OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of flavonoids in different part and different harvesting seasons of Hypericum japonicum.METHODS: The total content of flavonoids in H.japonicum was determined by colorimetry and the contents of quercetin,rutin and isorhamnetin in H.japonicum were determined by HPLC.RESULTS: The H.japonicum harvested in different seasons showed no significant difference in terms of the contents of total flavonoids.H.japonicum from Guangxi province contained no isorhamnetin but which was rich in the contents of quercetin and rutin.In H.japonicum,the content of total flavonoids was rich in the seeds and leaves but poor in the roots,and hardly had isorhamnetin,quercetin and rutin been detected in the roots.CONCLUSION:H.japonicum harvested in the spring season is low and small in size with low-yield;therefore,fall is its optimal harvesting season.Furthermore,the specification in Chinese Pharmacopeia that the medicinal part of H.japonicum is the entire herb has been proved to be scientific.

AIM:To investigate the effects of perfluorocarbon and ligustrazine on lung injury during liver transplantation in pigs with hepatopulmonary syndrome. METHODS:A hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) model of pig was established by chronic bile duct ligation. The animals were assigned randomly to 2 groups:(1) Perfluorocarbon in combination with ligustrazine treatment groups (PFCL group):the pigs were treated with intratracheal instillation of perfluorocarbon and ligustrazine; (2) The conventional mechanical ventilation group (MV group):all animals were subjected to mechanical ventilation and orthotopic liver transplantation. After 5 h the lungs were harvested for further analysis. RESULTS:The lung wet to dry weight radio,pulmonary permeation index and leukocyte count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in PFCL group significantly decreased compared to MV group (P<0.05). Contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the lung tissue,plasma and BALF of pigs in PFCL group were significantly lower than those in MV group (P<0.05). Moreover,the activation of NF-κB was inhibited markedly by PFCL. CONCLUSION:Perfluorocarbon in combination with ligustrazine effectively reduces the PMN accumulation in the lungs,inhibits TNF-α and IFN-γ production and protects against lung injury during liver transplantation in pigs with hepatopulmonary syndrome.