This study was aimed to optimize the vacuumextraction technology of alkaloids fromSophora alopecuroides. The orthogonal test and comprehensive evaluation were used to optimize the vacuumextraction technology. Contents of total alkali and oxymatrinewere used as index components for optimizing the effect of three factors, which were the adding amount of water, extraction time, and extraction frequency. Comparison was made among optimal conventional extraction process, decoction extraction and vacuumextraction. The results showed that the optimum extraction process was to add 12 times amount of water, and to extract for 3 times under the temperature of 60℃, 1h for each time. It was concluded that the optimized extraction vacuum technologyof alkaloids fromS. alopecuroidsdecompression total alkali content and oxymatrine process was better than that of optimal conventional extraction process and decoction extraction. The vacuumextraction technology was stable and practical.

BACKGROUND: Artificial nerve grafts of human hair keratin are a kind of biological products. It has low antigenicity,absorbability and stimulation to nerve fiber growth following specific biochemistry. It is hoped to have better effect than otherartificial nerve grafts.　 OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomy and histocompatibility of artificial nerve grafts of the human-hair keratin, and toobserve its effects on the repair of peripheral nerves. 　 DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Randomized, controlled, animal experiment. The study was performed at the Animal CentralLaboratory of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College between November 2006 and June 2008. MATERIALS: Artificial nerve grafts of human hair keratin is a compound of human hair processed by specific controlledbiochemistry based on ground substance, embedded with a layer of biological membrane. It has low antigenicity, absorbabilityand stimulation to nerve fiber growth following specific biochemistry. METHODS: Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. The sciatic nerve, 10 mm, was removed andtransplanted with human-hair keratin graft, skeletal muscle and untreated hair, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The characteristics of histomorphology and anatomy were observed at 8, 12, 24 weeks afterthe surgery. RESULTS: White tissues appeared between the broken ends of the sciatic nerve at 8 post-operative week in the graft group,and appeared in the graft space in human-hair keratin at the 12th week. At the 24th week, a large amount of infantile myelinatednerve fibers were observed under optical microscope regenerating around the human hair, which was partially degraded andabsorbed. Schwann cells were observed under an electron microscope and myelinization. 　 CONCLUSION: The artificial nerve grafts of the human-hair keratin are well compatible with the body tissues, and couldinduce nerve regeneration.

Objective To study the process of foam flotation in separation of Indigo Naturalis in a continuous mode and to optimize the operational conditions.Methods Taking content and rate of recovery rate of indigo as index to investigate the single factors,such as the height of collecting region,the height of froth layer,flushing water rate,delivery rate,air flow rate,and aerating velocity,to study the effect of continuous foam floatation on Indigo Naturalis,and to optimize the process conditions finally.Results The flotation performance is good when the height of collecting region is 1.5 m,the height of froth layer is 30 cm,the delivery rate is 0.1 cm/s,the flushing water rate is 0.01 cm/s,the aerating velocity is 1.5 cm/s.The recovery rate of indigo is more than 75% and indgo content is over 5.0%.Conclusion Foam flotation technique is stable and can be used to the separation of Indigo Naturalis in a continuous mode.And this study is the foundation of semi-works production of Indigo Naturalis.

OBJECTIVETo screen the factors that affect indirubin-generated significantly in the process of preparing indigo naturalis, optimize level combination and determine the optimum technology for indirubin-generated.

METHODUsing concentration of indirubin (mg x g(-1)) that generated by fresh leaf as an index, Plackett-Burman design, Box-Behnken design response surface analysis as the statistical method, we screened the significantly influencing factors and the optimal level combination.

RESULTThe soaking and making indirubin process in preparing indigo naturalis was identified as the wax is not removed before immersion with immersion pH 7, solvent volume-leaf weight (mL: g)15, soaked not avoided light, soaking 48 h, temperature 60 degrees C, ventilation time of 180 min, and added ammonia water to adjust pH to 10.5.

CONCLUSIONThe soaking and making indirubin process in preparing indigo naturalis is optimized systematically. It clarify the various factors on the impact of the active ingredient indirubin which controlled by industrialized production become reality in the process of preparing indigo naturalis, at the same time, it lay the foundation for processing principle of indigo naturalis.

Control Groups ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Indigo Carmine ; Indigofera ; chemistry ; Indoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Myanmar ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Accessed to literatures at home and abroad, we introduced the process of indigo naturalis transforming from dyestuff industry into pharmaceutical industry. It is affirmed that the precursors of indigo and indirubin are isatan A, isatan B, isatan C and indicant. Meanwhile, author clarified the mechanism of transformation for these precursors transforming into indigo and indirubin. And we summarized methods of determination for these precursors. In summary, these references provide us accordance of study on processing principle of Indigo naturalis, and lay the foundation for technics of making indigo and indirubin entering into modern industry.
Indigo Carmine ; Indoles ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pigmentation ; Plants ; metabolism ; Temperature

The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations is a key issue related to their curative effect, safety and stability. The application of modern analytical means and the development of new disciplines improve the quality control of TCM preparations to some extent. For a long time, however, the quality control level of TCM preparations remains low and the quality standards exist in name only unable to effectively control drug quality and ensure therapeutic effect and safety. The essay makes a systematic analysis on possible factors impacting TCM preparations and current situation of quality control and discusses possible approaches and new methods for improving quality control of TCM preparations, in order to give an impetus to the quality control standards and the mode evolvement of TCM preparations and ensure safety, efficiency and quality controllability of TCM preparations.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Quality Control