OBJECTIVETo probe into the influences of different granule sizes and to prepare procedures on rational clinical usage of rhubarb based on chemical equivalence.

METHODThe effects of particle size, extract solvent, extract time and repeat times, and pre-extract or pro-extract of rhubarb on the extract amounts of the anthraquinones (AQs) were compared.

RESULTThe different prepare procedures investigated in the paper revealed significant influence on the extract amounts of the AQs and those extracts were not chemical equivalent. Ethanol extracted more AQs than water did, when other conditions were same. When extracted with water, the rhubarb of piece size 0.8-1.2 cm could extract relatively high amount of AQs nearly equal to superfine grinded powders, and the former was cheap. The water extraction of AQs showed an increasing trend with the extraction time extended. And pro-extract manner with water could extract more AQs than pre-extract manner with a extraction time of 30, 60 min. The water extraction of AQs repeated two times exceeded half of the amount of totally six times. When extracted with ethanol, the rhubarb of fine powders could extract relatively high amount of AQs nearly equal to superfine grinded powders. And pre-extract manner with ethanol could extract more AQs than pro-extract manner. The ethanol extraction of AQs increased in 30 min and then increased slower. The ethanol extraction of AQs repeated two times exceeded 70% of the amount of totally six times. So, the optimal conditions for water extraction rhubarb were pro-extract, two times repeated and 30 min per time; and the optimal conditions for ethanol extract were pre-extract, two times repeated and 30 min per time.

CONCLUSIONThe different prepare procedures showed significant influence on the extraction of rhubarb AQs. There is great need to establish a good usage practice (GUP) for Chinese Materia Medica to maintain rational clinical usage.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry

The positive response to tamoxifen in ERa-positive breast cancer patients is usually of a short duration as many of the patients eventually develop resistance. Our preliminary results show that aloe emodin extracted from the leaves of the Aloe barbadensis Miller demonstrated a cytotoxicity that is selective to ERa-positive breast cancer cells (MCF-7), but not to ERa-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and to the control cells (MCF- 10A). The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that aloe emodin may enhance the response of MCF-7 cells to treatment with tamoxifen. MCF-7 cells were treated with aloe emodin alone, tamoxifen alone or a combination of emodin and tamoxifen, at their respective IC50 concentrations and at different time points of 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The respective IC50s were the concentrations of aloe emodin and tamoxifen required to achieve 50% inhibition of the cells in the study. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using trypan blue exclusion and DNA fragmentation assays, respectively. The involvement of RAS/MEKs/ERKs genes of MAPK signalling pathways with aloe emodin was determined using QuantiGene 2.0 Plex assay. Data was evaluated using the one-way ANOVA test. Our findings showed that aloe emodin enhanced the cytotoxicity of tamoxifen on MCF-7 cells through apoptosis by downregulation of MEK1/2 genes. Our research may provide a rational basis for further in vivo studies to verify the efficacy of a combination of aloe emodin and tamoxifen on the viability of ERa-positive-breast cancer cells.
Anthraquinones ; Breast Neoplasms

Angucyclines/angucyclinones are a large group of polycyclic aromatic polyketides and their producers are widely distributed in nature. This family of natural products attracts great attention because of their diverse biological activities and unique chemical structures. With the development of synthetic biology and the exploitation of the actinomycetes from previously unexplored environments, angucyclines/angucyclinones-like natural products with new skeletons were continuously discovered, thus enriching the structural diversity of this family. In this review we summarize the new angucyclines/angucyclinones analogues discovered in the last decade (2010-2020) by using different strategies, such as changing cultivation conditions, genetic modification, genome mining, bioactivity-guided compound isolation, and fermentation of actinomycetes from underexplored environments. We also discuss the role of synthetic biology in the discovery and development of new compounds of the angucycline/angucyclinone family.
Anthraquinones ; Biological Products ; Polyketides ; Streptomyces

Methanol total dried extract of the root of Nho dong (Morinda longissima Y.Z.Ruan, Rubiaceae) collected in Chieng An commune, Son La town, Son La province was analyzed. From the fractions n.6 and n.18 of column chromatography with Silicagel adsorption and developing solvents Chloroform/Methanol (9/1) system, by thin layer chromatography, an anthranoid substance (CP4) was isolated. Spectral analysis showed its structure as its is 1,3- dihydroxy,4-methyl ethyl ether anthraquinone, first time found in nho dong
Anthraquinones ; Medicine, Traditional ; plants, medicinal ; Plant Roots ;

OBJECTIVETo compare the contents of five anthraquinone components in five different processed products from Rheum palamatum.

METHODThe contents of aleo-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion were determined simultaneously by HPLC on plogilent TC-C18 (2) column at 35 degrees C with the methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid (85: 15). The detection wavelength was set at 254 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1).

RESULTThe obtained linearity of the five components was better over 0.999 9 and the average recoveries were 96.44%, 98.11%, 99.30%, 98.00% and 97.86%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed the remarkable variation regulations show in the five different processed products. Compared to the no-parched pieces, the contents of the five anthraquinone components have evidently increased in the braising with liquor and the charring products, and reduced in the vinegar and the liquor sauted pieces.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; Rheum ; chemistry

Nine compounds were isolated from an ethanol extract of the roots of K. roxburghii by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, MCI gel, Sephadex LH-20, and reversed-phase HPLC. On the basis of physical-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analysis, their structures were identified as munjistin (1), 1-methoxy-3,6-dihydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (2), 1,2,3-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (3), arjunolic acid (4), hyptatic acid-A (5), hyptatic acid-B (6), 2α,3β,24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (8), and daucosterol (9). Compounds 1-9 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of beta-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of beta-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of beta-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM. Addition of beta-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM beta-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control. In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.
Anthraquinones ; Dental Pulp Capping ; Dentin ; Dexamethasone ; Glycerophosphates ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) on absorption kinetic parameters of rhubarb free anthraquinones.

METHODSEleven healthy Beagle dogs were randomly divided into the normal group (n = 6) and the SAP group (n = 5). The SAP animal model was prepared by surgery through portal vein blood channel building to collect blood from normal dogs and dogs with SAP. The free anthraquinones (20 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage. The concentrations of five anthraquinones (aloe emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion) in the blood plasma of the portal vein and the femoral artery were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The kinetic parameters were calculated using MATLAB2007B Software. The half life (t(1/2Ka)), the absorption peak time (Tmax), the peak concentration (Cmax), the area under the curve [AUC(0-infinity)], and the mean residence time (MRT) were calculated using the statistical moment method. The transport velocity of corresponding medicines from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood (ka) was calculated.

RESULTSThere was no difference in the chemical composition absorption type of the portal vein and the femoral artery between the two groups. Aloe emodin could be detected in the portal vein of each animal at each time point, and they were in the quantitative range. Rhein could be detected in the portal vein of each animal at each time point, and they were lower than the quantitative limit at few time points. Emodin and chrysophanol could be detected in the portal vein of partial animals at each time point, and most of them were higher than the quantitative limit. Physcion could be detected only in the portal vein of less animals at few time points. Rhein could be detected in the femoral artery at most time points, but the rhein plasma concentration at most time points were lower than the quantitative limit. Lower concentration of aloe emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol could be detected in the femoral artery at only few time points. Physcion was not detected in the femoral artery. The rhein plasma concentration of the femoral artery and the chrysophanol Cmax of the portal vein at 45 min were higher in the SAP group than in the normal group with statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the rest indices. The AUC of rhein in the two groups were 59.32% and 66.07% of the total free anthraquinones respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSAP could not obviously affect the absorption kinetics parameters of rhubarb free anthraquinones. The intestinal tract and the liver might possibly play important roles in metabolizing or transforming rhubarb free anthraquinones.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Dogs ; Pancreatitis ; metabolism ; Rheum ; chemistry

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is a kind of commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Due to the overharvesting, the wild resource is endangering. Large market demand caused severely adulterant of commercial Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces. This manuscript reviewed the advances of the original species authentication in the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma during the latest decade, including characteristics and microscopic features, phytochemical analysis on anthraquinones, and molecular authentication based on DNA barcoding. Accordingly, an original species authentication route for the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was summarized:(1)the identification of seeds and seedlings by DNA barcoding;(2) the selection of high variable sites based on the chloroplast genome;(3)biomonitoring of the Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces by two-dimensional DNA barcode;(4)traceability of Chinese patent medicines by third-generation sequencing. In conclusion, the combination of molecular identification and traditional identification methods provides a new idea for the identification of the original species of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in the industrial chain and a essential guidance for the research of drug safety and efficacy of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rheum ; Rhizome

OBJECTIVETo study the absorption kinetic characteristics of mollugin and purpurin in each intestinal segment of rats.

METHODThe in situ single-way perfusion rat model was established to study absorption characteristics of mollugin and purpurin in each intestinal segment of rats. The volume of recirculation fluid was regulated by phenol red.

RESULTDifferent quality concentrations (12.33, 24.66, 49.32 mg x L(-1)) of mollugin and (8.455, 16.91, 33.82 mg x L(-1)) purpurin showed a concentration gradient of absorption dose in each intestinal segment, with the osmotic coefficient increasing to more than 0.2 x 10(-4) cm x s(-1). In the same concentration, mollugin and purpurin showed an identical trend of P(eff) in each intestinal segment in the order of colon > duodenum > ileum > jejunum, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMollugin and purpurin are highly permeable in rat intestinal segments, with absorption in each segment, while the specific absorption existed in the colon segment.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; metabolism ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Pyrans ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results