Puerariae Lobatae Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine,which was first recorded in Shennong Classic of Materia Medica,and was recorded in many ancient books. Its main effect is to relieve muscles to expel heat,produce saliva and promote eruption,invigorate splenic yang and stop diarrhea. CNKI and Wanfang Data were searched in this paper with the words " Pueraria", " puerarin usage" and " puerarin application" as the key words,and it was found that the puerarin usage characteristics were rarely reported.Therefore,the application characteristics of fresh use,crude use and processed use of Puerariae Lobatae Radix in ancient books were summarized in this paper,in order to provide a reference for the modern development of Puerariae Lobatae Radix.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry

Panax ginseng roots have long been used as a medicinal herb in oriental countries. We have investigated anti-proliferative effects of lipid soluble Panax ginseng components on human renal cancer cell lines. Petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots (GX-PE) or its partially purified preparation (7:3 GX) was added to cultures of three human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines, A498, Caki-1, and CURC II. Proliferation of RCC cells was estimated by a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. GX-PE, 7:3 GX, panaxydol and panaxynol inhibited proliferation of all three RCC cell lines in a dose dependent manner in vitro with an order of potency, 7:3 GX > panaxydol > panaxynol = GX-PE. Additive effect of interleukin 4 was also demonstrated, most prominently in Caki-1 which responded poorly to GX-PE alone. Analysis of cell cycle in CURC II and Caki-1 treated with GX-PE demonstrated increase in G1 phase population and corresponding decrease in S phase population. The present study demonstrated that proliferation of human RCC cell lines were inhibited by lipid soluble components of Panax ginseng roots by blocking cell cycle progression at G1 to S phase transition.
Alkanes ; Alkynes/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy* ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; Fatty Alcohols/therapeutic use ; Ginseng/therapeutic use* ; Ginseng/chemistry ; Human ; Interleukin-4/therapeutic use ; Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/chemistry

Lipid-lowering and antioxidant activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus scariosus Linn. root (HCS) were evaluated in guinea pigs fed with a high cholesterol diet. Serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C), atherogenic indices and serum enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and CK-MB) were performed in each group at 0 days and at the end of 60 days. Histological study of liver and kidney was done in groups 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. The total phenolic and flavonoid content in HCS and its antioxidant activity were evaluated by the DPPH assay. Both doses of HCS decreased serum lipid profile and atherogenic indices (P < 0.05). HCS has lipid lowering, immunosuppressive and antioxidant properties, and mays have value in atherosclerosis prevention. The higher dose of HCS also reduced serum AST, ALP, and LDH levels and rosuvastatin increased AST and ALP levels (P < 0.05). Histology of the liver showed decreased lipid accumulation and improvement in hepatocytes in HCS-treated animals. The antioxidant activity of HCS may be responsible for its lipid lowering and cytoprotective action. HCS had significant lipid lowering and antioxidant activity, which; may be due to the phenolic compounds. HCS may be a safe and cost effective alternative to current statin therapy for patients with dyslipidaemia.
Animals ; Cyperus ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypercholesterolemia ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

Chemical constituents of the essential oil in above-ground and root of Bupleurum malconense and root of B. chinense were investigated by GC-MS compiled with automated mass spectral deconvolution and identification system (AMDIS) and retention index. The results showd that the components of essential oil in B. malconense have some similarities with the one in B. chinense, and both of them have the higher content of caryophyllene oxide which is an active component of anti-inflammatory and analgesic. These results suggested that as a local substitute, B. malconense has a certain scientific basis of the treatment for cold fever.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fever ; drug therapy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

The aim of this paper was to investigate the key targets and mechanism of "Epimedii Folium-Paeoniae Radix Alba" in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by means of network pharmacology. The currently recognized databases and analysis software at home and abroad were used to construct the network from drugs and diseases. The chemical components of Epimedii Folium and Paeo-niae Radix Alba were collected by using databases such as TCMSP, while their active components were determined and the action targets were predicted according to threshold screening and literature reports. The genes for lumbar disc herniation were collected by using GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases. The drug targets were mapped to disease targets, and protein interaction network analysis for key targets, GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Finally, 23 active components of Epimedium Folium and 13 active components of Paeoniae Radix Alba were determined, and a total of 624 drug targets were obtained. After standardization, 214 drug targets were obtained. In addition, 306, 2 and 5 related targets of lumbar disc herniation were collected from GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET database, respectively, and a total of 293 disease targets were obtained after deduplication. After the mapping of drug target and disease target, 44 common targets were obtained. PPI protein interaction network analysis showed that IL-6, TNF, AKT1, MAPK1, and VEGFA may be the core targets for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. GO enrichment analysis identified 56 items(P<0.05), among which biological processes mainly included immune response, apoptosis, etc.; cell components mainly included extracellular space, extracellular region, etc.; molecular functions mainly included cytokine activity, metallopeptidase activity and so on. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, 91 signaling pathways related to inflammation, metabolism, and senescence were identified, mainly including IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway and so on. "Epimedii Folium-Paeoniae Radix Alba" showed the characteristics of multi-channel and multi-target for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. This study preliminarily explored the key targets for its role and the biological processes and signaling pathways involved. It was found that it may play a therapeutic role by affecting inflammation and immune regulation, which laid the foundation for further experimental verification.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/drug therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Paeonia/chemistry* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction

The present study investigated the chemical constituents of the roots of Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae). One new biflavone glucoside (1), along with other thirteen known compounds (2-14), was isolated by repeated column chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses. The cytotoxic activities of selected compounds were evaluated against four human cancer cell lines (A549, BEL-7402, HCT-116, and MDA-MB-231) by the SRB assay method. Compound 9 showed remarkable cytotoxicity against BEL-7402 with IC50 value being 0.65 μg·mL(-1); compounds 7, 8, and 12 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against A549 with IC50 values being 2.38, 1.57, and 2.35 μg·mL(-1), respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Biflavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

In the light of experimental results, two case-control studies and one cohort study in a population of ginseng cultivation area were conducted to confirm whether ginseng has any anticarcinogenic effect on human cancers. All participants were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire to obtain the information on demographics, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and ginseng intake. In 905 pairs case-control study, 62% had a history of ginseng intake compared to 75% of the controls, a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). The odds ratio (OR) for cancer in relation to ginseng intake was 0.56. In extended case-control study with 1987 pairs, the ORs for cancer were 0.37 in fresh ginseng extract users, 0.57 in white ginseng extract users, 0.30 in white ginseng extract users, 0.30 in white ginseng powder users, and 0.20 in red ginseng users. Those who took fresh ginseng slices, fresh ginseng juice, and white ginseng tea, however, did not show decrease in the risk. Overall, the risk decreased as the frequency and duration of ginseng intake increased. With respect to the site of cancer, the ORs for cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver, pancreas, larynx, lung and ovary were significantly reduced by ginseng intake. Smokers with ginseng intake showed lower ORs for cancers of lung, lip, oral cavity and pharynx and liver than those without ginseng intake. In 5 yr follow- up cohort study conducted in the ginseng cultivation area, Kangwha-eup, ginseng intakers had significantly lower risk than non-intakers. As for the type of ginseng, cancer risk significantly decreased among intakers of fresh ginseng extract, alone or together with other ginseng preparations. Among 24 red ginseng intakers, no cancer death occurred during the follow-up period. The risk for stomach and lung cancers was significantly reduced by ginseng intake, showing a statistically significant dose-response relationship in each follow-up year. In conclusion, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been established as non-organ specific cancer preventive, having dose response relationship. These results warrant that ginseng extracts and its synthetic derivatives should be examined for their preventive effect on various types of human cancers.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Neoplasms/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; *Panax ; Plant Roots ; Population Surveillance

OBJECTIVETo explore combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions from effective cases for treatment of unstable angina (UA).

METHODSPrescription data from 156 UA patients effectively treated at Cardiovascular Diseases Centre of Xiyuan Hospital were analyzed using complex network method.

RESULTSAccording to multi-scale analysis of backbone network and pointwise mutual information analysis, core prescriptions from the 156 UA patients were presented as follows: Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Paeoniae rubra, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Pinelliae, poria, and Angelica sinensis. Meanwhile, core couplet medicines for these patients covered Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Radix paeoniaerubra, Angelica sinensis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Codonopsis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Rhizoma Pinelliae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and poriacocos, Bulbus Alli Macrostemi and Rhizoma Pinelliae. Among different primary symptoms, there was slightly difference in core prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONThe core prescriptions for the treatment of UA include blood-activating drug, phlem-resolving drugs. As an exploration of combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions in treating UA based on complex network, it can be used as a reference for further researches.

Angelica sinensis ; Angina, Unstable ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pinellia ; Plant Roots ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prescriptions ; standards

Huangqin Decoction(HQD) is a classic prescription for treating dysentery in the Treatise on Cold Damage and now is mainly used for the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC). Since there are no requirements on specific Paeonia species, both Paeoniae Radix Alba(white peony root, WPR) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra(red peony root, RPR) are clinically used in HQD now. Although the two types of peony roots are close in origin and similar in primary components, the medicinal properties and efficacies are different. Furthermore, the systematic comparative analysis on the efficacy differences in treating UC of HQD with the roots of multi-originated peony has been seldom reported. This study compared and evaluated the pharmacological effects of HQD prepared from the roots of multi-originated peony, including WPR, RPR-l(derived from P. lactiflora), and RPR-v(derived from P. veitchii) based on the mouse model of UC induced by dextran sodium sulfate(DSS) by animal behaviors, pathological section(colon), and cytokine expression(IL-1β and IL-6), aiming to provide evidence for the identification of the original resource of peony root in HQD. The results indicated that all HQD samples prepared from WPR, RPR-l, and RPR-v could improve the symptoms of UC. Compared with the HQD-WPR, HQD-RPR-l and HQD-RPR-v were significantly different in weight loss, colon length, and disease activity index(DAI) score, but there was no significant difference between HQD-RPR-l and HQD-RPR-v. Moreover, HQD-RPR-v exhibited the most significant improvement in the pathological morphology of colonic tissue and mucosal defects. According to the previous comparative analysis of chemical profiling and content distribution of HQD prepared from the roots of multi-originated peony, RPR-v in HQD was potent in protecting against UC, which was presumedly attributed to a large number of monoterpene glycosides and galloyl glucoses. This study provided a scientific basis for the determination of peony root in HQD and its clinical medication.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy* ; Dextran Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia/chemistry* ; Plant Roots/chemistry*

AIM: To investigate the quinoline alkaloids from the roots of Dictamnus angustifolius G.Don ex Sweet (Rutaceae). METHOD: The quinoline alkaloids were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: A new quinoline alkaloid, 5-methoxylrobustine (1), along with five known quinoline alkaloids were obtained, and their structures were identified as dictamnine (2), robustine (3), isopteleine (4), γ-fagarine (5), and skimmianine (6). Cytotoxicity testing of these alkaloids showed that all of them had weak cytotoxic activities against human breast cancer cells (MCF7). CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new quinoline alkaloid. Alkaloid 3 showed stronger anti-proliferation effect than the other alkaloids.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dictamnus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hydroxyquinolines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Molecular Structure ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quinolines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use