OBJECTIVEThe spectral imaging method was used to quickly identify the Cortex Dictamni pieces and its counterfeit alangium Chinese, which is a potential method would be applied to control the quality of the Cortex Dictamni pieces.

METHODStandard sample, 5 cortex dictamni samples and its counterfeit alangium Chinese of different sources were tested by the liquid crystal imaging instrument. The spectrum resolution was 5 nm, the spectral range was from 405 nm to 680 nm, and the spatial resolution was 50 lp x mm(-1). The characteristic spectrum curves were picked up from spectral cube and principal analysis method was used to analyze the results.

RESULTThe identification results by the spectral imaging method accorded well with the results by the traditional biology and chemistry analysis method.

CONCLUSIONThe spectral imaging analysis method can be used to identify the cortex dictamni pieces and its counterfeit alangium Chinense. The testing course is convenient, quick and noninvasive.

Alangiaceae ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the content of isopimpinellin in root of Toddalia asiatica.

METHODSA HPLC method was set up. Using Hypersil C18 column and methanol-water (70:30) as mobile phase, with the detection wavelength at 306 nm.

RESULTThe linear range of isopimpinellin was 0.004 20 approximately 0.420 microg. The average recovery was 99.7% and the RSD 2.8%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and accurate, with good reproducibility, and can be used as a quantitative analysis method for isopimpinellin.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry

A new benzene derivative microintegerrin C (1) and a new norsesquiterpenoid microintegerrin D (2), along with six known compounds (3-8), were isolated and identified from stems and leaves of Micromelum integerrimum by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-18 column chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were mainly identified based on the spectral data analysis such as 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-EI-MS. All known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification

Three new coumarins, integmarins A-C (1-3), and a new coumarin glycoside, integmaside A (4) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Micromelum integerrimum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data, and their absolute configurations were assigned according to the ECD data of the in situ formed transition metal complexes and comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. Compounds 1 and 2 are two rare coumarins with butyl and propyl moieties at the C-6 position; compound 3 is a novel coumarin with a highly oxidized prenyl group, and compound 4 is a rare bisdihydrofuranocoumarin glycoside.
Coumarins/isolation & purification* ; Glycosides/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Plant Stems/chemistry* ; Rutaceae/chemistry*

We reported the discovery of six novel coumarins, toddasirins A-F (1-6), each endowed with modified isoprenyl or geranyl side chains, derived from the roots of Toddalia asiatica. Comprehensive structural elucidation was achieved through multispectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, and advanced quantum mechanical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was assessed. Notably, compounds 1-3 and 6 demonstrated notable inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 3.22, 4.78, 8.90, and 4.31 μmol·L^-1, respectively.
Mice ; Animals ; Coumarins/chemistry* ; Rutaceae/chemistry* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Nitric Oxide ; Molecular Structure

Rutaecarpine (Rut) is a type of indole quinazoline alkaloid exracted from Ruticarpum. Studies showed that Rut has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-hypertension, anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-thrombus formation. Currently, many scholars are committed to developing it into a new antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory drug with all new mechanisms. But studies found that Rut is a highly fat-soluble drug with low water and oil solubility. Its high insolubility is the main obstacle in its oral absorption and application, which greatly reduced its bioavailability. Therefore, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) was used as the inclusion material to prepare Rut-HP-beta-CD inclusion complex in this experiment, in order to increase its water solubility and bioavailability. In this experiment, the inclusion complex was prepared by the stirring-freeze-dry method. The preparation process was optimized by the orthogonal test, with the inclusion rate as the index, and molar ratio between host and guest molecules, inclusion temperature, time and stirring speed as the impacting factors. Moreover, the inclusion complex was verified by detecting the apparent solubility, thin layer chromatography, microscopic identification, melting point detection and dissolution study. The results showed that under the conditions of the molar ratio between Rut and HP-beta-CD of 1: 1, temperature at 60 degrees C, inclusion time of 4h and stirring speed at 600 r x min(-1), the inclusion rate of Rut-HP-beta-CD reached 91.04%. Therefore, the preparation process of Rut-HP-beta-CD inclusion under the optimum conditions is simple and feasible, with a highest inclusion rate and reproducibility, and could significantly improve Rut's solubility and bioavailability, and provide a reliable experimental basis for its clinical application.
2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Solubility ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

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

OBJECTIVETo study the screening of essential oils of Skimmia laureola leaves (SLO) for acute toxicity, antinociceptive, antipyretic and anticonvulsant activities in various animal models.

METHODSSLO were extracted using modified Clevenger type apparatus. Acute toxicity test was used in mice to observe its safety level. Antinociceptive activity of SLO was evaluated in acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate tests. Yeast induced hyperthermic mice and pentylenetetrazole induced convulsive mice were used for the assessment of its antipyretic and anticonvulsant profile respectively.

RESULTSSubstantial safety was observed for SLO in acute toxicity test. SLO showed a high significant activity in acetic acid induced writhing test in a dose dependent manner with maximum pain attenuation of 68.48% at 200 mg/kg i.p. However, it did not produce any relief in thermal induced pain at test doses. When challenged against pyrexia evoked by yeast, SLO manifested marked amelioration in hyperthermic mice, dose dependently. Maximum anti-hyperthermic activity (75%) was observed at 200 mg/kg i.p. after 4 h of drug administration. Nevertheless, SLO had no effect on seizures control and mortality caused by pentylenetetrazole.

CONCLUSIONSIn vivo studies of SLO showed prominent antinociceptive and antipyretic activities with ample safety profile and thus provided pharmacological base for the traditional uses of the plant in various painful conditions and pyrexia. Additional detail studies are required to ascertain its clinical application.

Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Antipyretics ; pharmacology ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests

OBJECTIVETo study and determine the chemical constituents of the volatile oil and the trace elements in the fruits of the Clausena lansium.

METHODThe essential oils were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and separated on capillary columns with HP6890GC-5973MS. The components were quantitatively determined with normalization method, and were identified with GC-MS. And the trace elements were determined by ICP-MS and ICP-AES.

RESULT36 Components constituting 95% of the total essential oil were separated and identified, and 11 trace elements were identified.

CONCLUSION18 Compounds were found from the fruit of C. lansium for the first time.

Carbon Dioxide ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Thymol ; analysis ; Trace Elements ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate apoptosis-inducing effect and its mechanisms of HY-1, a carbazole alkaloid, on human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

METHODSCell proliferation was detected by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay after treated with HY-1 at indicated doses. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry, mitochondria membrane voltage change was assessed by rhodamine 123 staining, annexin V-PI apoptosis detecting kit and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis were used to identify apoptosis-inducing effect of HY-1. The alterations of apoptosis-relating proteins were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe IC(50) of HY-1 in K562 cells was (29.05 +/- 0.90) micromol/L by SRB assay. HY-1 had significant apoptotic inducing effect on K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner as verified by appearance of Sub-G(1) peak on histogram of flow cytometry analysis, reduction of mitochondria membrane voltage, appearance of double positive cell group in Annexin V-PI apoptosis detecting test, and remarkable DNA ladder. The expression of cytosolic cytochrome c was apparently increased. Pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-3 and PARP were all cleaved to active segments. There was no change in the expression of caspase-8.

CONCLUSIONHY-1 exerts its anticancer activity through triggering apoptosis of K562 cells by mitochondria-activating pathways.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbazoles ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Rutaceae ; chemistry