractions in vitro. It was found that fractions (TH-2, TH-4, TH-7, TH-8, TH-9), separated from Taohong Siwu decoction, mainly contributed to the antioxidant effects. The chemical constituents in the most active fraction TH-8 were identified and determined by HPLC.

RESULTTH-8 showed significant antioxidant activities in the antioxidant experiments. Six compounds in the fraction were determined which were amygdalin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, coumaric acid and ferulic acid. The contents were 75.70, 31.26, 60.79, 1.196, 1.108, 4.861 mg L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONGlycosides and aromatic acids may be the principle effective constituents in the active fraction.

Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry