Astragali Radix (AR), known as Huangqi in China, is one of the most popular herbal medicines learnt worldwide to reinforce Qi (the vital energy). AR is traditionally prepared from the dried roots of Astragalus membranaceus or A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. It has been reported to have cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, immunostimulant, anti-aging, anti-oxidative, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The bioactive compounds were found to be flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, amino acids, and some trace elements. The present paper reviews the studies on AR including history, phytochemistry studies, pharmacological functions, and clinical application in recent years.

Objective: To study the chemical co nstituents obtained from Hedysarum multijugum . Methods: The compounds were separated by liquid-liquid extraction a nd chromatography, their structures were identified by spectral analyses. Results: Seven compou nds were obtained triacontyl alcohol (1); tetra cosanoic acid (2); 5,7-dihydro xy-6, 8-di-C-prenyl -4′-methoxy -isoflavone (3); 4′-hydroxy-trans-cinnamic acid docosyl ester (4); stigmasterol (5); 5, 7-dihydroxy-6-C-prenyl-4′-methoxy-isofl avone (6, Gancaonin M); caffeic acid tetracosyl ester (7). Conclusion: Compounds 3 and 4 were new natural compoun ds and the rest were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Achyranthes bidentata and Achyranthes aspera are saponin and steroid rich medicinal plants, used extensively for therapeutic treatments in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. A. bidentata is reported to be one of the rare and extensively exploited medicinal plant species that face the issue of being endangered. Finding qualitative substitute with identical phyto-constituents contributing to similar composition and pharmacological benefits wil help in reducing the burden of exploitation of the natural habitats of such plants. In the present study, a comparative metabolite analysis of the whole drug and specific tissues isolated by laser micro-dissection (LMD) was carried out for both the selected species, by use of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). The results of the study indicate that the cortex and the medullary ray tissues are rich in their content of steroidal and saponin con-stituents such as (25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide, ginsenoside Ro, bidentatoside II and achyranthoside B. Metabolite profiling of the whole tissues of both the species indicates presence of identical constituents. Thus, it is inferred that A. bidentata and A. aspera can be used as qualitative substitutes for each other.

Lots of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shares the same Chinese common names "Doukou". Because of similar Chinese names, appearances, functions and original plants, there are still no compromise on the original plants of "Doukou" up to now. Moreover, "Doukou" referred to more than one source of species, that is, it might refer to the Chinese crude drug derived from different plants during different historical periods. In order to identify the original botanical plants of "Doukou" during different historical periods and the relationship between these "Doukou", new bencaological studies of TCM under the name "Doukou" were carried out, which included the studies on literal description, image description, market investigation and systematic botanical research. A suggestion was made to change the Chinese name "Doukou" (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) to "Baidoukou".
Documentation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; history ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, Ancient ; History, Medieval ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history

OBJECTIVETo make a comparative study on wild and cultivated Astragali Radix in Wuchuan, Neimenggu where is one of the geo-authentic producing areas of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus.

METHODThis comparative study focus on shapes and properties, microscopic features of transverse section and powder of roots, qualitative evaluation of wild and cultivated Astragali Radix.

RESULTWild Astragali Radix had a cylindrical main root, 2 or 3 root branches, dark brown color and many lenticels on the root bark. Cultivated Astragali Radix had a long cylindrical root, few root branches, yellowish white or light brown and fewer lenticels on the root bark. The differences of microscopic features were that the number of cork cells layers in wild Astragali Radix was bigger than that in cultivated Astragali Radix; stone cells were only observed in wild Astragali Radix; distinct annual rings in the xylem were only existed in cultivated Astragali Radix. The results of qualitative evaluation reveal that the contents of major active isoflavonoids and saponins in wild Astragali Radix are higher than those in cultivated Astragali Radix.

CONCLUSIONThere are some diagnostic differences in the main microscopic features of transverse section and powder between wild and cultivated Astragali Radix. The contents of major active isoflavonoids and saponins in wild Astragali Radix are higher than those in cultivated Astragali Radix. Our study provides important scientific evidence for reasonable and effective uses of wild and cultivated Astragali Radix in Wuchuan, and also provides a reliable basis for the quality control of Astragali Radix.

OBJECTIVETo provide a rapid, simple, accurate and reproducible identification method from which Cordyceps sinensis can be distinguished from other species.

METHODTo observe the larva and stroma of Cordyceps family with macroscopic identification method, and with powder microscopic identification method.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONFor macroscopic, only stroma of C. sinensis is mostly non-inflated, and un-obtuse at the tip, the caterpillar annulations of C. sinensis and the C. gracilis is distinct, about 20-30, and feet of above two are 8 pairs, 4 of 8 pairs are relatively distinct. The above appearance shows its unique characteristic. For microscopic identification, only C. sinensis exists microtrichia, the tip is pointed. The arranging order of stubby setae is irregular, the tip is blunt while the basal is gradually broader; the top of some setae bends slightly like a hook.

Many species of the genus Ephedra plants are used as Chinese traditional medicines, in Chinese which are known as "Mahuang" (Ephedrae Herba). In order to get a clear picture of resources distribution and varieties on Chinese markets of the crude drug Mahuang and provide scientific basis for their resource conservation and sustainable use, during recent years we conducted field investigations and market researches many times. The results showed that the most common species on the Chinese markets was E. sinica (33/38 commercial samples), followed by E. intermedia (5/38 commercial samples), which was also used in local clinics in Qing-hai, Gansu and Xinjiang province, no E. equisetina was found in the market. We noticed that the resources of both official and non-official plants of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang, were seriously damaged in the past decade because of the ecological environment damage and over-digging. Zhong-Mahuang was distinguished in Ningxia and north Gansu, which was once one of the most distribution areas and contains more than 10,000 t Zhong-Mahuang. Muzei-Mahuang was distinguished in most places and distributed sparsely around Altay Mountains in northeast in Xinjiang. Thus, Cultivation of Mahuang, especially Zhong-Mahuang and Muzei-Mahuang should be greatly developed. At the same time, wild resources of Mahuang must be preserved strictly, i.e., proper method of cutting Ephedra plant could prevent the damage of the resource.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; supply & distribution ; Ephedra sinica ; classification ; growth & development

Astragali Radix is derived from roots of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus and A. membranaceus. The exhaustion of wild Astragali Radix has made cultivated Astragali Radix possess the commercial market of Astragali Radix. So the ecological environment of cultivated Astragali Radix should be investigated through field survey. Through investigation, we found that A. membranaceus var. mongholicus are cultivated in Hengshan mountain of Shanxi province, Longnan of Gansu province, south of Inner Mongolia and Qinghai provinces. A. membranaceus var. mongholicus is almost planted on the plain, except in Shanxi province it grows on the sunny side of the mountain. What is more, soil type, elevation, annual temperature and annual rainfall of these locations are different. So the ecological environments of cultivated location of Astragali Radix are different from each other. A. membranaceus is wild in Heilongjiang and northeast of Inner Mongolia, but the resource is drying up. It is also planted in few places of the provinces of Shanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Gansu, but cultivated scope of A. membranaceus is smaller than A. membranaceus var. mongholicus.. So A. membranaceus var. mongholicus possesses large part of Astragali Radix market. In market, there exists no unified specification fro slices of Astragali Radix, and specification of prepared slices will influence the contents of chemical components. Through investigation, different kind of prepared slices can be collected and compared, this provides evidences for quality control of prepared slices. Through investigation, five different specifications of prepared slices were found in market. The distributions of some specification of prepared slices are specified, like transverseprepared slices prepared from A. membranaceus only found in Heilongjiang province. Transverse prepared slices possess half part of prepared slice market, and can be used to identify original plant of Astragali Radix. So transverse prepared slices should be the unified specification of Astragali Radix.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; growth & development ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Ecosystem ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic diversity and relationship of different Alpinia officinarum germplasm.

METHODAmplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were developed to analyze genetic polymorphism in A. officinarun from eight resources. The amplified fragments were used as primary matrix with NTSYSpc-2.11F software to analyze the similarity between the A. officinarum germplasm and to construct the genetic phylogenetic tree.

RESULTA total of 1,120 fragments were genotyped using AFLP with eight prime combinations. Analysis identified 1,044 polymorphic fragments, accounting for 92.57% of the total detected variation. Genetic phylogenetic tree analysis indicates that three categories can be divided among the eight resources of A. officinanrum.

CONCLUSIONSignificant polymorphism and genetic diversity can be observed among A. officinarum germplasm resources.

The roots, barks, branches and pericarps of Juglans mandshurica were used as folk medicine in China and reputed for its treatment of several cancers, such as gastric cancer, liver cancer and leukemia. The extracts of the roots, branches, leaves and pericarps of J. mandshurica have been experimentally proved to show anti-tumor activities. Tannins, which exhibited antioxidant and anti-tumor activities, were the main constituents in J. mandshurica. In this paper, a simple spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of total tannins in the roots, branches, leaves and pericarps of J. mandshurica collected in Dalian and Anshan of Liaoning Province. Gallic acid was used as standard compound and the content of total tannins was calculated as gallic acid equivalent. As a result of the method validation, a good linearity (r = 0.9997, n = 5) and a high recovery of gallic acid (99.02%, RSD 3.7%, n = 9) was achieved. Eight samples including four parts of J. mandshurica collected in two places were analyzed for their total tannins with the established method. In the corresponding parts of J. mandshurica, except the pericarps, the contents of total tannins showed no significant difference between samples collected in Dalian and Anshan, while the content of total tannins in different parts of J. mandshurica were significantly different. The average content of total tannins in the roots, branches, leaves and pericarps of samples collected in Dalian and Anshan was 45.66, 23.40, 58.24, 3.58 mg g(-1), respectively.
Juglans ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Tannins ; analysis