The quantitative determination was performed on atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Herbal remedy Codonopsis pilolusa (Franch.) Nannf., yeast extract and SMC preparations (liquid and powdered) were proved to contain calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. Selenium was also found in yeast extract and SMC preparations. The quantative results were given
Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Biochemistry ; Minerals

OBJECTIVETo study the polysaccharide of Condonopsis pilosula.

METHODThe polysaccharide, CPP-1, was purified by DE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel column chromatography. Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharide were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and degradation, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR methods were adopted to elucidate the chemical structure.

RESULTThe molecular weight of CPP-1 was estimated to be 7.5 x 10(4), and the structure of CPP-1 was a beta-(2 --> 1) linked beta-D-fructosan.

CONCLUSIONCPP-1 was a neutral homosaccharide.

Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fructans ; chemistry

This study aims to mine the transcription factors that affect the genuineness of Codonopsis pilosula in Shanxi based on the transcriptome data of C. pilosula samples collected from Shanxi and Gansu, and then analyze the gene expression patterns, which will provide a theoretical basis for the molecular assisted breeding of C. pilosula. Gene ontology(GO) functional annotation, conserved motif prediction, and gene expression pattern analysis were performed for the differential transcription factors predicted based on the transcriptome data of C. pilosula from different habitats. A total of 61 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were screened out from the transcriptome data. Most of the DEGs belonged to AP2/ERF-ERF family, with the conserved motif of [2X]-[LG]-[3X]-T-[3X]-[AARAYDRAA]-[3X]-[RG]-[2X]-A-[2X]-[NFP]. Forty-three of the DEGs showed significantly higher gene expression in C. pilosula samples from Shanxi than in the samples from Gansu, including 11 genes in the AP2/ERF-ERF family, 5 genes in the NAC fa-mily, 1 gene in the bHLH family, and 2 genes in the RWP-RK family, while 18 transcription factors showed higher expression levels in the samples from Gansu. GO annotation predicted that most of the DEGs were enriched in GO terms related to transcriptional binding activity(103), metabolic process(26), and stress response(23). The expression of transcription factor genes, CpNAC92, CpNAC100, CpbHLH128, and CpRAP2-7 was higher in the samples from Shanxi and in the roots of C. pilosula. CpNAC92, CpbHLH128, and CpRAP2-7 responded to the low temperature, temperature difference, and iron stresses, while CpNAC100 only responded to low temperature and iron stresses. The screening and expression analysis of the specific transcription factors CpNAC92, CpNAC100, CpbHLH128, and CpRAP2-7 in C. pilosula in Shanxi laid a theoretical foundation for further research on the mechanism of genuineness formation of C. pilosula.
Codonopsis/chemistry* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Iron

OBJECTIVETo develop a green and rapid method for extraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula.

METHODExtraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula with supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of ethanol was studied. The effects of pressure, temperature, volume of cosolvent and extraction time on efficiency and their interactive relationships were discussed, based on central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM).

RESULTThe key effect factor was volume of cosolvent. The extraction yield of lobetyolin was 0.078 6 mg x g(-1) when C. pilosula (40-60 mesh) was extracted at 30 MPa, 60 degrees C and 2 L x min(-1) (as CO2 in normal pressure and temperature) for 100 minutes with supercritical CO2 and 1 mL x min(-1) ethanol as dynamic cosolvent.

CONCLUSIONThis result is better than that obtained from traditional method. Therefore, the optimized process is valuable for extraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula.

Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Polyacetylenes ; chemistry

Design space approach is applied in this study to enhance the robustness of first ethanol precipitation process of Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen) by optimizing parameters. Total flavonoid recovery, dry matter removal, and pigment removal were defined as the process critical quality attributes (CQAs). Plackett-Burman designed experiments were carried out to find the critical process parameters (CPPs). Dry matter content of concentrated extract (DMCE), mass ratio of ethanol to concentrated extract (E/C ratio) and concentration of ethanol (CEA) were identified as the CPPs. Box-Behnken designed experiments were performed to establish the quantitative models between CPPs and CQAs. Probability based design space was obtained and verified using Monte-Carlo simulation method. According to the verification results, the robustness of first ethanol precipitation process of Dangshen can be guaranteed by operating within the design space parameters. Recommended normal operation space are as follows: dry matter content of concentrated extract of 45.0% - 48.0%, E/C ratio of 2.48-2.80 g x g(-1), and the concentration of ethanol of 92.0% - 92.7%.
Chemical Precipitation ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of element contents and the influencing factors in Codonopsis tangshen.

METHODThe contents of elements were determined and the data was statistically analyzed.

RESULTThe variation coefficients of elements in C. tangshen were lower than those in soil, and variation coefficients of C. tangshen from different habitats were lower than 50%.

CONCLUSIONThe absorption of nutritional elements in C. tangshen was related to content and condition of soil nutrients, and climate etc.

China ; Climate ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Elements ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo reveal the quality grade of Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta seedlings from Gansu and provide the scientific basis for establishment of the seedling quality classification standard.

METHODThirty batches of C. pilosula var. modesta seedlings collected from varied producing area of Gansu were selected as testing materials, the fresh weight of single plant, water content, length of seedling, diameter of seedling, length of bud and number of buds were determined and the grading standard were systemically analyzed by K-Means Cluster.

RESULTThe C. pilosula var. modesta seedlings could be divided into 3 grades of criteria, i. e. the first-grade seedlings were at least 14.1 g of the fresh weight of seedling, 24.0 cm of length of seedling, 1.17 cm of diameter of seedling; the second-grade seedlings were 14.0-3.5 g of the fresh weight of seedling, 23.9-21.6 cm of length of seedling, 1. 16-0. 68 cm of diameter of seedling; the third-grade seedlings were 3.4-1.9 g of the fresh weight of seedling, 21.5-13.5 cm of length of seedling, 0.67-0.54 cm of diameter of seedling.

CONCLUSIONAmong 30 batches of C. pilosula var. modesta seedlings, 66.7% of the seedlings belonged to the first and the second grades. It suggests that the first and the second grade seedlings should be used in the standard production.

China ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

Radix Codonopsis an edible Chinese herb, is resourceful and distributed widely in China. The research on its germplasm resources and utilization has been reviewed in this paper. For germplashm resources, the works of collection, arrangement, evaluation and the selected breeding need to be carried out urgently. It is necessary that unofficial Dangshen and aerial parts of all medicinal Dangshen should be utilized extensively. The effective ingredient obtained by tissue culture will provide a new resource.
Codonopsis ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Structures ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

Animals ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; therapeutic use

Animals ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Selenium ; pharmacology