To combine fingerprint and drug release rate in vitro, in order to study in vitro release of complex components of Chuanping sustained tablets, compound traditional Chinese medicine preparation. A qualitative determination of the characteristic peaks of the compound preparations were conducted by the fingerprint. The results of the dissolution rate determination under different release conditions showed that the release of three index components (methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine and scopolamine) of Chuanping sustained tablets was less affected by gastrointestinal factors, with similarity factors being more than 80 with unknown component release curves of three major characteristic peaks in the fingerprint. The qualitative determination proved that multiple components of the compound traditional Chinese medicine preparation was dissolved in vitro at similar rates, realizing the balanced release of complex components of the compound traditional Chinese medicine preparation. This study layed a theoretical and experimental basis for quality evaluation for the compound traditional Chinese medicine preparation.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo study the solubility peak and dielectric requirement of the Buyang Huanwu docoction materials, and provide theoretical and experimental foundation for selecting extraction solvent for extracting traditional Chinese drugs (TCD).

METHOD11 types of solvents were employed as single or complex solvent systems, whose solubility parameter and dielectric constant were from 14.11 to 47.86, dielectric requirement from 1 to 80 respectively, to lixiviate Buyang Huanwu decoction (5 g per samples) in nearly saturate volume as V0 for materials at 25 degrees C. The apparent solubilities of extracts were determined and calculated out according to the section of determination of extract in the appendix of 'Chinese Pharmacopoeia'.

RESULTThe saturate solvent V0 for materials powder were 0.21, 0.31, 0.49, 0.36, 0.77, 0.93, 0.86, 0.92, 1.08, 1.00, 1.14 mL x g(-1), respectively. The apparent solubility of Buyang Huanwu docoction for each solvent system were 114.0, 101.3, 73.40, 109.4, 210.7, 295.0, 501.4, 437.0, 355.6, 423.1, 210.6 g x mL(-1), respectively, among which the max apparent solubility, illustrated as solubility peak, was carried out by methanol-water (68: 32) with 47.5 corresponding to the Buyang Huanwu docoction dielectric requirement.

CONCLUSIONThe apparent solubilities of (TCD) and their formula are controlled by dielectric constant of extraction solvent, and are in accordance with stable dielectric requirement.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of different solvents such as water, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether on extraction of 10 effective components from Ligusticum chuanxiong and component characteristics of corresponding extracts.

METHODUltrasonic assisted solvent extraction and high performance liquid chromatography quantitative analysis were adopted to determine effective components. CAPCELL PAK C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) was adopted. The mobile phase was methanol-0. 5% HAc for gradient elute. The detection wavelength was 280 nm. The column temperature was 30 degrees C. The flow rate was 0. 7 mL x min(-1). The sample size was 10 microL.

RESULTMethanol or ethanol showed no significant difference in extraction of ferulic acid, hydroxyphthalide, alkylphthalide and diligustilide. Ethyl acetate displayed relatively low extraction ratios in hydroxyphthalide and ferulic acid. Water and petroleum ether showed relatively low extraction ratios in all four effective components, and water extracts showed different component characteristics.

CONCLUSIONEthanol and methanol are the most suitable solvents to extract four effective components from L. chuanxiong.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of dry granulation with Chinese extract powder physical properties and dry granulating process parameters to find out the main factors affecting the granulation progress.

METHODThe correlation with the physical properties including angle of repose, compression degree, cohesion, water content, feeding speed, wheel speed and wheel pressure with the yield of grain was investigated by multiple regression analysis.

RESULTThe results showed that compression degree, water content, feeding speed and wheel pressure was positively correlated with the yield of grain in measured range. The angle of repose, cohesion, wheel speed was negative correlated with the yield of grain in measured range.

CONCLUSIONDry granulating was highly influenced by the physical properties of herbal extracts and the parameters of dry granulating process. The greater impact on grain dry method are compression, cohesion and wheel speed.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antioxidant effects of Taohong Siwu decoction and to exploit the bioactive constituents.

METHODThe samples were prepared by macroporous adsorptive resins (TH-1-TH-15). Three antioxidant models were adopted to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Taohong Siwu decoction and its different separated fractions in vitro. It was found that fractions (TH-2, TH-4, TH-7, TH-8, TH-9), separated from Taohong Siwu decoction, mainly contributed to the antioxidant effects. The chemical constituents in the most active fraction TH-8 were identified and determined by HPLC.

RESULTTH-8 showed significant antioxidant activities in the antioxidant experiments. Six compounds in the fraction were determined which were amygdalin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, coumaric acid and ferulic acid. The contents were 75.70, 31.26, 60.79, 1.196, 1.108, 4.861 mg L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONGlycosides and aromatic acids may be the principle effective constituents in the active fraction.

Progresses in the studies on chemical constituents of Clematis L. (belonging to the family Ranunculaceae) were systematiically reviewed in this article. The plants in this genus have a wide spectrum of constituents as follows: triterpenes, flavonoids, lignans, coumarins, alkaloids, volatile oils, steroids, organic acids, macrocyclic compounds and phenols, etc., among which triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids and lignans are the main components. The triterpenoid saponins are mainly oleanolic type and hederagenin type, most of which are bidesmosidic saponins, substituted with oligosaccharide chains at both C-3 and C-28, and some are substituted with acetyl, caffeoyl, isoferuloyl, p-methoxy cinnamyl and 3,4-dimethoxy cinnamyl groups in the oligosaccharide chains. The flavonoids from Clematis species are mainly flavones, flavonols, flavanones, isoflavones, xanthones and their glucosides (sugar moieties are connected to the aglycone through either the oxygen or the carbon atoms), the aglycones of which are mainly apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin. The lignans from Clematis are mainly eupomatene lignans, cyclolignans, monoepoxylignans, bisepoxylignans and lignanolides. Clematis spp. are rich in resources, however, studies on their chemical constituents have only been carried out on twenty or so spp. As a result, it is necessary to expand our study on other spp. from this genus for better utilization of medicinal resources.
Clematis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify the active xanthone glycosides in Halenia elliptica.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography, semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography and related techniques. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS).

RESULTSix xanthone glycosides were isolated and identified as: 2,3,5-trimethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (1), 2, 3, 4, 5-tetramethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (2), 2, 3, 5, 7-tetramethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (3), 2, 3, 7-trimethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (4), 2, 3, 4, 7-tetramethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (5), and 2, 3, 4, 5, 7-pentamethoxy-1-O-primeverosyloxyxanthone (6).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 4-6 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

OBJECTIVETo separate effective constituents from Millettia nitida var. hirsutissima.

METHODCompounds were isolated by chromatography methods, structures were identified by spectroscopic means.

RESULTEight flavonoids (1-8) and two triterpenes (9-10) were isolated from this plant. They were identified as calycosin (1), genistin (2), gliricidin (3), 8-O-methylretusin (4), afromosin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), lanceolarin (6), soliquiritigenin (7), symplocoside (8), lupeol (9), 3beta-friedelanol (10).

CONCLUSIONThe compounds (1-10) were obtained from M. nitida var. hirsutissima for the first time. The 13C-NMR dada of 1 were correct assignment on the basis of 2D-NMR spectral analysis.

OBJECTIVETo determine densities of mineral drugs and their calcined products by using sealing wax densimetry, and to establish the testing method of crispness for calcined traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODTaking density as detection indicator, the accuracies of mineral drugs and their calcined products were investigated by sealing wax densimetry compared with direct densimetry, and the method of density determination was optimized.

RESULTThe density values measured by two methods investigated above were significantly different (P < 0.01), the density values of Pyritum, Haematitum, calcined Pyritum and calcined Haematitum measured by direct densimetry were increased 1.66%, 9.43%, 96.72% and 9.02%, respectively compared with that measured by sealing wax densimetry.

CONCLUSIONSealing wax densimetry is suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products with its high accuracy, whereas direct densimetry'is not suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products.

OBJECTIVETo apply the membrane separation process in the concentration process of Chuanxiong Chatiao granules and to lay the foundation for its industrialized application.

METHODThe type of membrane, the optimal pressure, the optimal temperature and the optimal detergent were selected by the single factor method. A comparative study was conducted between qualities of extracts from Chuanxiong Chatiao granules by new and traditional processes.

RESULTThe type of membrane was determined to be SMN-130A2350054. The optimal pressure was 1.7 MPa. The optimal temperature was 36 degrees C and the optimal detergent was 1% sodium polyphosphate. The qualities of extracts from Chuanxiong Chatiao granules by new and traditional processes showed no difference.

CONCLUSIONThe selected membrane separation process can effectively achieve concentration and save energy. The extracts from Chuanxiong Chatiao granules by the new process show no difference with traditional processes. Therefore, it provides basis for the industrialized application of Chuanxiong Chatiao granules.