Objective To develop a double-wavelength HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of neogambogic acid,gambogic acid,( +)-catechin and L-epicatechin in Litong pill. Methods The quantitative analysis was carried out on C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm).A linear elution of methanol-acetonitrile(4: 1)and 0.2% phosphoric acid solution was adopted at the flow rate of 1.1 mL·min-1 ,with the detection wavelength set at 360 nm for neogambogic acid and gambogic acid,and at 280 nm for(+)-catechin and L-epicatechin. Results The linear ranges of neogambogic acid,gambogic acid,(+)-catechin and L-epicatechin were 5.85-117.00 μg·mL-1(r= 0.999 5),8.95-179.00 μg·mL-1(r= 0.999 8),6.90-138.00 μg·mL-1(r= 0.999 7),and 5.30-106.00 μg·mL-1(r = 0.999 9),respectively.The average recoveries were 97.82%(RSD= 1.21%),98.72%(RSD = 1.30%),96.96%(RSD = 0.84%)and 99.26%( RSD = 1.46%)for neogambogic acid, gambogic acid,(+)-catechin and L-epicatechin,respectively. Conclusion The method is simple,accurate,reproducible and may be used for the simultaneous determination of neogambogic acid,gambogic acid,(+)-catechin and L-epicatechin in Litong pill.

Objective To explore the changes of plasma redox status in patients with coronary heart disease and its clinical implications. Methods One hundred and forty-four patients suspected with coronary heart disease were divided into three groups according to the results of coronary arteriography. Coronary heart disease group (n= 59, group A), coronary atherosclerosis group (n=53, group B), and normal coronary group (n=32, group C). The plasma glutathione (reduced form GSH and oxidized form GSSG) ,oxidized low density hpoprotein cholesterol(ox-LDL-C) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in all patients. The GSH/GSSG redox potential were calculat-ed according to Nernst equation,and their correlation with the severity of coronary artery stenosis and oxLDL-C was analyzed. Results Along with the severity of coronary artery stenosis (from Group C to Group A), GSH, GSH/ GSSG gradually reduced (respectively (321.27±56.80)μmol/L, (309.52±44.97) μmol/L, ( 285.71±38.38) μmol/L;10.56±1.70,9.86±1.58,8.65±1.18 ;F=29.49 and 26.18,P<0.05), whereas GSH/GSSG redox po-tential gradually increased ( (- 142.23±1.35) mV, (-140.41±1.13) mV, (-136.61±1.21 ) mV;F =20.69,P <0.05 )) and redox status deviated to oxidization. The products of oxidative stress oxLDL-C and MDA also increased significantly along with the severity of coronary artery stenosis (respectively (417.24±126.64 ) μg/L, (557.45±171.85) μg/L, (691.96±203, 56 ) μg/L;(2.39±1.24) μmol/L, (3.25±1.37 ) μmol/L, (4.39± 1.52) μmol/L;F=26.28 and 25.39,P<0.05). GSH/GSSG redox potential was positively correlated with oxLDL-C (r=0.798,P<0.05). Conclusions The imbalance of plasma redox status and deviating to oxidization may be closely related with the development and progress of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Xuezhikang Capsules (ZXKC) and probucol on blood lipids, vascular endothelial functions and redox status in patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into XZKC-treated group and probucol-treated group, 56 in each. Before and after 8-week treatment, the blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were all measured in both groups. The GSH/GSSG redox potential (Eh) was calculated according to the Nernst equation. RESULTS: In the XZKC-treated group, the blood levels of TC, LDL-C and TG were significantly decreased after 8-week treatment as compared with those before treatment. The blood levels of TC and LDL-C were also significantly decreased in the probucol-treated group as compared with those before treatment. In the XZKC-treated group, the blood levels of ET-1 and GSSG and the GSH/GSSG Eh after treatment were all significantly lower than those before treatment, whereas the blood levels of GSH and NO, the NO/ET-1 ratio, and the GSH/GSSG ratio after treatment were all significantly higher than those before treatment. CONCLUSION: The XZKC or probucol treatment can yield a significant decrease in blood lipids in patients with coronary heart disease. Furthermore, XZKC exerts effective protection on vascular endothelial function, and can make GSH/GSSG redox status shift towards deoxidation.