Objective To investigate the anti-atherosclerosis effect of apocynum venetum(AV)by observing the influence of AV extract on early inflammatory factor TNF-αexpression.Methods Human U937 monocytes were differentiated to macrophages by the phorbol myristate acetate(PMA)induction and acted with 100 mg/L ox-LDL to form the foam cells for establishing the early atherosclerosis model(ox-LDL group).The different concentrations(0.2,0.4,0.8 mg/L)of AV were added to co-culture for 48 h (AV1,AV2,AV3 groups).The expression level of TNF-αin the supernate was detected by ELISA and RT-PCR respectively.Re-sults Compared with control group,the expression level of TNF-αin the ox-LDL group was significantly increased,the expression level of TNF-αin various AV medication groups(AV1,AV2,AV3 groups)was significantly decreased compared with the ox-LDL group(P<0.05).The AV concentration increase was negatively correlated with the TNF-αexpression level(P<0.05).Conclusion TNF-αis an important inflammatory factor in early atherosclerosis,AV could play the anti-atherosclerosis role by inhibiting the inflammatory factors.

Objective To establish a"quality-quantity"double standard control method of Schizonepeta Spike based on the reference material without relying on multiple reference substances.Methods HPLC technology was used to establish the characteristic atlas of Schizonepeta Spike based on the reference traditional Chinese medicinal materials.The chemical constituents of common peaks were identified by Q-TOF-MS technology,and the authenticity of Schizonepeta Spike was determined by the similarity of characteristic peaks of the reference traditional Chinese medicinal materials and the tested traditional Chinese medicinal materials.The relative content of each characteristic peak in different batches of the tested traditional Chinese medicinal materials was calculated by accurate quantition of pulegone.The"Average value-Standard deviation"was taken as the lower limit of the relative content of characteristic peak chemical components relative to pulegone,and the quality of Schizonepeta Spike was determined according to the lower limit of the relative content of characteristic peak.Results The characteristic atlas and content determination method met the requirements of methodology investigation.A total of 11 common chromatographic peaks were determined,and 6 chemical components were identified,which were luteolin,hesperidin,luteolin-7-O-glucuronide,luteolin,geranyl,pulegone.The similarity between the tested traditional Chinese medicinal materials and reference traditional Chinese medicinal materials was greater than 0.90.The lower limit of relative content of chemical components of Schizonepeta Spike characteristic peak was defined.Conclusion The method can identify Schizonepeta Spike clearly and quickly without many reference substances,and provide reference for quality control of Schizonepeta Spike.