Total alkaloids from Cau dang (Uncaria macrophylla Wall ex. Roxb - Rubiaceae) have been shown to prolong the duration of thiopental induced sleep in mice at dose of 10, 15 and 20g of hooked stem per kg body weight. Intravenous transfusion of total alkaloids from stem of Cau Dang reduced the normal blood pressure in cats at doses of 0.2ml equeo extract (I:I) according to the mechanism of peripheral venous dilatation
Uncaria ; Blood Pressure ; Cats ; Sleep ; Mice

Thirteen steroids(1-13) were isolated from the non-alkaloid constituents of Uncaria rhynchophylla by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by analyses of the MS and NMR spectral data. All the compounds were isolated from the genus Uncaria for the first time, and 1 was a new compound. The ~1H-NMR and ~(13)C-NMR data of two compounds(12 and 13) in deuteron-chloroform were completely assigned. This study enriched the steroid constituents of U. rhynchophylla and provided scientific references for the elucidation of active constituents and further development and utilization of U. rhynchophylla.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Steroids ; Uncaria/chemistry*

Rhynchophylla is a Chinese herb commonly used in clinical practice. It's also the primary herb of some famous Chinese herbal compound such as Tianma Gouteng decoction, and Lingyang Gouteng decoction. According the record from many previous materia medica literatures, rhynchophylla should be added later during decoction. Pharmaceutical research showed that rhynchophylla alkaloids were not stable. Which has resulted in many problems in the research and its application. For example, there was not a quantitative determination method in "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" of past and present versions, which seriously impacted its quality control and product application. Firstly, records from previous materia medica literatures and "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" were systematically sorted based on the chemical stability of rhynchophylla. Secondly, pharmaceutical research including chemical compositions and their stability, pharmacological effects, extraction process and quality analysis, was reviewed after reference of literatures published at home and abroad in recent decades. Positive reference and evidence for further research and development of rhynchophylla will be provided in the article.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Quality Control ; Uncaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the alkaloidial constituents of the leaves of uncaria hirsuta.

METHODSome chromatographic methods were applied to isolate pure compounds and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTEleven compounds were isolated and identified as 19-epi-3-iso-ajmalicine (1), 3-isoajmalicine (2), harman (3), mitraphylline (4), isomitraphylline (5), isorhynchophylline (6), corynoxine (7), rhynchophylline (8), isomitraphyllic acid (9), uncarine A (10) and uncarine B (11).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-9 were firstly isolated from this plant.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Uncaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo analyze the chemical constituents of the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla.

METHODSThe constituents were separated and purified by silica gel chromatography and recrystalization, and their structures were identified by infrared, mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.

RESULTSSix compounds were isolated from the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla, whose structures were identified as beta-sitosterol, beta-daucosterol, ursolic acid, alpha-amyrin acetate, 3beta, 6beta, 23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, and 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, 28-dioic acid, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSUrsolic acid is the main component in the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla. Alpha-amyrin acetate and 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, 28-dioic acid are isolated and characterized for the first time from this plant.

Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; Uncaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo perform a pharmacognostical study of the leaf of Uncaria hirsuta Havil.

METHODSThe specimens of Folium Uncariae Hirsutae were collected for studying its characteristics, microscopic appearance and thin-layer chromatography.

RESULTSThe leaf of Uncaria hirsuta Havil was characterized by numerous multicellular non-glandular hairs, 2 lines of palisade tissue, a diacytic type of stoma, and clustered crystals in its parenchyma. At least two kinds of alkaloids identical to the control were identified in the specimens.

CONCLUSIONThe results can be used as the evidence for identification, formulation of the quality-control standards as well as further utilization of Folium Uncariae Hirsutae.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Pharmacognosy ; methods ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Uncaria ; chemistry

The aim of this study was to study the effects of different light intensity on the growth,biomass accumulation and distribution,chlorophyll content and effective components of Uncaria rhynchophylla seedlings,and explore the suitable light intensity conditions for artificial cultivation of U. rhynchophylla seedlings. Three-year-old U. rhynchophylla seedlings were used as experimental materials. Four light intensity levels( 100%,70%-75%,30%-35%,5%-10%) were set up with different layers of black shading net. With the decrease of light intensity,the results showed that the plant height,basal diameter and biomass( root,stem,leaf and hook) of U.rhynchophylla seedlings exhibited the trend of " increase-decrease". Under 70%-75% light intensity,the plant height,basal diameter,biomass( root,stem,leaf,hook) of U. rhynchophylla seedlings were significantly higher than those of other treatments( P< 0. 05);under 5%-10% light intensity,the plant height,basal diameter and biomass( root,hook) of U. rhynchophylla seedlings were significantly lower than those of other treatments( P<0. 05). With the decrease of light intensity,the chlorophyll content of U. rhynchophylla seedlings increased gradually: under 100% light intensity,the chlorophyll content of U. rhynchophylla seedlings were the smallest,while under 100% light intensity,its chlorophyll content was the highest. With the decrease of light intensity,the contents of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline in different organs of U. rhynchophylla seedlings varied: under 30%-35% light intensity,the contents of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline in hooks and rhynchophylline content in stems were the highest; under 5%-10% light intensity,the contents of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline in leaves and stems of U. rhynchophylla were the highest. In conclusion,70%-75% light intensity is suitable for seedling growth and biomass accumulation,and 30%-35% light intensity is suitable for the accumulation of effective components in U. rhynchophylla seedlings.
Biomass ; Chlorophyll/analysis* ; Light ; Oxindoles/analysis* ; Phytochemicals/analysis* ; Seedlings/radiation effects* ; Uncaria/radiation effects*

Uncaria genus( Rubiaceae) contains 34 species all over the world,of which 11 species and one variant are present in China. Five species,namely U. rhynchophylla,U. macrophylla,U. hirsuta,U. sinensis and U. sessilifructus,are documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the raw materials of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis. Indole alkaloids are the characteristic constituents of Uncaria plants,in addition to triterpenes,lignans and flavones. This paper reviews the progress of indole alkaloids and their distribution within the five Uncaria species documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia for better understanding the active constituents of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis.
Alkaloids ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Indole Alkaloids ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Uncaria

This thesis reviews the historical background of agricultural industrialization, and analyzes the major theories of agricultural industrialization. It also utilizes SWOT analysis method to discuss the industrialization of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Jianhe county, and finally it puts forward the recommendations for its further development.
Agriculture ; economics ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; economics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; Industry ; Marketing ; Uncaria ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVEIn order to identify a species of Uncaria, molecular phylogenetic analysis was carried out by using the rDNA ITS sequence as molecular marker.

METHODTotal DNA was extracted from the plant with modified CTAB method and thereby rDNA ITS regions were amplified with universally conserved primer. The rDNA ITS amplicon was characterized by cloning, sequencing, blasting in GenBank and phylogenetic analyses using PAUP by maximum parsimony (MP) criteria.

RESULTThe rDNA ITS entire sequence of this species of Uncaria was 719 bp. The sequence is related to the U. sinensis available in GenBank and the similarity reaches 99.7%.

CONCLUSIONBased on molecular biology methods of rDNA ITS region analysis, molecular identification is available in accurate classification on this species of Uncaria.

DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Species Specificity ; Uncaria ; classification ; genetics