Primary processing of traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMM) is an important link which closely relates to the quality of products in TCMM. The traditional primary processing method and technology systems were derived from the long-term practices and experiences, which are distinctive, colorful, diverse, and scientific. The method of "sweating" is a critical step for processing the rhizome, root, cortex, and sclerotium and helpful for distributing moisture from inside to outside of TCMM in drying process, regulating and promoting the enzymatic reaction and chemical conversion by enzyme and germs, and starting or accelerating the biotransformation and chemical conversion of primary/secondary metabolites, which could directly affect the quality of TCMM. In this paper, the authors discuss the origins and development, purpose, and significance of "sweating" processing and the mechanisms of enzymatic reaction and chemical conversion of chemical compositions during the primary processing of "sweating". These data may provide the foundation and support for processing in normalization and standardization and formulating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of primary processing of TCMM.

The harvest time of traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMM) is a very essential part for production of TCMM, and affects their quality and yield. The research on the best harvest time of TCMM has been a key problem taken into account more and more with practicing GAP of TCMM. Based on thoughts and methods of resource chemistry, this paper established an evaluated mode to objectively determine the best harvest time of Angelica sinensis through system investigating from different producing areas and harvest times, and characterize the phenology and multi-index components comprehensive criteria. The author firstly proposed the suitable methods of the best harvest time of TCMM, which was a basis of theory and methods of resource chemistry of TCMM, and including the time-space relationships and laws of substances dynamic accumulation. These data could provide the guidance for standardized production and guaranteed quality and yield of TCMM.

In general,the students in Chinese medical universities have technophobia in nuclear medicine experiment,which gives reduction to the cognition and learning of the students.Based on the analysis of the students' psychology and learning,special countermeasures in teaching,therefore,should be used in the conquest of the students' psychological obstacle in order to improve teaching quality of nuclear medicine experiment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanisms of main active ingredients of Siwu decoction analogous formulae for treating primary dysmenorrhea of gynecology blood stasis syndrome by network pharmacology study, and to investigate the correlations between multi-compounds, multi targets and multi pathways.

METHODMajor active compounds from Siwu decoction analogous formulae, including ligustilide, butylidene phthalide, senkyunolide, ferulic acid, gallic acid, peoniflorin, jioglutin A, catalpol, transanethole, zingiberone, commiphoric acid, eugenol, isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, wulingzhic acid, alpha-cyperone, cyperene, costunolide, costic acid, tetrahydropalmatine, protopine, amygdalin, 24-methylene cycloartanol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, 3-p-coumaroylquinic acid, hydroxysafflor yellow A, coptisine, berberine, jatrorrhizine, baicalein, baicalin, wogonin were collected to build component-protein networks based on PharmMapper database. The targets information access was used to construct and visualize components-targets-pathways network model using the kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway database and Cytoscape software.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONSerine threonine protein kinases play an important role in the process of cells. They were potential targets in the effect of Siwu decoction analogous formulae. The effect of main active ingredients involved 51 the pathway. Besides the same ones, Shaofu Zhuyu decoction had more effect on lipid metabolism, Xiangfu Siwu decoction on amino acid metabolism pathways, Taohong Siwu decoction on carbohydrate metabolism, while, Qinlian Siwu decoction on ErbB, VEGF signal transduction pathway. Siwu decoction and its derived formulae not only had common targets and pathways, but also had their own emphasis. This reflected the formulae effect mode of multi-ingredients, multi-targets and multi-pathways. It may provide clues to deeper study of molecular mechanism of Siwu decoction analogous formulae action.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics

Objective To investigate the phenotype,number and distribution of inflammatory cells in early and late stages of spontaneous regression of halo nevi,and to elucidate the immunological mechanisms for spontaneous regression of these nevi.Methods Halo nevi,their surrounding non-lesional skin,and normal control skin were examined by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies to CD3,CD4,CD8,CD20,CD1a,CD56 and CD68.Staining results were observed and analyzed by the computer image analysis system,image-pro plus 6.0.Results The number of CD4+,CD8+,CD20+,CD1a+cells,along with the diameter of CD1a+and CD68+ cells was significantly increased in the lesions of early and late stage of spontaneous regression of halo nevi than in non-lesional skin and normal control skin(both P＜0.01).The ratio of CD8+/CD4+ cells in the lesions of late stage of spontaneous regression was also higher than that in the lesions of early stage (2.05∶1 VS 1.82∶1).A massive infiltrate of CD8+ cells was observed in the nests of nevus cells.ConclusionsCD4,CD8,CD20,CD1a,CD56 and CD68 positive cells are all involved in the spontaneous regression of halo nevi,and CD8+ cells may play a predominant role in this process.

Abstract: A new selaginellin derivative named as selaginellin S (1) was isolated from the whole plants of Selaginella pulvinata (Hook. et Grev.) Maxim. (Selaginellaceae), together with a known one (selaginellin M, 2). Compounds 1 and 2 were separated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as ECD calculations. Compound 1 is a key intermidiant in the biosynthesis pathway of selaginellins. Compound 2 is first reported in this plant.
Biphenyl Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cyclohexanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Selaginellaceae ; chemistry

The relevant literatures of Siwu series decoctions--Taohong Siwu decoction for treating primary dysmenorrea of gynecology blood stasis syndrome were summarized including the clinical application, pharmacological effects, bioactive components and metabolic characteristics. On this basis,research on the bioactive components and formulation rule were discussed, to provide reference for modern traditional Chinese medicine formula study.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans

To explore the effect of different processing methods and conditions of coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix and their change regularity, in order to optimize and establish appropriate drying methods and conditions. After being cleaned, fresh Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs were baked, sun-dried, shade-dried, sun-dried after sulfur-fumigation, dried by quick-lime embedding, freeze-dried, microwave-dried. Finally, 24 groups of samples were obtained after being mashed and passing through the 60-mesh screen. The HPLC-PDA method was adopted to simultaneously determine the content of coumarin compounds. The GC-MS method was used to determine the content of volatile compounds. The principal component analysis (PCA) was made on the standardized analysis results for the 24 groups of samples processed with different drying methods. According to the PCA results, the comprehensive scores of coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs processed with different methods in the order from high to low were that unpeeled and dried by quicklime embedding > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 40 degrees C > peeled and infrared-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 60 degrees C > peeled and dried with hot-air at 40 degrees C > peeled and sun-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 60 degrees C > peeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C > peeled and microwave-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 80 degrees C > unpeeled and sun-dried > unpeeled and dried with sulfur-fumigation > peeled and dried with sulfur-fumigation > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 120 degrees C > unpeeled and freeze-dried > unpeeled and infrared-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 120 degrees C > peeled and freeze-dried > peeled and dried by quicklime embedding > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 80 degrees C > peeled and shade-dried > unpeeled and shade-dried > unpeeled and microwave-dried. According to the findings, different drying processing methods have certain impacts on the content coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs. The traditional method of drying by quicklime embedding is recommended as the optimum origin processing method of Angelica Dahuricae Radix, which is followed by the method for being peeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Desiccation ; methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hot Temperature ; Principal Component Analysis ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis

Euphorbia kansui (EK) is a toxic herbal drug, and often used after vinegar-processing to reduce its toxicity. In present study, a 1H-NMR based metabonomic approach was used to evaluate the detoxification effect of vinegar-processed EK. The water extracts of EK and VEK were administered orally to male SD rats at doses of 9 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 1 week, respectively, and one more week observation was further conducted. The control group was orally given with saline. Histopathological studies of liver samples on the 8th and 15th day were conducted, and the metabolites of rat urine and liver were analysed by 1H-NMR. Histopathological studies of liver samples from EK and VEK treated rats showed no negative impacts. In metabonomic analyses of urines, changes of metabolites indicated liver damages, kidney lesions and imbalance of gut microbes in the second week. VEK-treated rats showed a quite lower toxicity compared with EK-treated ones. The present study revealed that the metabonomic approach might be helpful for the evaluation of toxicity of EK and detoxic effect of VEK.
Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinalysis

The changes of bioactive constituents were analyzed for Puhuang-Wulingzhi before and after compatibility and the antiplatelet and antithrombin activitives were evaluated in order to elucidate the scientific and reasonable of Puhuang-Wulingzhi compatibility. UPLC-QTOF-MA-Markerlynx, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis were used for data analysis and tracking changes of chemical composition during the decocting process. In vitro platelet aggregation induced by ADP, thrombin time(TT) and prothrombin time (PT) were investigated for Puhuang-Wulingzhi before and after compatibility. The results showed that significant differences were found between the mixed decoction and codecoction of Wulingzhi and Puhuang. Five compounds changed obviously were identified as typhaneoside, naringenin, isorhamnetin-3-O-ruinoside, quercetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside. The codecoction, comparing with the single decoction, was more significant in antiplatelet aggregation and could prolong thrombin time. In the same crude drug dose, the thrombin time (TT) elongation were greater. These data could provide references for elucidation of bioactive components for this herb pair.
Animals ; Antithrombins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Thrombin Time