OBJECTIVE:To study the change in grain size and in vitro dissolution ratio of Atractylodes macrocephala after ultramicronization. METHODS: The particle size before and after ultramicronization was analyzed using particle size analyzer. The content of the sample was determined by HPLC using atractylenolide Ⅲ and atractylenolide Ⅰ as indexes to reflect the dissolution ratio. RESULTS: After ultramicronization, the particle size of the sample became thinner obviously, about 30% that of the common fine powder, and the content increased by 27% as compared with the common fine powder. CONCLUSION: The ultramicronization can significantly decrease the particle size, increase specific surface area and contribute to the dissolution of atractylenolide Ⅲ and atractylenolide I from Atractylodes macrocephala.

Objective:To establish an analytical method for measuring the concentration of glucose in saliva by ion chromatography.Methods:The proteins in saliva were removed by thermal denaturation method, CarboPac PA20 (3×30 mm) was used as a protective column and CarboPac PA20 (3×150 mm) was used as an analytical column for ion chromatography analysis. Gradient elution was carried out with A: ultra-pure water, B: 250 mmol/L NaOH solution and C: 500 mmol/L NaAc solution. Pulsed ampere detector was used for detection.Results:This method had a good linear relationship in the range of 0.04 to 0.12 mg/L, with a linear relation coefficient of 0.9967. The detection limit of glucose was 2 μg/L, the mean value of the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the repeatability measurement was 0.75%, and the average spike recovery was 103.07%.Conclusion:This method is simple, sensitive, accurate and stable, and can be used for the determination of glucose concentration in saliva.

To determine the effect of andrographolide (Andro) on angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
 Methods: HUVECs were treated with different concentrations of Andro and the cell viability was detected with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). HUVECs were treated with half lethal dose (IC50) of Andro. Matrigel was used to make capillary formation of HUVECs and the effect of Andro on capillary formation was evaluated by calculating the percentage of capillary formation. Moreover, the effects of Andro and the supernatant from cultured A549 tumor cells on capillary formation were evaluated by calculating the percentage of capillary formation. The effect of Andro on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was determined with Western blot.
 Results: The cell viability of HUVECs decreased with the increase of Andro concentrations. IC50 was 20 μmol/L. The capillary formation of HUVECs was inhibited when treated with 20 μmol/L Andro for 24 hours. Moreover, Andro was able to antagonize the promotion of the capillary formation induced by the supernatant from cultured tumor cells. Andro could suppress the expression of MMP-9 and antagonize the capillary formation.
 Conclusion: Andro inhibits the capillary formation of HUVECs and can antagonize the promotion of angiogenesis induced by the supernatant from cultured tumor cells.
Capillaries ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Collagen ; Culture Media ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Laminin ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; enzymology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Proteoglycans ; Tumor Cells, Cultured