OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the water extractives of regulating qi and blood prescription (WQBP) had effects on early atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (ApoE-mice) at the age of 19 weeks or not, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Forty ApoE-mice, six weeks of age, were given high-fat diet and randomly divided into four groups: high-dose WQBP-treated group (360 mg/kg), low-dose WQBP-treated group (72 mg/kg), simvastatin-treated group (25 mg/kg) and untreated group, with ten mice in each group. Meanwhile, ten C57BL/6 mice of same genetic background were allocated to normal control group. Mice in the high- and low-dose WQBP-treated groups and simvastatin-treated group were administered with corresponding drugs from the 15 to 19 weeks. Mice in the untreated and normal control groups were administered with isovolumic water. Sacrificed at 19 weeks, the level of blood-lipid, the plaque construction, plaque integral, and the contents of plaque macrophages and vessel smooth muscle cells of the mice were analyzed by immunohistochemical method and a computer picture processing system. RESULTS: Compared to the untreated group, high-dose WQBP group could obviously decrease the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Simvastatin group could decrease the levels of LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC) (P<0.01). In high-dose WQBP-treated group and simvastatin-treated group, the thickness of fiber cap and the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells increased (P<0.05), the quantities of plaque macrophages and the ratio of lipid and plaque reduced (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: WQBP and simvastatin can interfere in early atherosclerosis of ApoE-mice, attenuate and stabilize plaque in some extent. The mechanisms may include adjusting blood lipid, decreasing macrophage number and increasing the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells.

To ensure the quality and safety of Panax notoginseng, a method for the simultaneous determination of 10 mycotoxins in Panax notoginseng was developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and purified by HLB multifunction cleanup column. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex XB-C18 column by gradient elution using methanol and 5 mmol·L(-1) ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The targeted compounds were detected in MRM mode by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in both positive and negative ionization modes. The linear relationships of the 10 mycotoxins were good in their respective linear ranges. The correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.9981 to 1.0000. The LOQs of the 10 mycotoxins were between 0.15 and 8.6 μg·kg(-1). The average recoveries ranged from 73.8% to 107.0% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.10%-10.9%. The results demonstrated that the proposed method was sensitive and accurate, and suitable for the mycotoxins quantification in Panax notoginseng.

This study was aimed to optimize the uniform design for effective constituents in water-soluble extractives D, E, F of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Qi-Xue Bing-Zhi Fang (QXBZF) for the further validation of the ratio of different compatibility. A total of 100 SD rats were used in the study. Among them, 90 rats were given high fat feeding for 7 days. Then, stratified randomization was used. The rats were divided into the all-party group; D, E original prescription group; D, E optimized compatible group; D, E between optimized and original group; D, E optimized but anti-compatibility group; all-party group adding F; optimized compatible group adding F; QXBZF with mainly paeoniflorin accounted for 49.12% as component D, total flavonoids accounted for 30.0% as component E, total acids accounted for 32.07% in component F; the positive drug control group (Xue-Zhi-Kang, 0.108 g/kg); and the high fat model group. In addition, a blank control group (with normal diet) was set. Each group was treated with gastric perfusion according to drug compatibility proportion for 14 days. Rats were sacrificed to take blood samples for the detection of serum lipid, platelet aggregation, vasoactive substance, and inflammation level. The results showed that compared with the model group, the QXBZF D, E original prescription group and D, E optimized compatible group had significant decreasing effects on TC (P< 0.05). The lowest level of TC decreased by optimized compatible group was (3.49 ± 0.86) mmol/L. The all-party group, D, E original prescription group and optimized compatible group can inhibit the platelet with maximum aggregation rate effectively(P< 0.05, P< 0.01); while the D, E optimized but anti-compatibility group (with D, E inverse proportion) had no effect on it. All-party group and the D, E original group adding F had significant inhibition on IL-6 and IL-8 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The D, E original prescription group, D, E optimized compatible group and D, E between optimized and original group can ascend 6-Keto-PGF1α significantly (P< 0.05). ET-1 was decreased in the D, E optimized compatible group (P< 0.05). Other groups had no obvious effect on vascular active substances. It was concluded that different effects between the QXBZF D, E original prescription group and the D, E optimized compatible group were observed in action segment and strength. When F parts added, inhibitions of inflammation levels were enhanced at certain level.

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of four major alkaloids in Lindera aggregate.

METHODThe analysis was carried out on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with gradient elution using acetonitrile-water (containing 0. 15% diethylamine, adjusted to pH = 3.0 with acetic acid) as mobile phase. Flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was at 289 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.428-8.560 microg for boldine, 2.122-31.83 microg for norboldine, 0.760-15.20 microg for reticuline and 0.020 4-0.400 8 microg for linderegatine, respectively. The average recoveries were 99.18% for boldine, 101.0% for norboldine, 100.3% for reticuline and 99.17% for linderegatine, respectively. with RSD not more than 3.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe described method is reliable and convenient and could be used for the quality control of Lindera aggregate.

Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Lindera ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of three major sesquiterpene lactones in Radix Linderae.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was achieved on a Diamonsil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) using isocratic elution of acetonitrile-water (containing 0.1% H3 PO4) (45 : 55) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). Detection was carried out using a photodiode array detector at 220 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.001 8-0.036 0 g x L(-1) for hydroxylinderstrenolide (R2 = 0.999 8), 0.016 2-0.323 2 g x L(-1) for neolinderalactone (R2 = 0.999 9), 0.010 5-0.209 9 g x L(-1) for linderane (R2 = 0.999 9), respectively. The average recoveries were 100.0% for hydroxylinderstrenolide, 98.8% for neolinderalactone and 98.9% for linderane with RSD not more than 3.3%.

CONCLUSIONThe established method was proved to be simple, sensitive and credible, and can be applied to quality control of Radix Linderae.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Lactones ; analysis ; Lindera ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis