To investigate the chemical constituents of the roots of Andrographis paniculata, 28 compounds were isolated and identified from the 80% ethanol extract. There are 20 flavonoids: 5, 5'-dihydroxy-7, 8, 2'-trimetroxyflavone (1), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 6'-tetramethoxyflavone (2), 5, 3'-dihydroxy-7, 8, 4'-trimethoxyflavone (3), 2'-hydroxy-5, 7, 8-trimethoxyflavone (4), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 3', 4'-pentamethoxyflavone (6), wightin (7), 5, 2', 6'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), 5, 7, 8, 2'-tetramethoxyflavone (10), 5-hydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavanone (11), 5-hydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavone (12), 5, 2'-dihydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavone (13), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 5'-tetramethoxyflavone (14), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2', 3'-tetramethoxyflavone (15), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 2'-trimethoxyflavone (16), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-7, 8, 2', 3'-tetramethoxyflavone (17), dihydroneobaicalein (18), andrographidine A (19), andrographidine B (20), andrographidine C (21) and 5, 2'-dihydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavone 2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (22); three diterpenoids: andrograpanin (23), neoandrographolide (24) and andrographolide (25); two phenylpropanoids: trans-cinnamic acid (26) and 4-hydroxy-2-methoxycinnamaldehyde (5); and oleanolic acid (9), beta-sitosterol (27) and beta-daucosterol (28). Compound 1 is a new flavone, compound 4 is a new natural product, compounds 2, 3 and 5 were isolated from the Androggraphis genus for the first time and compounds 6-9 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective To observe the histological structure of plant roots of Dendrobium Sw. for assisting identification of crude drug Herba Dendrobii. Methods Morphological and histological studies were carried out on 11 medicinal plant roots in Dendrobium Sw. by microstructural observation. The 11 species were divided into three groups according to their stem morphology: a) pair fleshy-stem group, including D. chrysanthum, D. crepidatum, D. primulinum, D. hercoglossum, and D. crystallium; b) thick-and rigid-stem group, including D. fimbriatum and D. aurantiacum var. denneanum; c) node-or inter- node- bulgy-stem group, including D. findlayanum, D. gratiosissimum, D. pendulum, and D. wardianum. The surface descriptions of velamen were conducted for D. fimbriatum and D. aurantiacum var. denneanum which are similar in characters of cross section. Results There were differences in shape and layers of velamen cell, number of xylem bundles, maximum diameter of vessels, organization of pith, as well as the types, quantity, and size of crystals. D. fimbriatum could be distingushed from its adulterant species D. aurantiacum var. denneanum by the different surface structure of velamen cells. Conclusion The histological characters of the roots can be used for assisting identification of Herba Dendrobii.

Objective To discuss how to improve judgement and technique for avoiding bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC).Methods The clinical data of 39 860 patients treated by LC between October 1992 and October 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.Bile duct injury occured in 46 patients.Results Bile duct repair and T-tube drainage was performed in 26 patients and bile duct end-to-end anastomosis and T-tube drainage was performed in 4 patients,with the T-tube indwelling time for 3~12 months.The Roux-en-Y cholangiojejunostomy was conducted in 11 patients,the ligation of accessory hepatic duct was conducted in 5 pauients,the re-operation for bile duct stenosis in 4 patients,and the re-operation for stenosis after cholangiojejunostomy,in 2 patients.Conclusions Intensive anatomic knowledge and skillful surgical performance can avoid or minimize the incidence of bile duct injury.Early detection and active repair of the bile duct injury for preventing acute inflammation is the most important measure to avoid repeated operations.

Objective To explore the management of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (UGC) discovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods From January 2000 to May 2007, 15 560 cases of LC were performed in our hospital, UGC was discovered in 28 of the cases. Clinical data of the 28 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 28 cases of UGC, 12 were discovered intraoperatively, and 16 were diagnosed postoperatively.Radical cholecystectomy was performed on the 12 cases who were detected during the operation,and 5 of the 16 patients who were diagnosed after the operation.LC was carried out in the remaining 11 cases. Postoperative pathological examination showed TNM stageⅠin 3 cases, stageⅡin 23, and stage Ⅲ in 2. The patients were followed up for 7-66 months with a mean of 22 months. During the period, 19 patients died. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate of the 17 patients who received radical cholecystectomy were 76.5% (13/17), 23.5% (4/17), and 11.8% (2/17), respectively. Whereas, in the 11 patients who underwent LC, the 1-year survival rate was 45.4%; moreover, none of the 11 survived for more than 2 years. Conclusions For high-risk population, attention should be paid to UGC during operation. Most of the UGCs discovered during LC are early-stage carcinomas, which should be treated with standard radical cholecystectomy, but not LC.

The medicinal herbs derived from genus Senecio have been commonly used in Chinese medicine and triggered attention in recent decades for that they contain the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Therefore the botanical pharmacognostic study to authenticate those herbs based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics is important for the assurance of safety when they are applied as raw material for extracts or for finished products. In this paper, 13 taxa (11 species and 2 varieties) of Senecio plants were collected and their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were observed and described by digital microscopic illustration. The results showed that the distribution of collenchyma in the cortex, the level of development for pericycle, the location of the phloem, and the ratio of pith in transverse sections of the stems, and the morphology of the leaf epidermal cells, the stomatal types and the non-glandular hairs in leaf surface view were found to be the main microscopic characteristics for authentication of different Senecio species. The herbs derived from genus Senecio can be distinguished from each other on the basis of their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, and those observation can be used for the identification of commercial crude drugs from Senecio plants.

Objective Application of a new molecular marker to the identification of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) species. Methods Complete sequences of the mitochondrial nad 1 intron 2 for nine species of Dendrobium Sw. were amplified and determined. Results Seventeen variable sites were found in the aligned 872 bp of nad 1 intron 2 sequences. Eight of the nine Dendrobium species except D. loddigesii could be identified by the nad 1 intron 2 sequences. Conclusion The mitochondrial nad 1 intron 2 sequences could be used as a new molecular marker for the identification of Dendrobium species.

Object To provide a basis for the identification and quality control of the crud drugs of Costus L.. Methods Morphological and histological characters of the rhizomes of Costus spectosus (Koen.) Smith, Costus lacerus Gagnep.and Costus tonkinensis Gagnep. were described and illustrated, respectively. TLC of the above drugs was finished. Microscopical characters of the epidemis of leaves of these species were also compared. Results The characters involving the vessel order in vascular bundle ring at the inner side of pericycle in the transverse section, calcium oxalate crystals occurred in the vessel, the characteristic calcium oxalate crystals in the cortex and cork cell and the TLC qualitative analysis for diosgenin, etc. are important for identification of Costus L.. Conclusion These three crude drugs can be identified by the above research results.

Object To explore the method for high quality DNA extract from plant Chinese medicinal materials containing developed xylem Methods The process of DNA includes wash with Tris buffer, extract with CYAB buffer and purification mainly Results Using this method, the total DNA was isolated from Cimicifugae foelida L., Arlia chinensis L., Paeoniae lactiflora Pall.,Aucklandia lappa Decne.,Lindera aggregata (Slms) Kostern., and Akebia quinata Decne. etc This method is preferable in removing pigments, polysaccharides, substance disturbing PCR Conclusion In this process, common reagents are used, lower cost is of advantage to popularize This study provids the applying foundations for the DNA identification of plant Chinese medicinal materials