Objective To explore the variation of the main chemical constituents of Herb Epimedii in decocting Herb Epimedii and Radix Astragali separately and compatibly. Methods Herb Epimedii combined with Radix Astragali were decocted with water in which the proportion of them were 1∶0, 2∶1, 1∶1, 1∶2 and 0∶1, respectively. RP-HPLC was used to compare the content of icariin and the fingerprints in separate and compatible decoction. Results Afeter combination, the number of chromatographic peaks were added and no new peaks were detected. The contents of some chemical constituents such as icariin in Herb Epimedii were increased, especially in the compatible decoction at the proportion was 1∶1. Some constituents were not changed obviously. Conclusion Herb Epimedii decocted together with Radix Astragali especially at a ratio of 1∶1 can increase the solubility of the chemical constituents in Herb Epimedii. This provides a scientific basis for more effective use of the compatible decoction of the two herbs.

Swertiamarin (STM) is an iridoid compound that is present in the Gentianaceae swertia genus. Here we investigated antiapoptotic effects of STM on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury and its possible mechanisms. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an STM 200 mg/kg group, a CCl₄ group, a CCl₄+STM 100 mg/kg group, and a CCl₄+STM 200 mg/kg group. Rats in experimental groups were subcutaneously injected with 40% CCl₄ twice weekly for 8 weeks. STM (100 and 200 mg/kg per day) was orally given to experimental rats by gavage for 8 consecutive weeks. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay and the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. The expression of TGF-β1, collagen I, collagen III, CTGF and fibronectin mRNA were estimated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that STM significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells compared with the CCl₄ group. The levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 proteins, and TGF-β1, collagen I, collagen III, CTGF, and fibronectin mRNA were significantly reduced by STM compared with the CCl₄ group. In addition, STM markedly abrogated the repression of Bcl-2 by CCl₄. STM also attenuated the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the liver. These results suggested that STM ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in rats.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon* ; Caspase 3 ; Collagen ; Fibronectins ; Gentianaceae ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Repression, Psychology ; RNA, Messenger ; Swertia