Objective To grasp the main environmental factors affecting the growth of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao;To predict the distribution of suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province;To provide references for the rational distribution of the resources in Shanxi Province.Methods This study utilized the sample point longitude and latitude information collected in the"Fourth Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources"database in Shanxi Province.The data were supplemented by searching the China Digital Herbarium and retrieving related literature records.347 sample points distribution data and environmental factors were added to the MaxEnt model.The main environmental factors and contribution rates affecting the geographical distribution of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao were screened out.The ArcGIS software was used to divide the ecological suitable area of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province.Results The area under the ROC curve of the established MaxEnt model was 0.909,indicating that the model prediction results were accurate.The model screened 19 environmental factors.Among them,climate factor was the most important environmental factor,followed by biological factor and topographic factor,and soil factor had the least influence.The potential suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province were mainly distributed in the northern mountainous areas,presenting a trend of gradually decreasing suitability levels from north to south.Under the current climate conditions,the most suitable area for Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province was 15 424 km2,the suitable area was 19 856 km2,the sub suitable area was 59 436 km2,and the unsuitable area was 61 894 km2.Conclusion Based on MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software,this study predicts the distribution of suitable areas of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Shanxi Province,which has certain reference value for the protection and rational distribution of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao resources in Shanxi Province.

Objective To establish ecological suitability zone of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl in Shanxi Province;To study the quality regionalization of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl from different producing areas in Shanxi Province;To provide reference for reasonable planting and wild tending of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl.Methods Maximum entropy(MaxEnt)model and ArcGIS software were used to study the ecological suitability of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl in Shanxi Province;By screening the main environmental factors and combining them with the content of forsythoside and forsythoside A in Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl of different regions,a quality zoning of Forsythia suspensa Thunb.Vahl medicinal materials in Shanxi Province based on forsythoside,forsythoside A and environmental factors was constructed.Results The ecological suitable areas of Forsythia suspensa Thunb.Vahl in Shanxi Province were mainly distributed in the southern part of Shanxi Province,mainly in Linfen,Yuncheng,Changzhi,and Jincheng.The general contents of forsythoside and forsythoside A in the Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl medicinal material were gradually reduced from southern part to northern part of Shanxi Province.The comprehensive quality was high in southern part of Shanxi Province,mainly in Linfen,Changzhi,Yuncheng and Jincheng.Conclusion The results of this study are consistent with the actual survey.The southern part of Shanxi province is a suitable planting area for high quality Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl,which provides a reference for the standardized planting and wild tending of Forsythia suspensa(Thunb.)Vahl.

ObjectiveTo optimize and establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） system to simultaneously identify Ziziphi Spinosae Semen （ZSS），Hovenia acerba semen （HAS），and Ziziphi Mauritianae Semen （ZMS）， etermine their content to solve the problem of adulteration of ZSS pieces and its preparations. MethodAfter the analysis and comparison of the internal transcribed spacer （ITS） sequence differences of ZSS and its adulterants，specific single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） sites were found，and specific primers for identification were designed. The samples of ZSS，HAS， and ZMS from different sources were specifically amplified under the conditions of optimized annealing temperature，the number of cycles， and concentration of primers，as well as different polymerases and PCR systems after evaluation. Identification was carried out according to the size of specific amplification bands，and the lower limit of detection （LOD） and adulteration LOD were studied. ResultWhen the annealing temperature was 63 ℃ and the number of cycles was 23，549，169，389 bp specific bands were amplified from ZSS，HAS， and ZMS. The lower LOD of this method was 0.24 ng and 1.2 ng for ZSS and HAS， respectively. The adulteration LOD for ZSS，HAS， and ZMS was 0.5%，2%， and 2% respectively. ConclusionThe established multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method can accurately identify ZSS，HAS， and ZMS at the same time，which can provide a basis for solving the problem of adulteration of ZSS and references for controlling the quality，security， and clinical application of ZSS.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used in clinics for the treatment ofinsomnia in China and other Asian countries. Herein, we described for the first time a comparative pharmacokinetics study of the six major compounds of ZSS in normal control (NC) and para-chlor-ophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia model (IM) rats that were orally administered the aqueous extract of ZSS. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole orbitrap mass (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of coclaurine, magnoflorine, spinosin, 6'''-feruloylspinosin, jujuboside A (JuA), and jujuboside B (JuB) in ZSS in rat plasma. The established approach was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study. The systemic exposures of spinosin and 6'''-feruloylspinosin were decreased in the IM group compared to the NC group, while plasma clearance (CL) was significantly increased. The Tmax values of JuA and JuB in IM rats were significantly lower than those in NC rats. The T1/2 of JuA in the IM group was significantly accelerated. The pharmacokinetic parameters of coclaurine and magnoflorine were not evidently affected between the two groups. These results indicate that the pathological state of insomnia altered the plasma pharmacokinetics of spinosin, 6'''-feruloylspinosin, JuA, and JuB in the ZSS aqueous extract, providing an experimental basis for the role of ZSS in insomnia treatment. The comparative pharmacokinetics-based UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS using full-scan mode can therefore provide a reliable and suitable means for the screening of potentially effective substances applied as quality markers of ZSS.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the changes of extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin in Forsythia suspensa compatible with other medicinal material of Menshi huwei formula before and after decoction. METHODS： HPLC method was used to determine the extraction amounts and to calculate the extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin in F. suspensa （5 g×7 doses）， F. suspensa （5 g×7 doses） compatible with Pinelliae rhizoma praeparatum cum zingibere et alumine （PRZA）， Menshi huwei formula [including 6 ingredients as F. suspense （5 g×7 doses）， PRZA] after decocted with water. The determination was performed on Diamonsil C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.2％ formic acid solution （gradient elution）. The detection wavelength was set at 278 nm， and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. RESULTS： The linear range of forsythiaside A and forsythin were 0.61-6.1， 0.246-2.46 μg （r＝0.999 7， 0.999 9）， respectively； RSDs of precision， stability （within 20 h） and reproducibility tests were all lower than 2％ （n＝6）. Average recovery rates were 96.10％-99.37％ （RSD≤2.36％，n＝6） respectively. In F. suspensa， extraction rates of forsythiaside A and forsythin were 96.90％ and 66.67％. In F. suspensa compatible with PRZA， extraction rates of them were 101.61％ and 54.55％. In Menshi huwei formula， extraction rates of them were 98.39％ and 84.85％. CONCLUSIONS： After F. suspensa is compatible with PRZA， the extraction rates of forsythiaside A is increased while forsythin is decreased. After compatible with other medicinal material in Menshi huwei formula， extraction rates of both are increased slightly.

OBJECTIVE： To establish a method for simultaneous determination of α-pinene， β-pinene， limonene and α-terpineol in volatile oil of Forsythia suspensa. METHODS： GC method was adopted. The determination was performed on HP-5 capillary column through temperature-programmed route. The inlet temperature was 230 ℃， and detector temperature was 250 ℃； split sampling was applied （split ratio of 8 ∶ 1）； the air flow rate was 300 mL/min， the hydrogen flow rate was 30   mL/min， the tail gas flow rate was 30 mL/min， and the injection volume was 1 μL. Using limonene as internal reference， relative correction factors of α-pinene， β-pinene and α-terpineol were established， and the reproducibility of relative correction factors were investigated by using different chromatographs and columns， and chromatographic peak location of components was measured. The contents of above components were calculated with QAMS， and then compared with the results of external standard method. RESULTS： The linear range of α-pinene， β-pinene， limonene and α-terpineol were 16.5-990.0， 38.1-2 287.5， 8.2-491.2， 2.4-142.5  μg/mL， respectively （r≥0.999 1）. RSDs of precision， reproducibility and stability tests were all lower than 3％ （n＝6）. Average recoveries were 99.7％-105.5％（RSD＜4％，n＝9）. Compared with limonene （1.00），the average relative correction factors of α-pinene， β-pinene and α-terpineol were 0.91，0.86 and 1.11（n＝3）； relative retention time were 0.69-0.74， 0.81-0.86， 1.25-1.35（RSD＜3％，n＝3）. By using different chromatographs and columns， RSDs of relative correction factors were 0.21％-4.65％（n＝6）. Compared with external standard method， determination results of above 4 components were consistent （the absolute value of relative error were all less than 7％）. CONCLUSIONS： QAMS can be used for simultaneous determination of 4 kinds of effective components in volatile oil from F. suspensa.

Objective: To investigate the relation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced immune escape to regulatory T cells(Treg) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). Methods: We recruited 83 patients who were pathologically diagnozed as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and treated in Nanfang Hospital from January to September 2016. CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ Treg in peripheral blood was examined by flow cytometry and the level of EBV DNA in the blood was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)in 83 patients and 51 healthy adults as control. The expression of FOXP3⁺ Treg and EBER in NPC in 32 of 83 patients and in nasopharyngitis in 16 control patients were tested by immunohistochemistry(IHC) and in-situ hybridization(ISH). Results: The ratio of Treg in blood in patients with NPC(5.29±1.45)% was higher than that in control group (4.78±1.19) %, with a statistically significant difference(P=0.035). The ratio of Treg in blood in patients with positive EBV was higher than that in patients with negative EBV(P=0.013), and there was a positive correlation between EBV DNA copies and Treg ratio(r=0.335, P=0.002). The density of FOXP3⁺ Treg in NPC was higher than that in nasopharyngitis(P=0.001). Positive correlation was found between the density of FOXP3⁺ Treg and the stain intensity of EBER(r=0.496, P=0.004). Conclusion The ratios of Treg in blood and tissue in NPC patients with positive EBV are significantly increased, indicating a role of Treg in EBV-induced immune escape in NPC.

Objective To compare the quality of Flos Farfarae from different habitats, and provide basis for the utilization and development of Tussilago farfara. Methods The contents of rutin and tussilagone were determinated by HPLC, the 100-bud dry weight and bud color were weighed and observed. And the data of different samples were compared and statistical analysed. Results The content of rutin, tussilagone and 100-bud dry weight in Flos Farfarae from different place has a significant difference, and there was a significant positive correlation between rutin and tussilagone. Principal component and factor analysis showed that the quality of Flos Farfarae from Yushe, Ningwu, Guangling was better than other areas. Conclusion The quality of Flos Farfarae from different areas is difference, and wild T. farfara in Yushe, Ningwu, Guangling could be used as high quality germplasm.

OBJECTIVETo determine the change pattern of alkaline and acid components of Dahuang and Huangbai amoung different combinations in Dahuang Xiaoshi decotion.

METHODThe contents of anthraquinones and berberine were determined by HPLC in samples of Dahuang extracts, Huangbai extracts, Dahuang and Huangbai pair medicine extracts, and extracts of whole recipe.

RESULTThe contents of anthraquinones and berberine were decreased with the changes of combinations: from component medicinal material alone to pair medicines, and to whole recipe. the change pattern was more apparent in water decoctions than in ethanol extracts.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of alkaline and acid components are changed with different extract methods and different combinations.

Acids ; analysis ; Alkalies ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo determine the change pattern of alkaline and acid components of Dahuang and Fuzi in different combinations.

METHODThe contents of anthraquinones and aconite alkaloids were determined by HPLC in samples of Dahuang extracts, Fuzi extracts, Dahuang and Fuzi pair medicines extracts, and extracts of whole recipe.

RESULTAs for Dahuang, the contents of anthraquinones were decreased with changes of combination: higher contents were in decoctions of Dahuang alone, lower contents were in decoctions of pair medicines, and the lowest contents were in decoctions of whole recipe. As for Fuzi, monoester aconite alkaloids could be detected in water extracts, and both biester and monoester aconite alkaloids could be detected in ethanol extracts. The contents of aconite alkaloids were decreased with changes of combinations: from Fuzi alone to pair medicines, and to whole recipe. The change pattern was more apparent when extracted in water decoction.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of alkaline and acid components are changed with different extract methods and different combinations.

Acids ; analysis ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Alkalies ; analysis ; Alkaloids ; analysis ; Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry