This study explores the therapeutic differences and mechanisms of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving insulin resistance(IR) based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular experiments. The components and intersection targets of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in improving IR were collected from databases, and a "drug-component-target-disease" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were constructed to screen core components and targets. A total of 29 active components and 240 intersection targets were identified, of which 13 were core targets. Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify key signaling pathways, and molecular docking was performed to validate the binding activity between core components and targets. An IR model in HepG2 cells was induced using insulin combined with high glucose, and the effects of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex before and after salt-processing on cell glucose consumption were evaluated. The expression of proteins related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT) signaling pathways was detected by Western blot. The cellular experimental results showed that, compared with the model group, glucose consumption in the drug-treated groups was significantly increased(P<0.01), the phosphorylation level of extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK) was decreased(P<0.05), the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT were increased, and the expression of glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) was also upregulated(P<0.05). Furthermore, the effect of salt-processed Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex was better than that of raw Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. The study demonstrates that Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, both before and after salt-processing, improves IR by regulating the expression of related proteins in the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, with enhanced effects after salt-processing.
Humans ; Network Pharmacology ; Phellodendron/chemistry* ; Insulin Resistance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Glucose/metabolism*

Through the investigation of Phellodendron Cortex on the market, and 28 batches of samples were collected. By using spectrophotometer the color values of outer surface, inner surface and cross - section of these samples were measured. These measured color data was translated into 3D structure diagram by using the Lab color space tool. The level difference value, the mean value and the threshold value were calculated based the measured color data of these different batches of samples. All 28 groups measured data was analyzed using the methods of Ward linkage and average Euclidean distance. At the same time, we invited Professor Jin Shiyuan, the "Chinese medicine master", to identify, quality-evaluate and grade these 28 batches of Phellodendron Cortex samples base on the traditional experience, then compared the traditional empirical results with the spectrophotometer measurement results. The result showed that, the Phellodendron Cortex could be divided into Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex by color numerical clustering, and classified according to quality. The classification result has a high degree of consistency with the traditional experience.
China ; Color ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Spectrophotometry

A RP-HPLC method was established for simultaneous determination of phellodendrine hydrochloride (PH1), magnoflorine hydrochloride (MH), jatrorrhizine hydrochloride (JH), palmatine hydrochloride (PH2) and berberine hydrochloride (BH) in Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex by using ionic liquids as mobile phase additives. The separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The effect of extraction solvent, detection wavelength, length of alkyl chain on different imidazolium ionic liquids and concentration of ionic liquids on the separation and determination of alkaloids were investigated. Ionic liquid, [BMIm] BF4, can obviously improve the resolution and peak shape. This ILs-HPLC method is simple, rapid, and reliable, which can be used for determination of alkaloids in Phellodenddri Chinensis Cortex.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phellodendron ; chemistry

Conducted research on new allelochemicals phellamurine extracted from deciduous of Phellodendron amurense, which worked in allelopathy effect to seed germination and growth process of P. amurense and P. chinense in order to interpret the causes of rare seedlings of wild populations of P. amurense. Extracted and separated phellamurine from P. amurense deciduous, and treated the seeds of P. amurense and P. chinense in after-ripening stage and germination stage with different concentrations of phellamurine solution, then detection of the seed germination rate, germination index, seedling height, root length and seed vigor index to evaluate the allelopathic effect of phellamurine. The results show that: phellamurine solution at 0.30 g x L(-1) produce significant inhibition to seed after-ripening of P. amurense, and also the solution at 0.15 g x L(-1) produce significant inhibition to seeds germination of P. amurense; the solution at 0.15 g x L(-1) produce significant inhibition to seeds after-ripening and seeds germination of P. chinense, inhibition intensity increased with the concentration and enhanced. For both species, the presence of phellamurine can lower the seed germination rate, extend the germination time, reduce the ability of seedlings to adapt to the environment, thus the phellamurine may be one of the causes of rare seedlings in the wild population of P. amurense.
Allelopathy ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Germination ; drug effects ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Pheromones ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo optimize the technology of Ermiao Wan decoction by SBE with uniform design.

METHODUniform design was used to optimize the efficient processing conditions of the SBE for Ermiao Wan decoction according to the content of the berberine, total alkaloids, volatile oil and the yield of the total extract.

RESULTThe extract condition for Ermiao Wan decoction was set up as follow: the pH value of the water was 6.00, 6.50 and 8.7, respectively,and the extract times were 2, 1 and 1 h,respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe optimized extraction condition of the SBE for Ermiao Wan decoction is reasonable.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Berberine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the optimum compatibility extraction technology of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex.

METHODThe drugs were combined respectively firstly, then use HPLC to determinate extraction rates of evaluating indicators including emodin, chrysophano, baicalin and berberine hydrochloride. Orthogonal experiment was used to detect the effect on concentration and volume of ethanol, times of extraction.

RESULTThe extraction rates of evaluating indicators were relatively high in combined extraction of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma with Scutellariae Radix and single extraction of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. The optimized combined extraction were 12 times more than the volume of 60% ethanol solution, by boiling for 3 times, each for 1.0 hour, and that of single extraction were 10 times more than the volume of 60% ethanol solution, by boiling for 3 times, each for 1.0 hour.

CONCLUSIONThe optimized compatibility extraction technology is reasonable, stable and practical.

Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Through the study of allelopathy of the pericarp of Phellodendron amurense, the role of self-regeneration barriers was investigated in order to find ways and means for the protection of wild populations of P. amurense. Solution preparation: soaked pericarp of P. amurense in distilled water at 4 degrees C to get solution A, and reflux extraction of pericarp with distilled water at 100 degrees C to get solution B. Both of the solution A and solution B were used in the experiment of seed germination and seedling growth with the seeds of cabbage and wheat. The results showed that 20 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A and solution B inhibited significantly seed germination of cabbage and wheat, while 100 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A even completely inhibited the seed germination of wheat. 20 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A significantly inhibited the cabbage and wheat seedling growth, completely inhibited the root growth of cabbage, while 100 g x L(-1) concentrations of solution A completely inhibited seedling growth of cabbage and wheat. Comparing to solution A, the intensity of solution B are diminished on seed germination and seedling growth. It is concluded that the allelopathy of pericarp of P. amurense is multi-material role in the results, some of allelochemicals are easily degradable when exposed to heat. Overall, the allelopathy of pericarp of P. amurense can affect the seed germination and seedling growth. It is supposed that allelochemicals existed in the pericarp of P. amurense is one of the reason leading to difficulties in self-regeneration of its population.
Brassica ; drug effects ; Germination ; drug effects ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; Triticum ; drug effects

Establishment of bioassay methods is the technical issues to be faced with in the bioassay of Chinese materia medica. Taking the bioassay of Coptis chinensis Franch. as an example, the establishment process and application of the bioassay methods (including bio-potency and bio-activity fingerprint) were explained from the aspects of methodology, principle of selection, experimental design, method confirmation and data analysis. The common technologies were extracted and formed with the above aspects, so as to provide technical support for constructing pattern and method of the quality control for Chinese materia medica based on the dao-di herbs and bioassay.
Berberine ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Berberis ; chemistry ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Materia Medica ; standards ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo develop a HPLC method to determine the content of jatrorrhizine, palmatine, berberine, and obacunone in Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex simultaneously. MEHTOD: The separations were carried out at 25 degrees C on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitril and water containing 0.1% phosphoric acid in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), detection wavelengthes were 345 nm for jatrorrhizine , palmatine, berberine and 210 nm for obacunone.

RESULTThe average recoveries of jatrorrhizine, palmatine, berberine, and obacunone were 98.94%, 101.17%, 96.22% and 98.90%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and repeatable, and can be used in content determination of jatrorrhizine, palmatine, berberine, and obacunone in Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex.

Benzoxepins ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Limonins ; analysis ; Phellodendron ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo optimize the combination modes of medical materials in extract of Huanglian Jiedu decoction.

METHODDivided the medical materials of Huanglian Jiedu decotion into 15 groups and extracted by semi-bionic estraction (SBE), the contents of berberine, baicalin, geniposide, total alkaloid, total flavonoid, total integral calculus area of HPLC and extract of 1 000 were determined, standardized, weighted and evaluated, respectively.

RESULTThe maximum evaluated value Y for the extracting technique was AD + BC.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal combination mode of the perscription is that Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Gardeniae, Radix Scutellariae and Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis are decocted together respectively then the two decoctions are merged.

Coptis ; chemistry ; Dosage Forms ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry