OBJECTIVETo establish a quantitative analysis method for analyzing the nucleosides in Cordyceps sinensis with capillary electrophoresis, and compare the difference between natural and the cultured C. mycelia.

METHODCapillary zone electrophoresis method was employed to quantitate the adenosine, uridine, guanosine and inosine in C. sinensis, with 0.25 mg x L(-1) boric acid-sodium hydroxide buffer, pH 9.5. The working voltage was 20 kV, the temperature was 25 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was 260 nm.

RESULTWith the capillary zone electrophoresis method, the average recovery of the above 4 nucleosides was 98.9%, 95.1%, 97.8% and 98.8% respectively, with the RSD 0.4%, 1.7%, 1.3% and 5.0%. There was no adenosine in natural C. sinensis and no inosine in the cultured C. mycelia detected.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used to determine the adenosine, uridine, guanosine and inosine in C. sinensis. The nucleosides in C. sinensis produced from Qinghai province and cultured C. mycelia are obviously different.

Adenosine ; analysis ; Animals ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Culture Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Guanosine ; analysis ; Inosine ; analysis ; Lepidoptera ; chemistry ; Uridine ; analysis

AIMTo rapidly separate and determine the nucleosides from natural and cultured Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob., and to compare the content of cordycepin and adenosine in different parts of Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob., which are the main nucleoside active components in medicinal fungus belonging to Cordyceps (Fr.) Link.

METHODSThe nucleosides were separated and determined by the high performance capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Beckman P/ACE system MDQ apparatus equipped with a PDA detector and a uncoated fused-silica capillary (41 cm x 45 microns ID, 30 cm effective length) were used. The experimental conditions were as follows: the running buffer was borax solution (adjust to pH 9.4 with sodium hydroxide), applied voltage was 20 kV, operated temperature was 20 degrees C and the detector wavelength was 258 nm. The content of cordycepin and adenosine in the fruiting body, stroma and host worm of natural and cultured C. kyushuensis were respectively investigated and quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSThere are at least 8 kinds of nucleoside or nitrogen base in Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob. The content of cordycepin which is a bio-active substance with anti-tumor activity in C. kyushuensis is significantly higher than that in C. sinensis and C. militaris, and furthermore the cordycepin in the cultured C. kyushuensis is notably higher than the natural one. Adenosine was mainly found from the stroma of C. kyushuensis, While the cordycepin content is high in the stroma of both natural and cultured C. kyushuensis as well as in the host worm of the cultured one.

CONCLUSIONThere are some differences about the nucleoside components between the natural and cultured C. kyushuensis and between the different parts of them. With a high cordycepin content, C. kyushuensis should have a considerable medicinal potential.

Adenosine ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Deoxyadenosines ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Lepidoptera ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Nucleosides ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEHPLC-ESI-MS to establish a method for simultaneous determination of adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps sinensis and C. militarris.

METHODHPLC-ESI-MS method. An electrospray ionization (ESI) interface and selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode were used. The analytical column was a 2.0 mm x 150 mm Shimadzu VP - ODS column and the mobile phase was water (94%), methanol (5%) and formic acid (1%). 2-Chloroadenosine was used as internal standard for this assay.

RESULTThe regression equations and coefficient were Y = 0.134 6X + 0.001 29 (r = 0.998 4) for adenosine, Y = 0.216 4X + 0.021 5 (r = 0.999 1) for cordycepin. The liner range was 0.5 approximately 124.5 microg x mL(-1) and 0.5 approximately 136.5 microg x mL(-1) for adenosine and cordycepin, respectively. The average recoveries of adenosine and cordycepin were 95.8% and 98.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis method is highly sensitive, fast and selective, which can be used for the determination of nucleosides in C. sinensis and its substitutes. This method can also be applied for the quality control of above herbs.

Adenosine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bombyx ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Deoxyadenosines ; analysis ; Lepidoptera ; Quality Control ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of Atalantia monophylla (A. monophylla) leaf in different solvent crude extracts and fractions against eggs of Spodoptera litura (S. litura).

METHODSHexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform solvent extracts of A. monophylla leaf and 12 fractions from hexane extract were screened at 5.0%, 2.5%, 1.0% and 0.5% for crude extracts and 1 000, 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg for fractions against the eggs of S. litura for the ovicidal activity. LC50 and LC90 were calculated using probit analysis.

RESULTSHexane crude extract showed maximum ovicidal activity of 61.94% at 5.0% concentration with a correlation value of r (2)=0.81, and least LC50 value of 3.06%. Hexane extract was fractionated using silica gel column chromatography and 12 fractions were obtained. Fraction 9 was active which showed maximum ovicidal activity of 75.61% at 1 000 mg/kg with the LC50 value of 318.65 mg/kg and LC90 value of 1 473.31 mg/kg. In linear regression analysis, significant and high correlation (r (2)=0.81%) was seen between concentration and ovicidal activity of hexane crude extracts and its active fraction.

CONCLUSIONSAs per our knowledge, this is the first report for ovicidal activity of A. monophylla against S. litura, A. monophylla could be used for the management of S. litura and other insect pests.

Animals ; Biological Assay ; Hexanes ; chemistry ; Humans ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Lepidoptera ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; physiology ; Spodoptera ; drug effects ; growth & development

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae in treatment of alcoholic liver injury (ALI) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. METHODS: The information of chemical constituents and targets of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae was collected from TCMSP and Swiss databases, and the threshold values of oral bioavailability (OB) ≥ 30%, drug likeness (DL) ≥0.18 were used to screen the potential active compounds. The GeneCard and DrugBank databases were used to obtain the targets corresponding to ALI. The common targets were queried using Venn Diagram, and the network of PPI and Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed through DAVID and Reactome database. Autodock Vina software was used for molecular docking of potential ingredients and key targets. RESULTS: A total of 21 potential active compounds and 431 therapeutic targets were gathered in Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae, which involved 273 biological functions, 90 KEGG pathways and 362 Reactome pathways. The GO functions involved protein binding, ATP binding, etc.; the KEGG pathways mainly included PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway; the Reactome pathways contained signal transduction and immune system, etc. The results of molecular docking showed that 21 potential active ingredients had good affinity with the core targets Akt1, TP53 and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS The network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis demonstrate the synergetic effect of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae with multi-compounds, multi-targets and multi-pathways in the treatment of ALI; and also predict the possible medicinal substance, key targets and pathways, which provides clues for the new drug development and mechanism research.
Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Lepidoptera/chemistry* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/therapy* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Rhamnaceae/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

OBJECTIVETo investigate anti-aging effect and mechanism of Cordyceps extract(CSE) on aged mice induced by D-galactose.

METHODThe aged mice were induced by D-galactose. Meanwhile, they were treated with three doses of CSE. Then the ability of learning and memory, the activity of antioxidase in the different tissue, the contents of MDA of brain and liver were measured after 6 weeks.

RESULTCSE could significantly increase the ability of learning and memory, improve the activity of SOD of red blood cells, brain and liver, the activity of Na(+) -K(+) -ATPE of brain, the activity of CAT and GSH-Px of blood, and remarkably decrease the activity of MAO of brain and the contents of MDA of brain and liver.

CONCLUSIONCSE has good anti-aging effects on the aged mice, which is probably due to effects of improving antioxidation and removing free radicals.

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Galactose ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lepidoptera ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Monoamine Oxidase ; metabolism ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Gardenia-Aweto compound (GAC) and two component on preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by the rabbit model of ARDS induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid. To detect the efficiency component of GAC in preventing ARDS.

METHODGAC was divided into two compounts, ethanol-soluble components (ESC) and ethanol-deposition components (EDC), based on polarity. Forty-three new zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups, the blank control group, the model group, the GAC groups, the ESC group, and the EDC group. The ARDS model was induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid. Dynamic changes of arterial blood gas, lung index, albumin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in different groups and lung histological changes were observed and compared.

RESULTAs compared with the blank group, in the model group, GAC group, ESC group, EDC group the arterial PO2 and oxygen saturation deprived continuously. While SO2 in GAC group at time points 30, 60, 90, 120 min (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and SO2 in ESC group at time points 30, 60, 90 min were higher than those in ARDS group. PO2 in ESC group at time points 30, 60 min (P < 0.05) were higher than those in ARDS group. The value of LI and W/D were higher in ARDS group than in sham group (P < 0.01), they were much lower in HD group than in ARDS group (P < 0.01). Concentration of BALF-albumin increased markedly in ARDS group and pre-treatment groups compared with sham group, but it was much lower in GAC group and ESC group, there was a significant difference between GAC group (P < 0.01), ESC group (P < 0.05) and ARDS group. The lung histological changes had been improved in GAC group and ESC group. But no significantly difference between above-mentioned parameters was found in comparison in the model group and in the EDC group.

CONCLUSIONPreventive administration of GAC or ESC an protect the damaged lung function in ARDS rabbits induced by oleic acid. The efficiency component of GAC in preventing ARDS is ESC. GAC antagonizing ARDS may relate to its anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and antithrombotic effects.

Animals ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Lepidoptera ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Oleic Acid ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control