This study aims to investigate the correlations of the appearance traits, total antioxidant capacity, and component content of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods, explore the effects of different processing methods on the abovementioned three aspects of Forsythiae Fructus, and screen out the internal and external indicators that have important effects on its quality. It determined the length, diameter, stem length, chroma value L~*, a~*, b~*, and other appearance indexes and antioxidant activity of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods. The content of forsythiaside A, rutin, forsythin, pinoresinol, and phillygenin was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). Correlation analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and independent sample t-test analysis were performed on the appearance indexes and the component content. The correlation analysis showed that there were differences in the appearance traits and the component content. L~* and E~* had highly significant negative correlations with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01) and significant positive correlations with forsythiaside A(P<0.05). There were a highly significant negative correlation between a~* and forsythiaside A(P<0.01) and highly significant positive correlations of a~* with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). There were a highly significant positive correlation between b~* and forsythiaside A(P<0.01) and highly significant negative correlations of b~* with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). The total antioxidant capacity had highly significant negative correlations with pinoresinol and phillygenin(P<0.01). The PCA results showed that there were differences among Forsythiae Fructus samples processed by different methods. OPLS-DA marked five important indicators, which were forsythiaside A, stem length, E~*, L~*, and b~*. The results of independent sample t-test showed that the content of forsythiaside A, pinoresinol, and phillygenin, the total antioxidant capacity, and the appearance traits such as L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~* were significantly different between the Forsythiae Fructus samples processed by steaming and boiling(P<0.05). According to content determination and a related biological activity analysis, steaming is a good choice from the perspective of improving the stability of chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Forsythiae Fructus. From the point of view of improving the stability of chemical constituents and anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Forsythiae Fructus, it is recommended to use boiling as the processing method. Based on the above analysis methods, the main indexes for the appearance traits of Forsythiae Fructus processed by different methods are powder chroma value(L~*, a~*, b~*, E~*), stem length, and total antioxidant capacity, and those for chemical constituents are the content of forsythiaside A, pinoresinol, and phillygenin. This study provides reference for seeking scientific processing methods of Forsythiae Fructus.
Forsythia/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Antioxidants/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glycosides/analysis* ; Principal Component Analysis ; Furans ; Lignans

BACKGROUND: In recent years, heated tobacco products (HTPs), which are widely used in Japan, have been sold by various brands using additives such as flavors. It has been reported that the components of mainstream smoke are different from those of conventional cigarettes. In this study, we established an analytical method for furans and pyridines in the mainstream smoke, which are characteristic of HTPs and particularly harmful among the generated components, and investigated the amount of component to which the smokers are exposed. METHODS: We established a simple analytical method for simultaneous analysis of gaseous and particulate compounds in the mainstream smoke of HTPs (IQOS, glo, ploom S) in Japan by combining a sorbent cartridge and glass fiber filter (Cambridge filter pad (CFP)). Both the sorbent cartridge and CFP were extracted using 2-propanol and analyzed via GC-MS/MS to determine the concentration of furans and pyridines generated from each HTP. RESULTS: The results showed that the levels of target furans such as furfural, 2-furanmethanol, 2(5H)-furanone, and 5-methylfurfural tended to be higher in the mainstream smoke of glo than in standard cigarettes (3R4F). Pyridine, which is generated at a high level in 3R4F as a combustion component, and 4-ethenylpyridine (EP), which is a known marker of environmental tobacco smoke, were detected. Among these components, 2-furanmethanol and pyridine are classified as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Therefore, it is possible that they will contribute to the health effects caused by use of HTPs. CONCLUSIONS Using the new collection and analytical method for furans and pyridines in the mainstream smoke of HTPs, the level of each compound to which smokers are exposed could be clarified. By comprehensively combining information on the amount of ingredients and toxicity, it will be possible to perform a more detailed calculation of the health risks of using HTPs. In addition, the components detected in this study may be the causative substances of indoor pollution through exhaled smoke and sidestream smoke; therefore, environmental research on the chemicals generated from HTPs would be warranted in future studies.
Furans/analysis* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Japan ; Pyridines/analysis* ; Smoke/analysis* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tobacco Products

In this study, chemistry, biology and pharmacology were combinated to screen pseudoallergenic substances of Shuang-huanglian injection (SHLI) so that to establish a scientific and systematic approach to screen pseudoallergenic substances of traditional Chinese medicine injections. The mouse pseudoallergic reaction models were used to screen the pseudoallergic reaction of SHLI's intermediate extract and the intermediate extract's component or ingredient. Among the three intermediates of Shuanghuanglian injection (extract of Scutellaria baicalensis, extract of Lonicera japonica, extract of Forsythia suspensa) , pseudoallergic action of Forsythia suspensa was the strongest, Forsythia suspesnsa's pseudoallergic reaction mainly associated with the composition with largerchemical polarity. Further it was found that forsythiaside A and arctiin which existed in the the composition with largerchemical polarity caused obvious pseudoallergic reactions. SHLI with removal forsythoside A with the technology of HPLC-MS displayed reduced pseudoallergic reaction and a significant improved safety. This study provided a scientific basis for SHLI process improvements and also offered idea and research foundation for screening pseudoallergenic substances injections in other TCM injections.
Animals ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Furans ; adverse effects ; Glucosides ; adverse effects ; Glycosides ; adverse effects ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

This paper reports a pharmacophylogenetic study of a medicinal plant family, Ranunculaceae, investigating the correlations between their phylogeny, chemical constituents, and pharmaceutical properties. Phytochemical, ethnopharmacological, and pharmacological data were integrated in the context of the systematics and molecular phylogeny of the Ranunculaceae. The chemical components of this family included several representative metabolic groups: benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, ranunculin, triterpenoid saponin, and diterpene alkaloids, among others. Ranunculin and magnoflorine were found to coexist in some genera. The pharmacophylogenetic analysis, integrated with therapeutic information, agreed with the taxonomy proposed previously, in which the family Ranunculaceae was divided into five sub-families: Ranunculoideae, Thalictroideae, Coptidoideae, Hydrastidoideae, and Glaucidioideae. It was plausible to organize the sub-family Ranunculoideae into ten tribes. The chemical constituents and therapeutic efficacy of each taxonomic group were reviewed, revealing the underlying connections between phylogeny, chemical diversity, and clinical use, which should facilitate the conservation and sustainable utilization of the pharmaceutical resources derived from the Ranunculaceae.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Aporphines ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Biodiversity ; Furans ; analysis ; Humans ; Methylglycosides ; analysis ; Phylogeny ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Terpenes ; analysis ; therapeutic use

The present study was designed to optimize the processing of Fructus Arctii by response surface methodology (RSM). Based on single factor studies, a three-variable, three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to monitor the effects of independent variables, including processing temperature and time, on the dependent variables. Response surfaces and contour plots of the contents of total lignans, chlorogenic acid, arctiin, and arctigenin were obtained through ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) monitoring and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fructus Arctii should be processed under heating in a pot at 311 °C, medicine at 119 °C for 123s with flipping frequently. The experimental values under the optimized processing technology were consistent with the predicted values. In conclusion, RSM is an effective method to optimize the processing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Arctium ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Furans ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Lignans ; analysis ; Surface Properties ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Air ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Ethylene Oxide ; analysis ; Furans ; analysis ; Methylene Chloride ; analysis ; Workplace

Acetylcysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Female ; Furans ; urine ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; analysis ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for quantitative analysis of gastrodin, baicalin, paeonolum and pinoresinol diglucoside in Tiangou capsules by HPLC.

METHODThe separation was performed on SinoChrom ODS-BP column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% phosphoric acid aqueous solution with gradient elution program. The flow rate was 1.0 ml x min(-1) and the column temperature was 30 degrees C. UV detection wavelength was set at 230 nm.

RESULTThe linear ranges of gastrodin, baicalin, paeonolum and pinoresinol diglucoside were 0.1168-1.1680, 0.1142-1.1420, 0.0512-0.5120, 0.0556-0.5560 microg, respectively. The average recoveries of gastrodin, baicalin, paeonolum and pinoresinol diglucoside were 100.3% (RSD 0.53%), 99.96% (RSD 1.15%), 99.90% (RSD 1.17%), 99.97% (RSD 1.62%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is accurate, simple, feasible and reliable, and is available for the quality control of Tiangou capsules.

Benzyl Alcohols ; chemistry ; Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; Linear Models ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEHeadspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used pre-concentration procedure for the determination of tetrahydrofuran in urine by gas chromatography with hydrogen flame detector.

METHODSSeveral parameters controlling SPME was studied and optimised: SPME fiber, extraction time and extraction temperature, desorption time and desorption temperature.

RESULTSUnder optimal conditions, the correlation coefficient was 0.9998 and good recoveries (range from 93.0% ∼ 100.8%) were achieved, the detection limit was 0.5 µg/L.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be applied to the determination of trace amount of tetrahydrofuran in urine.

Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Furans ; urine ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between ITS sequence of Arctium lappa and Fructus Arctii quality of different origin.

METHODThe samples of Fructu arctii materials were collected from 26 different producing areas. Their ITS sequence were determined after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quality were evaluated through the determination of arctiin content by HPLC. Genetic diversity, genotype and correlation were analyzed by ClustalX (1.81), Mage 4.0, SPSS 13.0 statistical software.

RESULTITS sequence of A. was obtained from 26 samples, and was registered in the GenBank. Corresponding arctiin content of Fructus arctii and 1000-grain weight were determined. A. lappa genotype correlated with Fructus arctii quality by statistical analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe research provided a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of Fructus arctii geoherbs.

Arctium ; chemistry ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Furans ; analysis ; Genotype ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Software