OBJECTIVE: To establish a RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of Protocatechuic acid and Protocatechuic aldehyde in Fuxuekang granules. METHODS: The chromatography was carried on Achirom Bond-1 C18 column(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m). The mobile phase was composed of methanol - water (20∶80,pH=2.80 adjusted by glacial acetic acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL?min-1. The detection wavelengths were programmed at 256 nm for Protocatechuic acid and at 280 nm for Protocatechuic aldehyde. RESULTS: The linear ranges for Protocatechuic acid and Protocatechuic aldehyde were 5.49～73.22 ?g?mL-1(r=0.999 9) and 4.81～64.13 ?g?mL-1(r=0.999 9), respectively, and their average recoveries were 96.86%(RSD=2.52%,n=9) and 97.55%(RSD=3.82%,n=9) respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, sensitive, and reproducible, and it is applicable for the quality control of Fuxuekang granules.

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenolic compound that exists in many medicinal species of Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae. The previous studies have revealed that RA had therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the H22-xenograft models by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB p65 pathway in the tumor microenvironment. However, its molecular mechanisms of immunoregulation and pro-apoptotic effect in HCC have not been fully explored. In the present study, RA at 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg was given to H22 tumor-bearing mice via gavage once a day for 10 days. The results showed that RA can effectively inhibit the tumor growth through regulating the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ, inhibiting the expressions of IL-6, IL-10 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, thereby up-regulating Bax and Caspase-3 and down-regulating Bcl-2. The underlying mechanisms involved regulation of immune response and induction of HCC cell apoptosis. These results may provide a more comprehensive perspective to clarify the anti-tumor mechanism of RA in HCC.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Boraginaceae ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Cytokines ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lamiaceae ; Mice ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Therapeutic Uses ; Tumor Microenvironment