A rapid, simple and sensitive method was establised for the evaluatiou of Chinese traditional medicine "Joufenaan" by HPLC. Sample of "Joufensan" was extracted by solvent, and the extraction analysed by HPLC using an inertsil ODS column with a solvent system, acetonitrile-water-phospboric acid-sodium dodecyl sulfate(38:62:0.1:0.5) at 40℃ and UV detector. The new method was reliable for the evaluation of ephedrine aud strychnine in "Joufensan".

OBJECTIVETo identify the volatile components in rat urine after oral administration of "Wu-Hu-Tang" (WHT).

METHODGC-MS technique was applied to analyzing urine samples.

RESULTEighteen components were detected in the WHT-treated rat urine other than the corresponding control. Among them, 14 components were identified, and 7 were also found in the extract of WHT.

CONCLUSIONThe above detected components might be derived from WHT, and some of them are effective components of WHT.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cyclohexenes ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedrine ; analysis ; urine ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; urine ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the quality of Semen Armeniacae Amarum.

METHODThe amygdalin content in the samples of Semen Armeniacae Amarum from different markets was analysed by HPLC. Some physical and chemical tests were done to investigate their quality.

RESULTSome significant differences in amygdalin contents and some physical and chemical parameters were shown between the crude drugs and the processed ones. There are few changes in amygdalin contents with the storage in 17 years.

CONCLUSIONThe processing conditions are the main factors that affect the quality of Semen Armeniacae Amarum. Furthermore, a systematic evaluation of the quality of its samples from the different markets has been established by a radar diagram based on the following five parameters: amygdalin contents, the lipid content, ethanol-soluble extract, total ash and acid-insoluble ash.

Amygdalin ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunus ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

The main drug therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is Western medical treatment, and no recommended oriental medical approach has been described. In this report, we focused on the medical herb Radix Astragali of single component which has been reportedly effective in improving nephritis and renal function. We analyzed the experience of using Radix Astragali in our hospital and reviewed the clinical features. Twenty-two cases were enrolled in this study. Irrespective of gender, age, CKD duration, the decreasing speed of estimated GFR, proteinuria, or diabetes, eGFR improved in all the patients. Furthermore, clinic blood pressure fluctuation and qualitative urinary protein also showed improvement. Radix Astragali is effective for CKD regardless of clinical features, severity, causative disease, and may be useful and safe for CKD treatment.