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*

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

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 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

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 explore an HPLC method for determination of rhnchophylline and isorhnchophylline in Uncaria rhnchophylla.

METHODAn HPLC method has been developed for determination of rhnchophylline and isorhnchophylline. The transformation of rhnchophylline and isorhnchophylline after heating was also studied by HPLC-ESI-MS.

RESULTGood linearities of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline were 0.064-5.100, 0.064-5.110 mg, respectively. The average recoveries were from 87.51% to 88.83% for rhynchophylline and from 107.9% to 113.9% for isorhynchophylline. The recoveries of rhynchophylline and isorhnchophylline reference solutions after extraction were 12.60% and 40.00% in the reflux extraction procedure, respectively. While in the ultrasonic extraction procedure, the average recoveries of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline was from 99.48% to 103.2% and from 97.00% to 99.59%, resepectively. The recoveries of rhynchophylline and isorhnchophylline reference solutions after extraction were 47.08% and 51.03%, respectively. The unqualified recovery could be elucidated by HPLC-ESI-MS analysis, indicating that trhynchophylline could be transformed mostly into isorhynchophylline and a little amount of unkown composition, while isorhynchophylline could be transformed into rhynchophylline isocorynoxeine, corynoxeine and 22-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isocorynoxeinic acid during the extraction procedure.

CONCLUSIONUltrasonic extraction procedure was more sutble for HPLC determination of the content of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline in U. rhnchophylla, however, the recovery problems should be paid attention to when it comes to the determination.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Indole Alkaloids ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Ultrasonics ; Uncaria ; chemistry

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

The present study was designed to determine the chemical constituents of the stems and hooks of Uncaria rhynchophylla. The chemical constituents were isolated and purified from CH2Cl2 fraction by chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Their cytotoxicity was tested using MTT method. Two new ortho benzoquinones, 3-diethylamino-5-methoxy-1, 2-benzoquinone (1) and 3-ethylamino-5-methoxy-1, 2-benzoquinone (2), together with a known compound isorhynchophyllic acid (3) were isolated from U. rhynchophylla. These compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against cancer cells A549, HepG2 and A2780. Compounds 1 and 2 were new ortho benzoquinones and showed weak antiproliferative activities on A549, HepG2 and A2780 cells. Compound 3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549, HepG2 and A2780 cells with IC50 values being 5.8, 12.8 and 11.8 µmol·L(-1), respectively.
A549 Cells ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Benzoquinones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Uncaria ; chemistry

AIM: To study the chemical constituents and their anti-amnesic effect from the hooks of Uncaria rhynchophylla. METHODS: The isolation of compounds was performed by chromatographic techniques and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis. Their ameliorating effects on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in vivo using a Morris water-maze task and passive avoidance task system were evaluated. RESULTS: Activity-guided fractionation of the total extracts resulted in the isolation of four constituents, trans-anethole (1), p-anisaldehyde (2), estragole (3), and 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), which were found for the first time from this plant. CONCLUSION Compound 1 exhibited a better memory enhancing effect than tacrine, a positive agent, at the same dose in the passive avoidance test and a similar property in the water-maze test, and its action may be mediated, in part, by the acetylcholine enhancing cholinergic nervous system.
Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scopolamine ; adverse effects ; Uncaria ; chemistry

The Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, many studies have revealed its prominent neuroprotection function. The active ingredients in Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis could protect the nervous system in a multi-path and multi-target manner. Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis shows the neuroprotective effect by resisting oxidation, scavenging free radicals, modulating neurotransmitters and their related receptors, regulating the inflammatory factors and their related pathways, attenuating neuron apoptosis, reducing intracellular Ca2+ overloads and mitigating neurodegeneration. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on neuroprotective mechanisms of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Uncaria ; chemistry