The degradation kinetics of chlorogenic acid (5-CQA), cryptochlorogenic acid (4-CQA), and neochlorogenic acid (3-CQA) in aqueous solution at 37 degrees C and different pH values (7.05, 7.96, 9.25) were investigated in the present work. The results indicated that 3-, 4- and 5-CQA tended to remain stable in acidic pH circumstance, and unstable in neutral and alkaline pH circumstance. With the increase of the alkalinity, the degradation of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA was increased leading to a less amount of total CQA and was satisfactorily described by the Weibull equation. Meanwhile, caffeic acid was not detected after the degradation of CQA. Moreover, the degradation of 3-CQA and 5-CQA tended to be converted to 4-CQA, and the degradation of 4-CQA tended to be converted to 3-CQA rather than 5-CQA. The comparison of the degradation kinetics parameters of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA at neutral and alkaline pH values showed that the orders of the rate constant (k) values were 4-CQA > 3-CQA > 5-CQA, while the orders of the degradation half life (t½) values were 4-CQA < 3-CQA < 5-CQA, indicating the orders of the stabilities of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA at 37 degrees C and neutral and alkaline pH values were 4-CQA < 3-CQA < 5-CQA.
Caffeic Acids ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics

With the increasing perfection and improvement of microsurgery technique in modern ophthalmology, especially the popularization of micro-incision cataract extraction and the rise of femtosecond-laser-assisted cataract extraction, the cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation is gradually transformed from vision rehabilitation surgery into refractive surgery and people also pursue better postoperative visual experiences. However, the preoperative and postoperative corneal astigmatism is always the main factor affecting the postoperative visual effect. ln recent years, the development of design and materials of the intraocular lens ( lOL) provided necessary basic conditions for clinical application of the Toric lOL. The Toric lOL is primarily characterized by effective correction of cataract patients′postoperative corneal astigmatism, which results in the enhancement of patients′postoperative visual function. ln this paper, the design, classification and clinical application of Toric lOL were analyzed, and current problems and prospect were discussed.

Family Schisandraceae is composed of two genera Schisandra and Kadsura, which are quite different in regard to the used part and medical function. Traditionally, the fruits of Schisandra plants were called 'Wuweizi' used as tonic for neurasthenia, antitussive, and sedative agents. The stems and roots of Kadsura plants, with names related to 'XueTeng', possess activating blood circulation and eliminating stasis and are used for the treatment of rheumatism, fractures and irregular menstruation. The dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis was recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 Edition) as 'Wuweizi', while the dried fruit of S. sphenanthera was recorded as an official origin of 'Nanwuweizi'. Historically, there was no evidence that the fruits of Kadsura plants were substituted as 'Wuweizi' either in ancient literatures or contemporary marketing. However, genus Kadsura is still popularly called 'Nanwuweizi' and plant K. longipedunculata is regarded as the origin of 'Nanwuweizi', thus this will cause confusion as well as misunderstanding of genus Kadsura. The authors recommended, therefore, the Chinese name of genus Kadsura should be 'Lengfantengshu' and K. longipedunculata with the name of 'Lengfanteng' in order to guarantee the drug authenticity.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in the dry roots of Dolomiaea souliei (Franch.) Shih.Methods: Various chromatographic methods were used to isolate and purify the chemical constituents of Dolomiaea souliei, and the structures were elucidated through the analysis of spectral data and literatures.Results: Six compounds including 3 sesquiterpene compounds and 3 fatty acids were obtained and identified as dihydrodehydrocostuslactone(Ⅰ), vladimenal(Ⅱ), arbusculin A(Ⅲ), n-hendecane(Ⅳ), butanedioic acid(Ⅴ) and methyl linoleate(Ⅵ).Conclusion: Compounds Ⅳ-Ⅵ are obtained from the genus of Dolomiaea for the first time.

Licorice root has been frequently used as antitode in traditional Chinese medicine. As the main active component of Licorice root, glycyrrhetic acid (GA) is mainly metabolized in liver. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro metabolism of GA by human liver microsomes (HLM) and human recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The results indicated that GA was metabolized mainly by CYP3A4. The K(m), V(max) and CL(int) of GA in HLM were 18.6 micromol x L(-1), 4.4 nmol x mg(-1) (protein) x min(-1) and 0.237 mL x mg(-1) (protein) x min(-1), respectively. At concentration up to 50 micromol x L(-1), GA inhibited CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 enzyme activities with the inhibitory potencies up to 50%.

With the surge of high-throughput sequencing technology, it is becoming popular to perform the phylogenetic study based on genomic data. A bundle of new terms is emerging, such as phylogenomics, pharmacophylogenomics and phylotranscriptomics, which are somewhat overlapping with pharmaphylogeny. Phylogenomics is the crossing of evolutionary biology and genomics, in which genome data are utilized for evolutionary reconstructions. Pharmaphylogeny, advocated by Prof. Pei-gen Xiao since 1980s, focuses on the phylogenetic relationship of medicinal plants and is thus nurtured by molecular phylogeny, chemotaxonomy and bioactivity studies. Phylogenomics can be integrated into the flow chart of drug discovery and development, and extend the field of pharmaphylogeny at the omic level, thus the concept of pharmacophylogenomics could be redefined. This review gives a brief analysis of the association and the distinguished feature of the pharmaphylogeny related terms, in the context of plant-based drug discovery and sustainable utilization of pharmaceutical resource.

Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; Transfection

The papers in the journal of Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs in Vol.40,2009 are briefly reviewed in thecategories of chemical constituents,preparations and technologies,analysis and quality control,pharmacologicaland clinical studies,reviews,and finally healthy principles.Some comments,especially for hot topics have beenpersonally provided.

Sankezhen (Berberidis Radix) is a traditional Chinese materia medica,cold in nature and bitter in taste,for treating syndromes of liver,stomach,and large intestinal meridians,in which berberine and berbamine are the major pharmacological components.Sankezhen has been readmitted in Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010 following the 1977 version as the roots of Berberis spp.e.g.B.soulieana,B.wilsonae,B.poiretii,B.vernae,etc.Recent studies showed that Berberis spp.were potential phytomedicines with multiple spectrums therapeutic effects and various pharmaceutical parts.Here we reviewed Sankezhen in traditional use and phytochemistry,and its major active components berberine and berbamine with potential bioactivities recently discovered,such as antitumor,antidiabetic,antihyperlipidemic,anti-arrhythmic,and neuro-protective activities.It is necessary to mature the quality assessment of Sankezhen as a new admission of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010.Other parts of Berberis spp.should be investigated to better develop this herb in medicinal usage.

For the protection of consumers and developments of relevant industry, authentication of medicinal plants is a critical issue.This review covers various aspects of authentication methods and techniques based on molecular biology and genomics with special emphasis on molecular biology techniques including genome-based authentication,microchip-based authentication, DNA barcoding, and their applications.