Shenqi mixture tonic (C. A. mixture )is a compounded Chinese herb preparation composed of Codnopsis pilosula (Franch. )Nannf., Astragalus membranaceus Bge. and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Its antiaging effect was studied on 24 months old SD rats. The body weight, food intake,cardiac capacity and activities ofbrain monoamine oxidase-B(MAO-B)and red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD)were estimated to assess its antiaging effect. Results indicated that after feeding C. A. mixture for a fixed time the activity of MAO-B was decreased and that of red blood cell SOD increased obviously. Calorie production and cold resistant capabbility of the aged animals were improved significantly though there were no gain in body weight. In addition ,the cardiac capacity was enhanced. From the above results it can be concluded that C. A. mixture possesses evident antiaging effect

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Monascus purpureus metabolite.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography methods, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract and elucidated as stigmast-4-en-3-one (1), 3-oxo-24-methylenecycloarane (2), stigmasterol (3), 7beta-hydroxystigmasterol (4), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one (5), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5,22-dien-7-one (6), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), sitosterol (8).

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were isolated from this genu for the first time except compound 3 and 7.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Monascus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Steroids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism