OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of storage period and grading standards on the quality of Prunella vulgaris in order to provide a theoretical basis for standardized cultivation.

METHODThe spices of P. vulgaris in different storage period (including current year, first-year and second-year) were collected from Lujiang base in Anhui Province. The samples were randomized, with the methods of morphologic characteristics and commercial size on P. vulgaris, the samples were graded into three grades; according to the methods from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble extracts, total ash and acid insoluble ash were measured, respectively, utilizing the UV spectrophotometry to detection the contents of total flavonoids and polysaccharides, the levels of ursolic acid, oleanolic acid and rosmarinic acid were adopted by HPLC.

RESULTThe total ash and acid insoluble ash of P. vulgaris showed significantly increase during prolonged storage; however, the content of water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble, total flavonoids, polysaccharides, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid,rosmarinic acid showed significantly decrease during prolonged storage. The spica of P. vulgaris exhibited no rules differences between the quality and grading standards, The second-degree belongs to high content of total flavonoids; the high content of polysaccharides was first-degree; the total ash and acid insoluble ash of spicas exhibited gradually decreased from first-degree to third-grade, and the content of water-soluble extracts, ethanol-soluble extracts,ursolic acid,oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid showed gradually increased from first-degree to third-grade.

CONCLUSIONThe current year was a suitable storage time of spicas from P. vulgaris could be selected; and the main bioactive components highest level of P. vulgaris spicas was third-degree, second-grade next, first-degree minimum.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cinnamates ; analysis ; Depsides ; analysis ; Drug Storage ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThe contents of mineral elements in soil and each organ from cultivated and wild Prunella vulgaris were determined in order to provide a theoretical basis for exploitation and protection of wild resources and GAP study.

METHODThe contents of mineral elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Al) in soil and each organ from cultivated and wild P. vulgaris were determined by ICP-AES, and the results were analyzed by correlation analysis.

RESULTThe contents of mineral elements in soil and different organs of P. vulgaris were significant different between cultivated and wild species; the contents of P and Cu ranked in the order of spica > leaf > stem, the order of Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn, Al from high to low was leaf > spica > stem, the concentrations of K, Na were mainly distributed in leaf and stem, less in spica. A distinctly positive correlation between soil and spica for Fe content, and the relationship between soil and leaf, stem were significant positive correlation, the concentrations of Zn in spica, leaf, stem were positively related to soil, K contents in soil and stem were significant positive correlation. The different organs of cultivated and wild P. vulgaris had a strong tendency to accumulate P.

CONCLUSIONThere was no direct relationship between the concentrations of mineral elements in P. vulgaris, and their corresponding soil P. vulgaris adjusts the concentration of mineral elements mainly by active absorption.

Minerals ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Soil ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThe accumulation of dry matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in Prunella vulgaris and their relationships under field condition were studied, in order to provide a basis for the rational fertilization.

METHODThrough the dynamic sampling of P. vulgaris in different growing stages, and the dry weight of plant, the amount of dry matter and the content of N, P and K within each organ of the plant were measured.

RESULTThe dry weight of P. vulgaris linearly increased with the increase of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulation, there existed a significant correlation at whole growth period. The maximum stage accumulation rate of dry matter from mid-April to the beginning of May, reached 63.71%. The amount of dry matter was mainly distribution in leaves from late March to mid-April. The distribution ratio in stem was the highest from beginning of May to late May. Until mid-June, the distribution ratio of dry matter in spicas was higher than that in other organs. The absorption amounts of N, P and K were lower before mid-April, and the nutrient element was concentrated in plant leaves. From late April to beginning of May, the N, P and K accumulation reached maximum of total absorptive capacity, which accounted for 72.35%, 59.82%, 87.41%, respectively, and the mineral elements were concentrated distribution of plant stems. When transferred to reproductive stage, both accumulation amount and distribution rate of nutrient elements in spicas increased rapidly, which reached the maximum until mid-June. From elongation stages to quaring period was the period of maximal accumulation of dry matter and showed the maximal efficiency of N, P and K nutrition.

CONCLUSIONThe time from elongation stages to quaring period is the most crucial period in the growth development stage of P. vulgaris, and should be paid more attention to the supply of mineral nutrition and moisture of plant to promote spicas formation and dry matter accumulation in this stage. The average N, P2O5 and K2O absorption amount per 100 kg dry matter of spicas were 1.62, 0.36, 2.88 kg respectively, and the ratio of N-P2O5,-K2O was 1 : 0.22: 1.77.

Absorption ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Prunella ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K2O) and organic compound fertilizer (OF) on spicas biomass and yield of Prunella vulgaris in order to provide a theoretical basis for good agriculture practice (GAP).

METHODField plot experiments with a 4-variable quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design were adopted, and a function model of spicas yield in P. vulgaris was established.

RESULTThe model analysis showed that spicas yields of P. vulgaris were significantly influenced under the N, P2O5 and K2O applications, among there factors, N had the greatest effects on spicas yield of P. vulgaris, the next was P2O5 and K2O, OF had the smallest effects on spicas yield. At the lower fertility levels, the spicas yields of P. vulgaris were improved along with the increasing of N, P2O5, K2O and OF applications, but the spicas yields decreased when N, P2O5, K2O and OF were applied too much.

CONCLUSIONIn this experiment condition, the spicas yields of P. vulgaris could reach to 722 kg x hm(-2) when the fertilizer rates were N 303. 9-335.1 kg x hm(-2), P2O5 432.5-500.6 kg x hm(-2), K2O 206.6-240.2 kg x hm(-2), OF 2 312.5-2 687.5 kg x hm(-2).

Agriculture ; methods ; Biomass ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; analysis ; metabolism ; Potassium ; analysis ; metabolism ; Prunella ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the dynamic change of chemical constituents in Changium smyrnioides at different ages and give a reference for standard cultivation.

METHODThe contents of polysaccharides, mannitol and choline in the roots were determined by colorimetry. HPLC was used to analyze water-soluble components in the roots. GC-MS was used to analyze volatile oil components in the leaves. Similarity coefficient of water-soluble components was calculated by included angle cosine method.

RESULTThere was significant difference in content of the analyzed chemical constituents except polysaccharide. Contents of mannitol, physiological ash and polysaccharide in the adult plant were higher than those in the young plant. On the contrast, content of water-soluble components and choline in the young plant was higher than that in the adult plant. With the increase of the growth years, water-soluble components in the roots and volatile oil components in the leaves were gradually concentrated.

CONCLUSIONThe growth time significantly affects the chemical constituents in Ch. smyrnioides, the reasonable harvest time is from the second to the forth year after transplanting.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the herbal medicine of Prunella vulgaris by textual researches, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical medication, exploitation and protection of wild P. vulgaris resources.

METHODTextual research on medicinal works of past dynasties and field work were adopted.

RESULTThe natural distributions of P. vulgaris were concentrated distribution in Sichuan province, Huaihe river basin, and Middle-Lower Yangtze river valley in Chinese history. The indications of P. vulgaris in ancient and modern times were basically identical. While there were difference between the medicinal parts, harvest period and processing methods existed difference between ancient and modern.

CONCLUSIONThree periods that whole grass of P. vulgaris as medicinal parts (from late Ming dynasty to late Qing dynasty and early stage of Republic of China), both whole grass and spicas as medicinal parts (from mid-term Republic of China to 1963), and the semi-maturity or maturity of spicas as medicinal parts (from 1963 to today) existed. The processing method for medicinal parts of P. vulgaris adopted sun drying and shady drying in ancient China, but only the sun drying was only used in modern times.

China ; Drug Therapy ; history ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Prunella ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo analyze the distribution of chemical constituents in different parts of Changium smyrnioides.

METHODThe content of polysaccharides, mannitol and choline was determined by colorimetry and the water-soluble components was determined by HPLC. similarity coefficient of water-soluble components was calculated by the included angle cosine method.

RESULTThe Contents of chemical constituents were significantly different between the leaves and the roots. The contents of choline and polysaccharides in the roots was higher than those in the leaves, but the contents of water-soluble extract and physiological ash in the leaves was higher than those in the roots. Contents of chemical constituents were also significantly different at different segments in the root, which decreased from the upper to the lower parts, increased from the outside to the inside parts except physiological ash, and the difference in horizontal segments was higher than that in vertical segments. Total peak area of water-soluble components in the leaves was 2.81 times higher than that in the roots, and gradually increased from the outside to the inside parts.

CONCLUSIONTotal content of chemical constituents in the leaves was significantly higher than that in the roots. The quality of medicinal used parts decreased gradually from the inside to the outside parts and from the upper to the lower parts in the root of Ch. smyrnioides.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the antitumor activity of IL-24 delE5 in human leukemia cell line K562. Methods The expression of mda-7/IL-24 and its splice variant induced by TPA in leukemic cell lines, U937 and HL-60, was evaluated. The effects of IL-24 delE5 in K562 on cell proliferation, colony-forming ability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and tumor growth in vivo by using MTr assay, colony forming assay, flow cytometry, Annexin-V/PI and tumor xenograft models in nude mice were assessed. Meantime, the effects of IL-24 delE-5 and mda-7/IL-2A were compared. Results The expression of IL-24 dciE5 was detected in differentiated U937 and HL-60 cells. Transfection with IL-24 delE5 significantly reduced tumor cell viability, inhibited colony formation. Comparing with the control, G_0/G_1 stage add from (24.46±3.99) % to (42.69±3.04) %, caused cell cycle arrest in G_0/G_1 stage and significantly inhibited the growth of K562 transplantation tumor. No significant differences in the aforementioned antileukemia characteristics between IL-24 delE5 and mda-7/IL-24 was found. Conclusion Similar with mda-7/IL-24, IL-24 delE5 can efficiently inhibit the proliferation of K562 in vitro and in vivo, probably through induction of G_0/G_1 cell cycle arrest.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation among the morphological characteristics and the spica yield of various germplasm of Prunella vulgaris.

METHODThe various P. vulgaris germplasm from all over the country were investigated by analysis of correlation analysis, path analysis and principle component analysis in a randomized block experiment.

RESULTThe 6 morphological characteristics were greatly different from each other in various germplasm. The spica yield per plant had a very significantly positive correlation with the number of spica per plant and fresh leaves weight per plant, meanwhile the correlation between the spica yield per plant and spica length was very significantly. Three principal components which accounted for 87.533% of total variance were extracted from the principal component analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe strong growth potential, the number of spica per plant and spica length were main factors for the selection of high yield breeding of P. vulgaris.

Genetic Variation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Prunella ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development

BACKGROUND: Diabetes causes abnormal insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene expression, which contributes to initiation and development of peripheral neuropathy.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a single dose of methylcabalamin on prevention of experimental diabetic neuropathy and the possible molecular mechanism of its involvement in IGF-1 gene expression.DESIGN: Completely randomized and controlled experiment.SETTING: Endocrinology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.MATERIALS: The study was carried out in an Animal Center of Nanjing Medical University. Totally 80 male Sprague Dawley rats (sanitary degree)were randomly selected.METHODS: ① Totally 64 rats were chosen to be induced diabetic. They were injected intravenously with alloxan dissolved in saline solutions, at the dose of 240 mg/kg. ② Of 16 rats were chosen as normal control group who were injected intravenously with equivalent volume of saline solution. ③ Of 64 established diabetic rats were treated with daily subcutaneous injection of pork regular insulin in combination of protamine zinc insulin (2:1) then further divided into 2 groups as insulin-treatment diabetic control groups based on different blood glucose levels: group 1 with relatively better control of diabetes, group 2 with relatively worse control of diabetes, with 32 rats in each group. Totally 16 rats of each group were treated with methylcobalamin injection intramuscularly with 500 μg/kg body weight, thus correspondingly divided into insulin +methylcobalamin group 1 and insulin+methylcobalamin group 2. The remaining 16 rats of each group as respective insulin-treatment diabetic control groups were treated with equivalent volume of saline. ④ Initiate weight and end weight were measured at beginning of the experiment and after diabetic model was established. Glucose oxidase was used to detect glucose level. 1-deoxy-1-malin was used to detect fructose level. ⑤ Parameters were measured as follows: Sensory/motor nerve conduction velocity (SNCV, MNCV) and evoked potential amplitude (EPA) of sciatic nerves detected by evoked electromyogram; IGF-I mRNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); IGF-1 peptide by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ⑥ One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the Significance of differences among groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Tissue IGF-1 mRNA/ IGF-1 peptide, electrophysiological data of individual groups at different points of the experiment. ② Comparison between individual groups in glucose metabolic parameters and body weights at different points of the experiment.RESULTS: Three rats died for diabetic infection or other acute complications and only 77 rats were included in the final statistical analysis.① Body weight and glucose metabolic parameter changes: After diabetic model, glucose, fructose level and body weight change between methylcobalamin+insulin treated groups and insulin treated groups were not significant. ② IGF-1 mRNA/peptide changes: Tissue IGF-1 mRNA increased significantly in methylcobalamin + insulin treated groups than that in insulin treated groups, respectively (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). Two weeks after diabetic model was established, the sciatic tissue IGF-1 mRNA contents were obviously higher in methylcobalamin + insulin treated group 1 than that in insulin treated group 1 (P ＜ 0.05), but not significantly different from that in NC group; Similarly, tissue IGF-1 mRNA contents were obviously higher in methylcobalamin + insulin treated group 2 than that in insulin treated group 2 (P ＜ 0.05), but lower than that in NC group (P ＜ 0.01); Month 2, tissue IGF-1 contents in methylcobalamin+ insulin treated groups were lower signiiicantly than NC groups, but higher than insulin treated groups (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). By month 3, IGF-1 mRNA level in methylcobalamin+ insulin treated group 2 was not significantly different from that in insulin treated group 2. The IGF-1 peptide levels in nerve tissue changed approximately parallel to IGF-1 mRNA level over time course. ③ Nerve electrophysiological data changes: Month 2 and 3, SNCV, MNCV and EPA were significantly higher in methylcobal-amin+ insulin treated group 1 than in insulin treated group 1 (P ＜ 0.05);Month 2, SNCV and EPA were higher in methylcobalamin+ insulin treated group 2 than in insulin treated group 2 (P ＜ 0.05); Month 3, SNCV, MNCV and EPA were significantly lower in methylcobalamin + insulin treated group 2 than in control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), whereas no difference was observed between methylcobalamin + insulin treated group 2 and insulin treated group 2.CONCLUSION: ① Methylcobal has not effect on blood glucose. ②Methylcobal could prevent occurrence of experimental neuropathy through its effect on nerve IGF-1 gene expression of diabetic rats. ③ A better efficacy could be achieved by Methylcobal with a good control of blood glucose level in prevention of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.