AIM: To evaluate colon-oriented delivery characteristics of berberine hydrochloricde(BH) containing carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan(CMKGM) pellets. METHODS: BH-containing CMKGM pellets(pellets group) and BH-containing carboxymethyl cellulose suspension(control group) were intragastric administrated to rats at the dose of 50 mg/kg,respectively.Blood samples were obtained from the rat femoral artery,the gastric、entric、cecal、colonic tissues and their contents sampled at a given interval to measure the concentration of BH by HPLC.The bar charts of relative content of BH in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and theirs contents were drawn.Drug delivery index(DDI) was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group,the concentration and distribution of BH in gastric、enteric tissue and their contents decreased significantly,but in cecal、colonic tissue and their contents less at first,and more than the control group after 2～6 h.The DDI values of the pellets to gastric,enteric,cecal,colonic tissue and their contents were 0.392 4,0.478 6,3.916,4.193,(0.162 8,)0.619 4,3.843,4.087 against the control group,respectively. CONCLUSION: CMKGM pellets may be a useful colon-specific drug delivery system for BH.

Factors which influence the extraction of Chinese materia Medica were comprehensively studied,by ex-tracting each single herb component in the compounded preparation Sinitang as the sample,and determiningthe extraction rate as well as the content of main active principle in each extract as the evaluation criteria. Thegeneral ru1e for the extraction of single herb material was then investigated. The results indicated that it isbetter to desigm the experiment in accordance with it's characteristic object with selection of proper evalua-tion criteria to obtain an optimum process for the extraction of Chinese traditional drugs.

Recent studies in the realm of metabolic chemistry of traditional Chinese drugs (TCD),appeared in literature were reviewed. Methods for such study were enumerated and commented upon.Some problems that arised in the study were discussed. It was suggested that the study of metabolic chem-istry on TCD and its compounded preparations should be further pursued.

Objective To establish an HPLC method for determination of gastrodigenin concentration in brain tissue of mice and investigate its pharmacokinetics after intragastric administration of gastrodin.Methods The brain homogenate was extracted with acetoacetate and analyzed by HPLC method.The separation was performed on a Diamonsil C18 column(250 mm ? 4.6 mm,5 ?m) under the following chromatographic conditions: mobile phase,acetonitrile-water(10.5∶89.5);column temperature,25 ℃;flow rate,1.0 mL/min;detection wavelength,221 nm;and sampling amount,20 ?L.Results The calibration curve showed good linearity within the concentration range of 50-1 616 ng/mL(r= 0.999 6).The relative recoveries were 93.8%-95.1%,and the RSDs of the intra-and inter-day precision were less than 10%.The concentration-time profile of gastrodigenin in brain tissue of mice showed double peaks(tmax1=15 min,tmax2=90 min).The AUC was 52 822.5 ng?min/g,and t1/2(ke) was 54.8 min.Conclusion The analytical method established for assay of gastrodigenin in brain tissue of mice is sensitive and accurate.The result indicates that gastrodin could rapidly distribute to the brain,be metabolized into gastrodigenin,and be eliminated after oral administration.

Objective: To establish the optimum preparation procedure for Grub Eye Drops. Methods: The amount of extract abtained from extraction solutions, the contents of glutamic acid and glycine, nitrogen content and TLC spots were used to evaluate the extraction procedure for Grub Eye Drops by orthogonal design. Results: The optimum extraction condition was A 3B 2C 1. That is adding ten times amount of water to soaking for 30min, decocting for 1.5h, filtering to obtain filtrate Ⅰ, adding seven times of water into filter residue, decocting for 1h to obtain filtrate Ⅱ, combining filtrate Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Conclusion: The experimental method is suitable for the productive preparation of Grub Eye Drops.

Objective: To establish the determination method of ester alkaloids in Shiwuweirupeng Capsules. Methods:The chromatographic method was carried out on Aichrom TM C 18 column using CH 3OH 0.05 mol?L -1 KH 2PO 4 CH 3COOH-(CH 3) 2CHOH(67∶173∶4∶4) as a mobile phase. The detection wavelength was set at 230nm. The flow rate was 1mL?min -1 . The column temperature was 35?C. Results: The benzoic acid calibration curves were linear at the ranges of 0.0152～0.076?g( r =0.9998). The average recoveries of aconitine was 93.3% with RSD =1.9%.Conclusion: This method is simple, reliable and provides a reference standard for the quality control of Shiwuweirupeng Capsules.

Objective: To determine tannins in Ershiwuweidatang Capsules (Flos Carthami, Fructus Chebulae, Fructus Terminaliae Billericae, Fructus Phyllanthi, etc.). Methods:Tannins were determined by casein method.Results: The contents of tannins in Ershiwuweidatang Capsules were 0.96%, 0.90%, and 0.85%, respectively. The gallic acid calibration curves were linear at the ranges of 0.8 ～4.0 ?g?mL -1 ( r = 0.999 ). The average recovery of tannic acid was 96.2% with RSD =1.4%( n =5).Conclusion: The method was simple and reliable.

Object To study the pharmacokinetics of cinnamic acid in BAOXIN PILL * in rat. Methods Plasma concentration of cinnamic acid was determined by HPLC under the following conditions: column: Hypersil ODS C 18 (150 mm?4.6 mm, 5 ?m); column temperature 30 ℃; mobile phase methanol-1% acetic acid (45∶55); flow rate 0.5 mL/min; detection wavelength 273 nm; aliquot injected 10 ?L. Results A method for the determination of plasma cinnamic acid concentration by HPLC was established. Regression equation of cinnamic acid peak area (Y) and plasma concentration (X) was found to be: Y= 4 973.534 8 +42 867.96 678 X; correlation factor r=0.999 8; rate of cinnamic acid recovery from plasma=97.50% and RSD=1.33%; detection limit=0.15 ng; minimal dectable concentration in rat plasma=75 ng/mL. Absorption pattern of cinnamic acid after ig does showed linearity, corresponding to a first order absorption and elimination of open chamber model. The t 1/2 (K a)=7.12 min; t max =53.29 min, C max =0.20 ?g/mL, and t 1/2 (Ke)=340.74 min. Conclusion The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in this study may be attributed to the combined action of cinnamic acid and other constituents in the compound preparation of BAOXIN PILL.

Objective To establish a method for the determi nation of emodin and chrysophanic acid in Compound Rhubarb Spray by HPLC.Methods The ODS column was applied.methanol∶water(87∶13)served as mobile phase.The detectio n wavelength was at 254nm and the flow r ate was 0.65ml /min.Results The average recovery of emodin was 99.48%with relative standard deviation being 1.75%(n=9)and the average recovery of chrysoph anic acid was 101.46%with rela-tive standard deviation being 2.85%(n=9).Conclusion The method was simple,rapid and reli able.It is suitable for the quality control of Compound Rhubarb Spray.

AIM: To optimize the best prescription of micro-emulsions of volatile oil in rhubarb of compound liquid spray by triangular phase diagram METHODS : Poloxamer-108 was used as emulsifiers,absolute alcohol as assistant emulsifiers,volatile oil from Lonicera dasystyla and Curcuma longa as the oil phase,the proportion between the emulsifier and append-emulsifier was established RESULTS : Optimized ratio of Poloxamer-108 and alcohol was 1∶10,the volatile oil in prescription formed micro-emulsions,distributing stably in the spray CONCLUSION : The study of micro-emulsions of volatile oil in compound liquid preparation of traditional Chinese medicine by triangular phase diagram offered a short-cut for resolving its stability. The experiment also suggested that the micro-emulsions could increase solubility of insoluble volatile oil from TCM.