Background: The stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is used as traditional Mongolian medicine for the treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases, in which sesquiterpenes are regarded as the primary medicinal compounds. However, only S. pinnatifolia from natural stands is able to produce medicinal-grade stems when compared with that from cultivated stands. Despite the need to develop an effective technique to promote sesquiterpene accumulation in cultivated stands to ensure sustainable resource production, studies on the potential use of fungal endophytes as fungal elicitors were limited. Objective: This study explored the potential of selected endophytic fungi isolated from the stems of wild and cultivated S. pinnatifolia and further examined their efficacy in promoting sesquiterpene production in S. pinnatifolia calli. Results: Among the 11 fungal groups, Valsa sp, isolated from wild S. pinnatifolia, emerged as a promising fungal elicitor for promoting sesquiterpene accumulation in S. pinnatifolia. This conclusion is drawn from the production of a humulane-type sesquiterpene, known to be one of the most prevalent subtypes of sesquiterpenes in S. pinnatifolia. In addition, it was demonstrated that methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid displayed little effect on sesquiterpene accumulation in S. pinnatifolia. Conclusions: The findings of this study lay a foundation for using fungal endophytes to promote sesquiterpene production in S. pinnatifolia. This contribution could subsequently advance the development of the local traditional medicine industry and aid in the protection of wild S. pinnatifolia.

In China， the incidence of ischemic heart disease （IHD） is increasing year by year， which brings enormous burden to families and society. It is urgent to find preferable treatment methods and medical therapies. The Chinese ethnic minority medicine has gradually developed unique theoretical systems and therapeutic characteristics on the basis of clinical experience and thinking modes including image-number thinking and the holistic perspective. Consequently， it possesses huge application capacity and research value in prevention and treatment of IHD. Belonging to the medical system based on the view of nature and life， the Tibetan medicine， Mongolian medicine， and Dai medicine have respectively formed theories like "three elements" "three life-sustaining energies" "four elements and five skandhas （aggregates）" ， have put forward unique understandings of IHD and have formed corresponding therapeutic principles and methods， generating plentiful classic prescriptions represented by Sanwei Tanxiang powder， Bawei Chenxiang powder， Roukou Wuwei pills and Yajiao Hadun powder. They also contain characteristic ethnic medicine resources such as Choerospondiatis Fructus， Rhodiola Rosea and Draconis Sanguis. Aiming to provide enlightenment and reference for the clinical application and development of the Chinese ethnic minority medicine for the prevention and treatment of IHD， the authors try to summarize the related researches represented by Tibetan and Mongolian medicines， and then discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by such researches.

This review presents the most recent chemical and biological investigations on one of the marine invertebrates, gorgonian octocoral. It summarizes all 432 new compounds published in 2002-2009, which consists of 46 sesquiterpenoids (including 2 new natural products, NNP), 282 diterpenoids (including 4 from Pennatulacea octocoral and one artifact), 76 steroids, and 29 alkaloids or other types (2 NNP included). In this paper, according to the structure division, the new compounds are described in combination with the taxonomy of the investigated animals, and its simultaneous bioactivity results. Novel skeletons and complex structures are paid most emphasis on its features, means of structural elucidation and the proposed biogenesis pathway. The source of all new compounds and the different diterpenoid skeleton types are all listed and analyzed, as well as the commonly used Chinese names or some proposed ones for diterpenoid skeletons. Furthermore, this papers deals with all biological test toward the gorgonian new metabolites, i.e. anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial(against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis etc), anti-malaria, and anti-fouling as well, in which anti-cancer activity and cytotoxicity were additionally, a discussion and prospect are proposed regarding chemical overview on gorgonian. This review, hopefully, can be useful in proving data and references for further chemical and biological research of China sea gorgonian, for the studies on chemical ecology, and for the discovery of new and bioactive compounds or the marine-derived leading targets.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Animals ; Anthozoa ; chemistry ; physiology ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Steroids ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish an optimized method for extracting saponins from Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng (Sanqi).

METHODHPLC coupled with charged aerosol detector (CAD) was used for saponins determination. Peak areas of the main saponins notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rg2, Rh1 and Rd in Sanqi were monitored to evaluate the extract effectiveness. One-factor analysis was conducted to investigate the factors of particle size, solvent, extraction method and soaking time. Orthogonal experiment design L9 (3(4)) with different level of concentration of solvents, extraction time, extraction times and volume of the solvent, was implemented to determine the optimized extract condition.

RESULTThe optimum extract technique was that the dried and well pulverized (passed through a 80 mesh (180 +/-7.6) microm sample 1.0 g was extracted in 20 mL methanol by reflux (1.5 h) after soaked at room temperature for 0.5 h.

CONCLUSIONThe optimized technique is simple and high extraction efficiency. It provide basic data for further study on Sanqi.

Aerosols ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis ; isolation & purification