OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC method for determining the contents of scopolamine hydrobromide, atropine sulfate, ephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in Zhichuanling oral liquid.

METHODAgela Durashell RP-C18 (4. 6 mm x250 mm, 5 microm) was adopted, with acetonitrile-sodium phosphate buffer solution (0. 07 mol L-1 sodium phosphate solution with 17.5 mmol L-1 sodium dodecylsulfate adjusted to pH 6.0 with phosphoric acid solution) (30:70) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0. 9 mL min -1, the detection wavelength was 207 nm, and the column temperature was 25 degree C.

RESULTScopolamine hydrobromide, atropine sulfate, ephedrine hlvdrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride showed good linear relations with peak areas within the concentration range of 0. 021 21-1. 060 5 pg (r =0. 999 3) , 0. 011 14-0. 557 microg (r = 0. 999 6) , 0. 200 56-10. 028 microg (r =0. 999 7) and 0.070 33-3. 516 5 gg (r =0. 999 6), respectively, with the average recoveries of 101.9% , 99. 80%, 100. 3%, 100. 2% (n=6).

CONCLUSIONThe method was so quick, simple, highly reproducible and specific that it could be used as one of quality control methods of Zhichuanling oral liquid.

Atropine ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ephedrine ; analysis ; Pseudoephedrine ; analysis ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; analysis

Atropa belladonna seedlings were used as experimental materials and cultivated by soil culture method. Different concentrations(0,0.05,0.1,0.2,0.5 mmol·L~(-1))of NO donor sodium nitroprusside(SNP) were sprayed on the leaves. The effects of different concentrations of SNP and different treatment time(4,8,12,16 d) on nitrogen metabolism, secondary metabolite content, precursor content of tropane alkaloid synthesis pathway and expression of key enzyme genes under 100 mmol·L~(-1) NaCl stress were studied. The results showed that with the prolongation of salt stress, the nitrogen metabolism and the accumulation of secondary metabolites of A. belladonna were inhibited to some extent. After treatment with different concentrations of exogenous SNP, the ammonium nitrogen content decreased dramatically, and the contents of nitrate nitrogen, free amino acid, soluble protein and the activities of key enzymes of nitrogen metabolism(NR, GS, GDH) were all greatly improved; the contents of precursor amino acids(ornithine, arginine) and polyamines(Put, Spd, Spm) in the secondary metabolic pathway have increased to varying degrees. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that exogenous SNP treatment can effectively promote the high expression of key enzyme genes PMT, TRⅠ and H6H in the secondary metabolic pathway of A. belladonna, and the production of hyoscyamine and scopolamine were increased notably. In summary, the application of appropriate concentration of SNP can effectively alleviate the inhibition of salt stress on the nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolism of Atropa belladonna, and enhance its salt tolerance. Overall, 0.1 mmol·L~(-1) and 0.2 mmol·L~(-1) SNP treatment achieved the most remarkable effect.
Atropa belladonna/metabolism* ; Hyoscyamine/analysis* ; Nitrogen/metabolism* ; Nitroprusside ; Scopolamine/analysis* ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sodium Chloride ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo establish the hair roots culture system of Datura metel and study the hair roots growth and biosynthesis of scopolamine and hyoscyamine in hair roots culturing system.

METHODDirect degermed cotyledon of wild D. metel was infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 to obtain hair roots. Growth curves and scopolamine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis curves were determined. The scopolamine and hyoscyamine from different hair roots lines were examined by HPLC.

RESULTHair roots induction rate reached 70%. After 25 days cultured in 1/2 MS liquid nutrient medium, the hair roots weight, content of scopolamine and hyoscyamine reached maximum, tow high efficient accumulation hyoscyamine and scopolamine hair roots lines M1 and M2 were obtained. The medial accumulation coefficient of hyoscyamine and scopolamine were 2.53 times and 5.37 times compared with the leaves of wild D. metel respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe established hair roots induction and culture system of D. metel provided a foundation for further obtaining scopolamine and hyoscyamine.

Atropine ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Datura metel ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop a quantitative analytical procedure of scopolamine and atropine in Flos Daturae using RP-HPLC.

METHODThe two alkaloids were separated on a Hypersil BDS C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase of 0.02 mol x L(-1) sodium acetate buffer (containing 0.02% triethanolamine and the pH was adjusted to 6.0 with acetic acid)-methanol (60:40) and a detection wavelength of 215 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was maintained at room temperature.

RESULTThe mean recovery was (99.6 +/- 1.8)% for scopolamine and (100.4 +/- 1.5)% for atropine.

CONCLUSIONThis method was simple, accurate and sensitive.

Atropine ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Datura ; chemistry ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate efficacy of tiotropium as add-on therapy on top of standard regimens for uncontrolled asthma, specifically in terms of FEV1, morning and evening PEF, reduction in exacerbations, rescue medication use, and quality of life improvement.
METHODS: A search was done for eligible trials after which validity screen and data extraction was performed. Results were presented as mean differences, standard errors, and 95% confidence intervals, and graphically as forest plots. Estimates were pooled using the random effects model with I2 and Chi2 tests used to assess heterogeneity. Adverse events were reported as dichotomous variables.
RESULTS: Four studies were included totaling 1617 participants. The tiotropium group had statistically significant improvement in FEV1 (95% Cl, 0.14 [0.09, 0.19], p<0.00001), morning (95% Cl, 20.03 [11.71, 28.35], p<0.00001) with trend towards benefit in reduction of rescue medications (95% Cl, 0.12 [-0.17,0.4],p=0.42) and quality of life improvements (95% Cl, 0.1 [-0.05,0.25], p=0.20). Homogeneity (I2= 0%, Chi2= 0.47-3.22) was found across studies.
CONCLUSION: Tiotropium is associated with significant improvement in pulmonary function among patients with uncontrolled asthma, with possible benefit in reduction of rescue medications and quality of life improvement.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Asthma ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Confidence Intervals ; Quality Of Life ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Scopolamine Derivatives ; Tiotropium Bromide ; Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Dingzhixiao Wan (DZXW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala tenuifolia, Poria cocos and Panax ginseng in a proportion of 2: 2: 3: 3, on learning-memory impairment induced by scopolamine and its possible mechanisms.

METHODThe mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the positive huperzine A (0.05 mg x kg(-1)) group, DZXW 700 mg x kg(-1), 350 mg x kg(-1) and 175 mg kg(-1) groups. DZXW extracts were orally administrated to the mice for 7 days. Scopolamine (1.5 mg x kg(-1), ip) was injected to establish the learning and memory impairment model in mice. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the learning and memory ability of each group. After the test, the activities of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (Ach) and acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissue were measured.

RESULTThe praxiology test showed that DZXW significantly decreased the average latency of model mice in the place navigation test, and enhanced the frequency for passing through the platform in the spatial probe test, the percentage between target quadrant swimming distance and time. Moreover, DZXW could significantly increase the contents of Glu and 5-HT, DA and Ach, while reducing the levels of GABA and AchE in mice brain.

CONCLUSIONDZXW could significantly ameliorate the scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice and improve their learning-memory capacity, which may be related to its effect on adjusting Glu/GABA system and increasing Ach and monoamine neurotransmitter contents in mice brain.

Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Dopamine ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; analysis ; Learning Disorders ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Mice ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Yizhi Capsule (YZC) on learning and memory disorder and beta-amyloid peptide induced neurotoxicity in rats.

METHODSVarious doses of YZC were administered to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 8 consecutive days, twice a day. On the 8th day of the experiment, scopolamine hydrobromide was intraperitoneally injected to every rat and Morris water maze test and shuttle dark avoidance test were carried out respectively to explore the changes of learning and memory capacities in the rats. Besides, after the cerebral cortical neurons of newborn SD rats aged within 3 days were cultured in vitro for 7 days, drug serum containing YZC was added to the cultured neurons before or after beta amyloid peptide(25 - 35) (Abeta(25 - 35)) intoxication to observe the protective effect of YZC on neurotoxicity by MTT assay and to determine the LDH content in the supernatant.

RESULTSCompared with those untreated with YZC, the rats having received YZC treatment got superiority in shorter time of platform seeking in Morris water maze test, as well as elongated latent period and less times of error in shuttle dark avoidance test. On the cultured neurons, YZC drug serum could effectively increase the survival rate of Abeta(25 - 35) intoxicated neurons and reduce the LDH contents in cultured supernatant.

CONCLUSIONYZC has an action of improving learning and memory disorder, and good protective effect on Abeta(25 - 35) induced neurotoxicity in SD rats.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; pharmacology