AIM: To establish the quality standard for Huanglongganzhixiao Granule(Resina Draconis, Radix Astragali, Herba Epimedii, etc.). METHODS: Radix Astragali, Resina Draconis, Herba Epimedii in Huanglongganzhixiao Granule were identified by TLC. The content of loureirin B in this Granule was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Radix Astragali, Resina Draconis, Herba Epimedii could be identified by TLC. Loureirin B showed a good linear relationship at a range of 0.032～0.096?g, r =0.9997( n =5). The average recovery was 100.1% and RSD was 3.33%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and with strong specificity and can be used for the quality control of Huanglongganzhixiao Granule.

To summarize the biological effects of four natures of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the recent 40 years, including cold, hot, warm and cool, which have the effect on central nervous system, endocrine system on the activity of sympathetic nerves, basal metabolic rate, the function of organs and tissues and secretion of cytokine out of body. And to review the new concepts and new hypotheses in recent 10 years which proposed on the four natures of traditional Chinese medicine. Based on the above summary we pointed out that the previous studies on biological effects have shortage in the following aspects: The studies had little connection with the TCM theory; The research highly concentrated on the biological effects of the cold and heat natures of drug; There is almost no research on the biological effects of the neutral nature; The research on the biological effects of the natures of traditional Chinese medicine had no combination with effects of drugs. And pointed out that studies on four natures of traditional Chinese medicine will be a multi-level, multi-disciplinary, multi-factor, multi-targe research, connecting Chinese medicine theory. The research will be a combination of the macro research and the micro research, the qualitative research and the quantitative research and the experimental research and the clinical research.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To establish the HPLC fingerprints of petroleum ether parts from five traditional medicine (Alpinia officinarum Hance, Alpinia galangal ( L.) Wild, Alpinia galanga Will., Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq), and to explore the similarities and differences of chemical composition,as well as the correlation between the genetic relationship and the chemical composition. Methods HPLC method was used to analysis the five traditional medicines. The data were evaluated by using the"similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM" software. Results The similarity chemical composition from Alpinia officinarum Hance,Alpinia galangal(L.) Wild,Alpinia galanga Will.,Alpinia katsumadai Hayata,and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq in ethyl acetate were 0.741,0.855,0.610,0.510, 0.680,respectively. Conclusion Though there were differences of fingerprint peak of petroleum ether parts between five the traditional Chinese medicines, similarities were also observed among them.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia on the function of sympathetic-adrenal system in gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome， such as the root of Alpinia officinarum， the rhizome and fruit of Alpinia galangal， the seed of Alpinia katsumadai， and the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla. METHODS： SD rats were given Anemarrhena asphodeloides decoction at 4 ℃ and Glacial acetic acid solution intragastrically to induce gastric ulcer model with cold syndrome； the model rats were randomly divided into model group， Fuzi lizhong pills group （positive control， 9.0 g/kg）， cimetidine group （positive control， 0.003 3 g/kg）， low-dose and high-dose groups of petroleum ether， ethyl acetate， n-butanol and water extraction parts from 5 medicinal materials （hereinafter referred to as “gaoshidi” “gaoshigao” “dashidi” “dashigao” “hongshidi” “hongshigao” “caoshidi” “caoshigao” “yishidi” “yishigao” “gaoyidi” “gaoyigao” “dayidi” “dayigao” “hongyidi” “hongyigao” “caoyidi” “caoyigao” “yiyidi” “yiyigao” “gaozhengdi” “gaozhenggao” “dazhengdi” “dazhenggao” “hongzhengdi” “hongzhenggao” “caozhengdi” “caozhenggao” “yizhengdi” “yizhenggao” “gaoshuidi” “gaoshuigao” “dashuidi” “dashuigao” “hongshuidi” “hongshuigao” “caoshuidi” “caoshuigao” “yishuidi” “yishuigao”， 0.064/0.256， 0.032/ 0.128， 0.008/0.032， 0.075/0.3， 0.1/0.4， 0.064/0.256， 0.108/0.432， 0.16/0.64， 0.064/0.25， 0.125/0.5， 0.056/0.224， 0.108/0.432， 0.08/0.32， 0.2/0.8， 0.3/1.2， 0.14/0.56， 0.032/0.128， 0.028/0.112， 0.05/0.2， 0.087/0.348 g/kg， by mass of extraction parts）， with 10 rats in each group； and the blank group （normal temperature water） was set up. Next day after modeling， blank group and model group were given constant volume of normal temperature water intragastrically； administration group was given relevant solution 2 mL/100 g intragastrically， q12 h， 4 times in total. After last medication， urine contents of 17-OHCS， CAs substances （A， NE， DA） and serum contents of ACTH and D-β-H were determined by ELISA. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， the contents of 17-OHCS， A， NE and DA in urine， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in serum were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the contents of 17-OHCS （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshidi， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshigao， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， A （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao， caoshidi， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhengdi， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group）， NE （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part， ethyl acetate part and n-butanol part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， DA [Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi group） and ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] in urine， serum contents of ACTH [Fuzi lizhong pills group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi， dashidi and caoshidi groups） and ethyl acetate part （except for dayidi and hongyidi groups） groups of 5 medicinal materials， hongzhenggao group， dashuigao group]， and D-β-H [Fuzi lizhong pills group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials （except for dayidi， hongyidi and yiyidi groups）， dazhenggao and hongzhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in dashigao group， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in caoshigao group and the contents of D-β-H in gaoshigao and yishigao groups were significantly lower than hongshigao group. The contents of DA in gaoyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaoyigao， hongyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly lower than dayigao group； the contents of DA in gaoyigao and caoyigao groups were significantly lower than hongyigao group， the contents of ACTH in gaoyigao， dayigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly higher than hongyigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and ACTH in gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， the contents of A in dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaozhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups were significantly lower than hongzhenggao group. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups were significantly lower than dashuigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups as well as the contents of DA and D-β-H in gaoshuigao groups were significantly lower than hongshuigao group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： Different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia can improve gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome to different extents； among them， the fruit of A. galangal is the best， followed by the root of A. officinarum. Above medicinal materials can regulate the function of sympathetic-adrenal system by increasing the contents of 17-OHCS， CAs and D-β-H.