Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the etiology and progression of various diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, the whole plants of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparations (e.g. Bairui Granules) have been employed to manage inflammatory conditions. While flavonoids were previously considered the primary anti-inflammatory components, other potentially active constituents have been largely overlooked and not thoroughly investigated. This study presents a novel finding that the total alkaloids of T. chinense (BC-Alk) are potent active substances underlying the traditional and clinical applications of T. chinense and Bairui Granules as anti-inflammatory agents. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified the composition of BC-Alk as quinolizidine alkaloids. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of BC-Alk was evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation model in mice. Results demonstrated that BC-Alk significantly mitigated LPS-induced lung inflammation, attenuated the overproduction of IL-1β and the overproduction of inflammatory factors (TNF-α), and ameliorated lung tissue hyperplasia in mice in vivo. Mechanistic studies in vitro revealed that BC-Alk upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream proteins NQO1 and glutamate-cystine ligase and modifier subunit (GCLM), inhibited NF-κB phosphorylation, and suppressed NLRP3 activation. Collectively, these findings indicate that BC-Alk exerts potent inhibitory effects against lung inflammation by modulating Nrf2, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways. This study provides new insights into the anti-inflammatory constituents of T. chinense and Bairui Granules.
Animals ; Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects* ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Pneumonia/genetics*

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the extraction technology of Paeonia lactiflora. METHODS:The surface figure made by mixed uniform design combined with the quadratic polynomial stepwise regression equation is adopted to optimize the extraction technology of P. lactiflora by using the content of paeoniflorin as index,with extraction solvent,the amount of extraction solvent, extraction time,extraction times as factors. RESULTS:The optimal extraction technology of P. lactiflora was as follows as 90%ethanol,12-folds extraction solvent,extracting for 150 min,extracting for 2 times. The measured value of 3 validation tests were 2.848 4%,2.795 7%,2.841 9%(RSD=0.82%,n=3),which was close to the predicted value 2.848 4%. CONCLUSIONS:The method is convenient and accurate,and can be used for the extraction of P. lactiflora.

OBJECTIVETo develop a HPLC method quantitative method for simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, 1, 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside and apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside in Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.

METHODA Phenomenex Gemini-NX C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with CH3 OH and 0.4% H3PO4 as mobile phases. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1), the column temperature was 25 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was set at 350 nm.

RESULTThe 6 active components were in baseline separation. The linearity of this method was good (r > or = 0.999 7), and the average recoveries were 100.6% - 102.4%, RSD < 3%. Except isochlorogenic acid A, the contents of the determined components in the steam-blanched flower heads were significantly higher than those non blanched. The contents of chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A in the steam-blanched semiopened flower heads were higher than fully opened ones by 53% and 41%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is sensitive, accurate, reliable and repeatable, which can be used for quality evaluation of Chrysanthemum.

Apigenin ; analysis ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Cinnamates ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Luteolin ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Purpose To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata(RRP)on the footpad inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA)in rats.Methods CFA 100 μL were injected subcutaneously to the Wistar rats at the pad of right hindfoots.19 days later,the rats were daily siven RRP water extract(0.625,1.250,2.500 g/kg·bw)or dexamethasone(0.5mg/ks·bw)intragastrically.The changes of body weight and foot volume were measured.The indexes of organ and blood were determined at the 29th day,the foot pad was removed,and routine paraffin section was performed.Results The model rats kept foot swelling and lymphocyte infiltrating,and the platelet number decreased.The other indexes were statistically insignificant when compared to the controls.RRP did not display any anti-inflammatory effect on the swollon foots,but thoracic gland and spleen indexes were rescued,and platelet number and creatinine content were increased by RRP administration in a dose-dependent manner.The anti-inflammation of dexamethasone was conspicuous,but the side effects were also significant.Conclusion RRP may be plays an adjunctive action in herbal recipes to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To investigate the cause of continuous cropping obstacle of Rehmannia glutinosa and screen beneficial bacteria.Methods In vitro cultured plantlets and potted plants were inoculated with different isolated soil bacteria. The plants were harvested and weighted in 30 and 60 d,respectively.Results In the in vitro culture experiment,11 out of 48 strains displayed promoting action on the growth of plantlets,and 11 other strains showed inhibitory or lethal action.In the potted test,16 strains showed promoting action and 13 strains showed suppressing or lethal action.Conclusion Soil bacteria influence the growth of R.glutinosa significantly.The flora of rhizosphere bacteria may be disturbed by the cultivation of R.glutinosa and inoculation of beneficial bacteria might be effective on the resolution of continuous cropping obstacle of R.glutinosa.

Objective To testify the screening function of stachyose on soil bacteria by investigating the bacterial culture in ammonium stachyose medium. Methods The turbidimetry was used to determine the absorbance of microbial suspension at 600 nm per 2 h under the same initial concentration of the microbial suspension and to draw their growth curves. Results Most of soil bacteria utilized stachyose ineffectively, while only a few of them grown well in ammonium stachyose medium. Conclusion Since the major soil bacteria can not take stachyose fully as their energy resources, the species and quantity of rhizobacteria may decrease largely and only a few that utilized stachyose better can develop vigorously. Those rhizobateria with better utilization of stachyose may multiply so rapidly as potential ones in the rhizosphere of Rehmannia glutinosa that the disequilibrium of soil microorganism appears.

Object To develop a method of multiplying virus free clonal seedlings of CV.85 5 of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaert.) Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey.. Methods The leaf cut segments with or without tips of plantlets were grown in different media (mg/L) (1.MS+BA 0.5; 2 MS+BA 0.5+NAA 0.02;3 MS+BA 0.5+NAA 0.02+GA 3 0.1; 4 1/2 MS+BA 0.1; 5 1/2 MS+BA 0.1+GA 3 0.1; 6.1/2 MS+GA 3 0.1) to select a suitable medium, and the height and the numbers of newly formed leaves and roots were recorded 30 days later. To screen out a favorable condition, similar segments were transferred to No.2 medium at different temperatures in different illuminations, and the height together with the leaf number and the fresh weight of the plantlets was recorded.Results In the former three media, the segments with tips were flourishing and one to three axillary buds were formed at its basal stem; while in those without tips almost every axillary bud developed with the main tip length 0.5～1.5 cm. In the later three media, thd elongation of the segments was usually overstimulated, and the slim plantlets with fewer leaves and more roots formed. When the segments cultured in No.2 medium, all records at 28 ℃ were higher than those at 23 ℃ in the same illuminations. But the leaf size and the height of the plantlets were inversely proportional to the intensity of illumination at the same temperature. In addition, antagonism between BA and GA 3 was found.Conclusion No.2 medium is more suitable for the multiplication of the virus free seedlings of 85 5 when cultured at 28 ℃ in the illumination of 1 000～2 000 lx.