Through our pre-investigation and literature analysis, it was found that rhubarb could be categorized into two types, chrysophanol-type and rhein-type, based on the proportion of the two constituents in the total content of anthraquinones after acid hydrolysis. In this paper, the antimicrobial activities of chrysophanol-type and rhein-type rhubarbs against Staphylococcus aureus were compared with microcalorimetric analysis, in order to illustrate the bioactive differentiability between the two chemotypes. For the aim to display the distinction of chrysophanol and rhein percentage in total anthraquinones, the sampling volume was regulated to make the total anthraquinones equivalent, thus, the antimicrobial difference was only attributed to the difference of chemotypes. The results indicated that the antimicrobial difference between the two chemotypes was confirmable labeled at the biothermokinetic parameters of S. aureus growth affected by the rhubarb samples. The growth rate constant (k1) of the first exponential phase for the growth of S. aureus affected by the rhein-type rhubarb was significantly lower than that of chrysophanol-type (P<0.01), which suggested stronger antimicrobial activity of rhein-type rhubarb than that of chrysophanol-type. However, the antimicrobial activities of rhein-type rhubarbs were not positively correlated to the contents of rhein. It suggested that the antimicrobial activity of rhubarb might be related to some unknown components which were of same accumulating pattern of rhein. The findings in present study provided some experimental evidence on categorizing rhubarb into two chemotypes through the difference of antimicrobial activity on S. aureus by microcalorimetric analysis and, further, offered references to revision of the commercial specification of rhubarb from chemical view.

In this study the reliability and scientificity of organoleptic evaluation for the commercial specification of Chinese medicinal materials (CMM) was investigated with Delphi method, using rhubarb as an example. The consensus panel of panelists being expert in organoleptic evaluation for CMM was cogitatively selected, with high average authority index of 0.81. The average individual repeatability of selected panelists was 85%, while the group repeatability was above 70%. It was found that the career time of the expert had significant influence on the evaluation result (P < 0.05), which suggested that practice makes repeatability. Some panelists of different career type and education background concluded different results, but no statistical significance was found. Furthermore, four predominant organoleptic parameters, shape, color, texture and section characteristics, were selected based on statistics and panelists' discussion to judge the commercial specification of rhubarb. In conclusion, we firstly demonstrated the organoleptic evaluation is an objective and repeatable approach to judge the commercial specification of CMM; and we recommend Delphi method to do validation and standardization for the conventional experiences of traditional Chinese medicine.
Delphi Technique ; Rheum ; standards ; Sensation

The differences of 34 rhubarb samples collected on the market and at producing area were investigated by chemical analysis on the contents of anthraquinones and chromatographic fingerprints, in order to assess the rationality of the commercial specification of rhubarb. The results indicated that the commercial specification of rhubarb was not correlated to the contents of anthraquinones as well as the price. The chromatographic fingerprints of rhubarb samples from different producing area were dissimilar, while the commercial specifications were difficult to be separated. Generally, the rhubarb samples produced in famous-region contained more anthraquinones. This demonstrated rationality on the traditional records of the famous-region of rhubarb from a chemical view. In this study, it was firstly reported that rhubarb could be categorized into two types, chrysophanol-type and rhein-type, based on the proportion of the two constituents in the total anthraquinones after acid hydrohysis. It was found that the rhubarb samples of rhein-type were mostly produced in famous-regions, such as Qinghai, Xizang, West Sichuan and Gansu. The literatures reported that rhein was superior to chrysophanol at many pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetic properties. Hence, we primarily considered that rhein-type rhubarb might be high-quality. These results were helpful to improve the commercial specification of rhubarb from a view of chemical information.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Rheum ; chemistry

Objective To construct a Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K double mutant mouse model by crossbreeding Pnpla3 148M/M homozygous mice and Tm6sf2 167K/K homozygous mice. Methods Pnpla3 148I/M Tm6sf2 167E/K heterozygous mice were bred by hybridization of Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167E/E and Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K homozygous mice, and the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice were obtained by the self-crossbreeding of Pnpla3 148I/M Tm6sf2 167E/K mice. Male mice of Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K ( n =6), Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167E/E ( n =6), and Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K ( n =6) genotypes and Wt mice ( n =6) were fed with normal diet for 8 weeks, and then the glucose and lipid metabolism indices were measured. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison bewteen two groups. Results Agarose gel electrophoresis and nucleic acid sequencing results showed that the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K double mutant mouse model was successfully constructed. There were no significant difference in body weight between the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice and the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167E/E , Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K , and Wt mice (all P > 0.05). The Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice had a significantly higher liver wet weight than the Wt mice ( P < 0.05). The fasting blood glucose of Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice was significantly lower than that of Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K mice and Wt mice (both P < 0.05). The glucose tolerance of Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice was significantly reduced compared with the Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K mice ( P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in insulin level between the four groups of mice (all P > 0.05). Also, there were no significant differences in the serum levels of biochemical indices between the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice and the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167E/E , Pnpla3 148I/I Tm6sf2 167K/K , and Wt mice (all P > 0.05). Oil red O staining of the liver showed that more lipid accumulation was observed in the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K mice than in the Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167E/E and Wt mice. Conclusion The Pnpla3 148M/M Tm6sf2 167K/K double mutant mouse model was successfully constructed. Pnpla3 Ⅰ 148M and Tm6sf2 E 167K double mutations can cause abnormal glucose metabolism in mice.