With the rise of incidence, fatality rate, and number of young cases, diabetes mellitus has been one of the seven major diseases threatening human health. Although many antidiabetic drugs(oral or for injection) are available, the majority have serious side effects during the long-term use. Thus, it is of particularly vital to develop new drugs with low risk and definite effect. Psoraleae Fructus, a traditional medicinal widely used in the folk, has hypoglycemic, anti-osteoporosis, antitumor, estrogen-like, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it has great clinical application potential. Chinese medicine and the active ingredients, characterized by multiple targets, multiple pathways, and multiple effects in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, have distinct advantages in clinical application. However, the safety of Chinese medicine remains to be a challenge, and one of keys is to clarifying the mechanism of a single Chinese medicinal and its active ingredients. With the method of literature research, this study summarized and analyzed the hypoglycemic mechanisms of Psoraleae Fructus and its main active ingredients over the last decade: regulating glucose metabolism, improving insulin resistance, and directly acting on pancreatic β-cells. The result is expected to serve as a reference for further research on the effects of Psoraleae Fructus and its main chemical constituents in lowering blood glucose and preventing diabetes mellitus and the clinical application.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology* ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy* ; Psoralea/chemistry*

The present study established a determination method of Psoraleae Fructus by quantitative analysis of multi-components by the single marker(QAMS) and further improved the thin-layer chromatography(TLC) method. The QAMS method was established by UPLC with psoralen as the internal marker, and the content of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen, and isopsoralen was simultaneously determined. As revealed by the comparison with results of the external standard method, the QAMS method was accurate and feasible. According to the current quality standards of Psoraleae Fructus, the TLC method was further optimized and improved, and bakuchiol was added for identification based on the original TLC method with psoralen and isopsoralen as indicators. This study provides a reference for improving the quality control method of Psoraleae Fructus.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Ficusin ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Furocoumarins/analysis* ; Psoralea

The traditional Chinese medicine standard decoction is prepared on the basis of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and clinical application. With reference to the modern extraction method,the single decoction of traditional Chinese medicine is prepared by the standardized process,and the establishment of its quality standards is conducive to standardizing clinical medication. This research is to set an evaluation standard for the quality of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus standard decoction. Twelve batches of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus standard decoctions were prepared. The contents of psoralen and isopsoralen were determined,the transfer and extract rates were calculated,and the pH value was measured; HPLC fingerprint method was established for analysis. The results of the 12 batches of samples revealed that the transfer rates of psoralen and isopsoralen were 17. 10%-26. 40%,14. 70%-22. 70%,respectively; the extract rate was between 14. 7%-27. 0%,and the pH value was between 5. 4-6. 9. Moreover,7 common chromatographic peaks were determined based on fingerprint by using similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine( 2012 A).The similarities of the 12 batches of samples were analyzed and compared,and the results showed that the similarities were all higher than0. 9. In this study,the preparation method for salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus decoction was standard,with high similarities in fingerprint. This study build a convenient and reliable method of comprehensive quality evaluation,with a high precision,stability and repeatability,which can provide a reference for the quality control of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus dispensing granules.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Quality Control

The metabonomics method was used to study the intervention effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on the changes in serum endogenous metabolites in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing, screen out differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and explore the metabolic patterns related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and the processing synergy mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill". Efforts were made to detect SOD and MDA of each group, test rat serum metabolic fingerprints in different stages by using GC-MS, analyze by PCA and PLS-DA methods and screen out potential biomarks through VIP and t test. The results revealed that "Ershen pill" could enhance the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA and identified 10 differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea. Compared with the model group, all of metabolites recovered to varying levels after being intervened with "Ershen pill", with the best effect shown in the "Ershen pill" IV group (salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus + bran-roasted Myristicae Semen). It is speculated that that Psoraleae Fructus and Semen Myristicae in "Ershen pill" show a synergistic effect by inhibiting peroxide, improving aglucolipid, amino acids and energy metabolism, with multiple target sites.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Myristicaceae ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Twelve compounds were isolated from Psoralea corylifolia and their structures were identified as isopsoralen (1), psoralen (2), 8-methoxypsoralen (3), psoralidin (4), corylin (5), bavachin (6), daidzein (7), corylifolinin (8), bavachinin (9), neobavaisoflavone (10), daidzin (11) and astragalin (12). The results showed that psoralidin had the activity of scavenging DPPH free radicals activity (IC50 43.85 mg x L(-1)). Psoralidin (IC50 1.32 mg x L(-1))c, oryfolin (IC50 4.97 mg x L(-1)), daidzin (IC50 10.47 mg x S(-1)), daidzein (IC50 34.22 mg) x L(-1)) and astragalin (IC50 31.27 mg x L(-1)) had the activity of scavenging ABTS free radical. Psoralidin (IC50 40.74 mg x L(-1)), coryfolin (IC50 45.73 mg x L(-1)) and daidzein (IC50 49.44 mg x L(-1)) had alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Corylifolinin and neobavaisoflavone had significantly effect of inhibiting SA, MRSA and ESBLs-SA (MIC 0. 781 3, 1.562, 5, 0.781 25 microg x disc(-1) and 6.25, 6.25, 6.25 microg x disc(-1).
Anti-Infective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry

Advanced technologies are used to clarify the meridian tropism theory of traditional Chinese medicine is an important part of theoretical studies of traditional Chinese medicine. In this article, modern pharmacokinetic method was used to investigate tissue distribution characteristics of psoralen and isopsoralen of Psoraleae Fructus decoction in rats, in order to provide research ideas and experimental basis for the meridian tropism theory. In this study, various tissue samples such as heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain and spermary were collected at different times after oral administration with FP decoction, in order to determine concentration of psoralen and isopsoralen by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 software. The study results showed that HPLC indexes of psoralen and isopsoralen in various tissues of rats met the determination requirements of biological samples. Both components were distributed in all of the tissues, with AUC(0-t) order of liver > lung approximately kidney > heart > brain approximately spleen > spermary. There was significant difference between liver, kidney, lung and other tissues (P < 0.05). MRT(0-t) of both psoralen and isopsoralen were about 10 h. Therefore, psoralen and isopsoralen showed stronger targeting selection in liver, kidney and lung.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furocoumarins ; pharmacokinetics ; Kinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo optimize the preparation of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus by the orthogonal test method.

METHODWith the 12 components such as coumarin, flavone and phenolics as study indexes, a L9 (3(4)) orthogonal test was adopted to compare the effect of different factors on salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus.

RESULTAccording to the finalized optimal process, 100 g Psoraleae Fructus was added with 2 g salt, moistened for 2 hours, and then fried for 10 min at 150 degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe orthogonal test is so reasonable and reliable that it can provide basis for the preparation of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavones ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Phenols ; analysis ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sodium Chloride ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the total content change of psoralea and isopsoralea in Psoralea corylifolia under different temperature, and predict its term of validity by initial average rate stability test in order to provide the basis for assessing its quality.

METHODThe reaction rate constant K was replaced by initial velocity V. According to Arrhenius rule, storage period was obtained at room temperature.

RESULTThe stable life of P. corylifolia has been determined as 0.53 years.

CONCLUSIONThe high temperature is not conducive to the stability of the P. corylifolia, which need to store in a dark and cool place.

Drug Stability ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo establish a convenient and rapid method of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for the extraction of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia.

METHODThe effects of various parameters on the MAE were investigated with several single-factor tests, and compared with the traditional extraction.

RESULTThe optimal conditions of MAE were as follows: the extractine time was 3 min, and the ratio of solvent to material was 400 mL x g(-1) by using methanol as the solvent. Compared with soxhlet extraction, heat reflux extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, MAE needed only 3 min to give the highest yield of psoralen and isopsoralen, while the other extraction methods needed several hours and gave lower yield.

CONCLUSIONThe proposed method has greatly shortened extraction time and improved extraction yield, so it provides a neotype, simple and rapid measure for the separation of psoralen and isopsoralen from P. corylifolia.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ficusin ; chemistry ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; Microwaves ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

UNLABELLEDOBJECITVE: To established an efficient method for simultaneous quantification of 7 compounds belonging to 4 chemical types in Psoralea corylifolia processed by different methods, and to elucidate variations of 4 kinds of compounds in different processed P. corylifolia.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on an ACUITY C18 column using acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution in the gradient elution at 0.4 mL x min(-1). Detection wavelength was set at 246 nm. Column temperature was fixed at 50 degrees C.

RESULTThe 4 kinds of compounds including psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside (benzofuran glycosides), psoralen, isopsoralen, psoralidin (coumarins), bavachin (flavonoids), and bakuchiol (meroterpenes) were separated in 25 min. The correlation coefficients of those compounds were over 0.9993 in the tested range. The intra- and inter-day precisions were below 1.5%. The average recoveries ranged from 99.2% to 106%.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, rapid and accurate, which can be used for the determination of the 4 kinds of compounds in different processed P. corylifolia. In P. corylifolia processed by different methods, the contents of benzofuran glycosides, flavonoids, and meroterpenes in P. corylifolia processed by Leigong's method decrease obviously, while the contents of psoralen and isopsoralen increase significantly.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Technology, Pharmaceutical