OBJECTIVE: To construct a library of the multi-components of Radix Paeoniae Sinjiangensis and explore the methods for its separation and characterization.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Sorbus tianschanica.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by recrystallization and chromatography with silica gel and resin. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from the EtOH extraction and six structures were identified as benzoic acid (1), benzyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), ursolic acid (3), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (4), hyperoside (5), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (6).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-5 were isolated from S. tianschanica for the first time.

Acetates ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Sorbus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inhibiting effects of Jingtian Tongmai Recipe (JTTMR) in different dosages on atherosclerotic plaque using the arteriosclerosis rabbit model induced by high cholesterol diet supplemented with immunological injury.

METHODSFifty-four healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Xuezhikang (XZK) treated group and the three JTTMR treated groups treated respectively with low (1.29 g/kg/day), medium (2.57 g/kg/day) and high (5.14 g/kg/day) dosage of JTTMR. Indexes including serum lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and area ratio of aortic plaque/intima (PIR), and intima-media thickness ratio (IMT) were examined.

RESULTSComparison of blood lipids showed that serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were higher significantly in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05); TC and LDL-C were lower in the XZK group and the JTTMR groups than in the model group (P<0.05); and these indexes were significantly lower in the medium dose JTTMR group than those in the low and high dose JTTMR groups (P<0.05); while no significant difference of TG between the model group, the JTTMR groups and the XZK group were observed (P>0.05). As for level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), that in the XZK group and high dose JTTMR group was higher than that in the other 4 groups (P<0.05). Comparison of CRP showed that it was higher in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05), while the difference among the other 4 groups was insignificant (P>0.05). No plaque and increase of intima/media thickness was found in the normal group; either PIR or IMT were lesser in the JTTMR groups than those in the model group (P<0.05), and comparison among the three JTTMR groups showed those in the medium dose group was the least (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONJTTMR has arteriosclerosis inhibiting effect, which might be realized through its anti-inflammatory and lipids regulating actions, but the effects are not dose-dependent. The optimal effect is showed by using medium dose of JTTMR, equivalent to the dose used for human adult.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Arteriosclerosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

Chemical modification was performed for improving the antioxidant activity of lead compound glycyrrhetinic acid (Ib). Two conjugated diene derivatives were prepared by reduction and dehydration reactions. Their in vitro antioxidant activities were studied using a cytochrome P450/NADPH reductase system from rat liver microsomes. The generation of microsomal free radicals was followed by oxidation of the DCFH-DA probe, while evaluating the capacity to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The initial result showed that the two homo- and heterocyclic diene derivatives--18beta-olean-11,13(18)-diene-3beta, 30-diol (IV) and 18beta-olean-9 (11), 12-diene-3beta, 30-diol (V) exhibited strong antioxidant activities, at a concentration of 1.0 mg x mL(-1), they inhibited free radical (ROS) formation by 45% and 41%, respectively. In the same conditions, the lead compound (Ib) and the reference vitamin E inhibited ROS activity by 31% and 32%. Our results suggest that the elimination of the 11-keto group and the chemical reduction of 30-carboxylic group into hydroxyl function can increase the antioxidant activity of Ib significantly.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology