This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the quality ofRheum palmatum L. and ecological factors, in order to provide the basis for nurture and cultivation ofR. palmatumL. The ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used in the determination of 8 effective components in samples from 3 majorR. palmatumL. producing provinces, which wereGansu,SichuanandQinghai province. The SPSS software was applied to analyze the effective components by the one-way analysis of variance. And the correlation analysis between the content and ecological factors was also conducted. The results showed that the pressure, relative humidity and temperature had close relationship with the content of bioactive compounds inR. palmatumL. The content of effective components inR. palmatumL. was positively related to pressure, relative humidity, and temperature. It was concluded that the quality ofR. palmatumL. in Gansu province was better. And the ecological factors affected the accumulation of effective components. This research provided experimental basis for the quality ofR. palmatumL. in different regions and ecological adaptation. The results demonstrated critical meaning forR. palmatumL. quality improvement, appropriate ecological division, and industrialized development promotion ofR. palmatumL.

The paper reports the establishment of a method for simultaneous determination of peimisine and sipeimine contents in Fritillaria walujewii Regel and Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk. The analyses were performed on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (UPLC-ELSD), equipped with a binary solvent manager, a sampler manager and a column compartment, and connected to Waters Empower 2 software. An Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for all analysis. The investigated compounds were separated with gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.02% triethylamine-water. The temperature of sample manager was set at 25 degrees C. Drift tube temperature was 40 degrees C, and spray parameter was 40% with injection volume of 1 microL. The investigated compounds including peimisine and sipeimine had good linearity (r > or = 0.9991) over the tested ranges. The average recovery was 94.5% and 98.1% with RSD < or = 2.36%. The UPLC-ELSD method is simple, sensitive and accurate with good repeatability, which is available for quality control of F. walujewii Regel and F. pallidiflora Schrenk.

To establish a new method for identifying genus of Lilium by DNA barcoding technology, ITS, ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK and rbcL sequences were analyzed in term of variation of inter- and intra-species, barcoding gap, neighbor-joining tree to distinguish genus of Lilium based on 978 sequences from experimental and GenBank database, and identification efficiency was evaluated by Nearest distance and BLAST1 methods. The results showed that DNA barcoding could identify different species in genus of Lilium. ITS sequence performed higher identification efficiency, and had significant difference between intra- and inter-species. And NJ tree could also divide species into different clades. Results indicate that DNA barcoding can identify genus of Lilium accurately. ITS sequence can be the optimal barcode to identify species of Lilium.

Objective To determine and compare the contents of astragaloside Ⅳ in different medicinal parts of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus.Methods The contents of astragaloside Ⅳ in fibrous roots, root heads, taproots and whole roots of A.membranaceus var.mongholicus were determined by HPLC.Results The order of contents of astragaloside Ⅳ in A.membranaceus var.mongholicus was fibrous roots >whole roots >taproots >root heads;The content of astragaloside Ⅳ in A.membranaceus var.mongholicus from Inner Mongolia was 1.85 to 2.7 times of the standard which prescribed in 2010 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Conclusion Fibrous roots, which were discarded in traditional processing methods, can be used as raw material to extract astragaloside Ⅳ.This study may provide a reference for the harvest and produce of A.membranaceus var.mongholicus.

Objective To compare the safety and effectiveness of power peripherally inserted central catheters (Power PICC) and double cavity central venous catheter (CVC) application in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods 458 cases were reviewed during January to September in 2014 and divided into two groups: Power PICC group (245 cases) and CVC group (213 cases) , and average retention time, successful rate of inserting catheter and the incidence of complications were compared. Results The average retention time of Power PICC group was (21.6±5.8) days which was longer than (13.1±3.4) days of CVC group (t=2.234, P <0.05). No statistics difference of successful rate between two groups (P>0.05). No significant difference for the total incidence of complications between two groups as 14.69% (36/245) and 19.72%(42/213)(P>0.05). No significant difference for the total incidence of complications in the operation time between two groups as 5.31% (13/245) and 4.23% (9/213)(P>0.05). But rate of catheter malposition for Power PICC group [ 2.86% (7/245) ] was higher than CVC group 0 (X2=4.428, P <0.05). Rate of the total incidence of complications in the retention time Power PICC group [ 9.39%(23/245) ] was lower than CVC group [ 15.96%(33/213)(P<0.05). And rate of catheter related blood stream infection of CVC group [3.29%(7/213)] was much more higher than Power PICC group (0)(X2=6.139,P<0.05). Conclusions Power PICC and CVC are both applicable for ICU, and Power PICC has more advantage regarding safety and effectiveness than CVC and can be one replacement for CVC.

In this article, the method of quick and accurate identification ofAstragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var.mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao in different growth years by electronic nose (e-nose) technique and chemical analysis was developed. An e-nose was used to detect the odors ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples in two-growth-year, seven-growth year and more than a decade growth years for establishing the classification model of response characteristics. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA) were performed to differentiate theA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples in different growth years. PCA was performed to investigate the difference in the chemical composition and quality of different growth years inA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus samples. The results of PCA and DFA analyses for e-nose demonstrated that the samples ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years could be distinguished obviously. The contents of chemical composition were similar in same growth years inA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus and different from different growth years. The results of chemical composition analysis indicated that the identification forA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years was significant for the quality control. E-nose technique could identify the samples ofA. membranaceus. var.mongholicus in different growth years rapidly, sensitively and intactly, and could be applied for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the seed quality of C.deserticola and establish quality grading rules of seeds by detecting the impacts of different processing methods on the contents of the effective components of C.deserticola for optimizing the suitable processing method.The seed quality was judged by thousand-kernel weight,empty embryo rate and water content.The samples were preliminary processed by freeze-drying,natural drying and hot air circulation drying respectively,and the content of phenylethanoid glycosides was determined by HPLC-UV.The seed quality classification standard of C.deserticola was established,and the seeds were divided into three grades based on the standard.It was found that freeze-drying method was optimum,featuring less effective component loss,beautiful appearance of herbal piece,crisp texture and fast drying.In conclusion,this study laid a foundation for the quality control of the seeds of C.deserticola with the provision of scientific evidence for the initial processing of the fresh product.

This study provides the candidate sequences in the identification of Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding. We amplified and sequenced the region psbA-trnH, with the data of 284 sequences from GenBank, the differential intra- and inter-specific divergences, genetic distance, barcoding gap were used to evaluate five barcodes, and the identification efficiency was assessed using BLAST1 and Nearest Distance methods. The results showed that psbA-trnH barcodes performed high identification efficiency and inter-specific divergences among the five different DNA barcodes. Analysis of the barcoding gap and NJ tree showed psbA-trnH was superior to other barcodes. Based on the identification and PCR amplification efficiency, psbA-trnH can be the ideal barcode to identify Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants accurately.

Objective To observe the effects of modified Yigong Powder (MYP) combined with chemotherapy on transplanted hepatocarcinoma of mice and to study its mechanisms. Methods Hepatocarcinoma 22 mouse model was established and then was used to observe the attenuating and synergic effects of MYP when applied together with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). After 8 days of treatment,the tumor-inhibiting rate,activity of natural killer (NK)cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and small intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined. Results MYP combined with 5-FU could increased the tumor-inhibiting rate to some extent and improve the immune function by increasing immune organ weight and increasing the activity of NK cells and IL-2. MYP combined with 5-FU could also reduce the 5-FU-induced intestinal injuries by relieving the damage of free radicals and inhibiting the lipid peroxidation and a good prognosis was expected in tumor-bearing animals treated with chemotherapy. Conclusion MYP exerts an attenuating and synergic effect when used together with 5-FU in treating tumor-bearing mice and its mechamism may be related to the improvement of immune function and reduction of intestinal injuries.

Quality variation and ecotype classification of Chinese herbal medicine are important scientific problems in Daodi herbal medicine research. The diversity of natural environmental conditions has led to form unique multi-Daodi, multi-product areas that produce particular Chinese herbal medicine. China is one of three big American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) producing areas worldwide, with over 300 years of application and 40 years of cultivation history. Long-term production practice has led to the formation of three big advocate produce areas in China: Northeast province, Beijing and Shandong. P. quinquefolium L. grown under certain environmental conditions will develop long-term adaptations that will lead to more stable strains (different ecotypes). P. quinquefolium L., can vary greatly in quality; however, the ecological mechanisms causing this variation are still unclear. Root samples were collected from four-year-old cultivated P. quinquefolium L. plants in the three major genuine (Daodi) American ginseng-producing areas of Northeast province, Beijing and Shandong province, China. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the contents of eight ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg2). Data for nine ecological factors, including temperature, moisture and sunlight, were obtained from the ecological database of Geographic Information System for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Soil samples from the sampling sites were collected. Effective boron and iron, available nitrogen and potassium, as well as other trace elements and soil nutrients, were determined by conventional soil physicochemical property assay methods. Analytical methods of biostatistics and numerical taxonomy were used to divide ecotypes of the three main Panax quinquefolium L. producing areas in China based on ginsenoside content, climate, soil and other ecological factors. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ecological division of P. quinquefolium L. producing areas in China has ever been conducted. The results show that there are two chemoecotypes of P. quinquefolium L. in China: ginsenoside Rb1-Re from outside Shanhaiguan, and ginsenoside Rg2-Rd from inside Shanhaiguan. Similarly, there are two types of climatic characteristics: inside Shanhaiguan (Beijing, Shandong) and outside Shanhaiguan (Northeast). This suggests that the formation and differentiation of chemoecotypes of P. quinquefolium L. is closely related to variability of the climatic and geographical environment. Additionally, ecological variation of the three main producing areas, characteristics of two climatic ecotypes, and soil characteristics are also discussed and summarized. These results provide experimental scientific evidence of the quality variation and ecological adaptation of P. quinquefolium L. from different producing areas. They also deepen our understanding of the biological nature of Daodi P. quinquefolium L. formation, and offer novel research models for other multi-origin, multi-Daodi Chinese herbal medicines ecotypes. In addition, the results demonstrate the critical need for improving quality, appropriate ecological regionalization and promoting industrialized development of P. quinquefolium L.