The quality evaluation method for standard decoction of Chinese herbal slices is the basis for the quality evaluation of granules and preparations of classical formula(decoction)of traditional Chinese medicine. This study aimed to establish a method for the determination of quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid in Nelumbinis Folium(NF)and its standard decoction, so as to provide reference for the quality control of NF and its standard decoction. Fifteen batches of representative NF were collected to prepare standard decoction, and the parameters of dry extract rate, transfer rate of index component, and pH value were calculated. HPLC was used to establish the content determination method for quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid in NF and its standard decoction. The concentration range of quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid in the standard decoction of NF was 1.09-3.06 g·L~(-1), while the concentration range of nuciferine was 0.01-0.17 g·L~(-1). The average extraction rate of NF standard decoction was(14.4±2.6)%, the average transfer rate of quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid was(70.7±18.6)%, and the average transfer rate of nuciferine was(9.6±5.4)%. Compared with Nuciferine, quercetin-3-O-glucuronic acid had a high content and stable transfer rate in standard decoction, and was recommended to be the quality control marker for NF and its standard decoction. This paper establishes a quality evaluation method for NF standard decoction, and can provide reference for the quality control of all preparations derived from NF and its decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nelumbo/chemistry* ; Quality Control

Lotus( Nelumbo nucifera) is a traditional medicinal plant,and nowadays it is regarded both as medicine and food. It is widespread across China and rich in natural resources. Almost every part of N. nucifera could be used for medical or edible purpose,including seeds( Lianzi),black ripe fruits( Shilianzi),seed coats( Lianyi),green embryos of mature seed( Lianzixin),flowers( Lianhua),stamens( Lianxu),receptacles( Lianfang),leaves( Heye),leaf or flower stalks( Hegeng),leaf bases( Heyedi),rhizomes( Ou) and rhizome nodes( Oujie). Therefore,this plant is praised as a commercial crop with great economic values. Isoquinoline type alkaloids are the main chemical components of lotus. Smooth muscles usually exist in the digestive tract,respiratory tract and vascular,urinary,reproductive and other human systems. Dysfunction of smooth muscle contraction will induce many diseases including hypertension,asthma and gastrointestinal disorder,etc.,and most of current therapeutic strategies rely on relaxation of smooth muscle by drugs.Previous studies have shown that alkaloids of lotus have strong relaxation activity on smooth muscle. The present paper reviews phytochemistry and smooth muscle relaxation activity of 59 isoquinoline alkaloids from N. nucifera through accessing CNKI,PubMed and multiple databases for biomedical sciences.
Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; China ; Humans ; Isoquinolines/pharmacology* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Muscle, Smooth/drug effects* ; Nelumbo/chemistry* ; Phytochemicals/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts

Nuciferin is the main active ingredients in Nelumbinis Folium， which was proved to have good hypolipidemic， antioxidative and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Currently， pharmacokinetic studies of nuciferin showed different results based on different animal models. evaluation experiments were low-cost， stable and controllable. Biopharmaceutical classification system(BCS) was an effective and reliable simulation method to evaluate the bioavailability of oral drugs. It was a scientific framework for classifying drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients(API) according to their solubility and impermeability . In the study， BCS was applied in an active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)， which was consisted of numerous chemical components. To study the equilibrium solubility of nuciferine， ideal solution model， Ape blat model and polynomial model were adopted. The permeability was measured based on partition coefficient(logP) and distribution coefficient(logD). Besides， apparent permeabilities of Caco-2 cells and murine intestine tissues were evaluated. Nuciferine was classified as BCSⅠ， since it had a good solubility and permeability in all methods under acidic conditions. However， in neutral and alkaline environments， nuciferine was classified as BCSⅣ by using everted intestinal sac. It indicated that the species of experimental animals has a significant influence on the absorption of nuciferine. This experiment can provide data support to the prediction in a complex environment(medicinal materials and absorbed parts). The application of BCS on TCM ingredients provided a new method to evaluate and screen out the druggability of TCM ingredients.
Animals ; Aporphines ; chemistry ; Biological Availability ; Biological Products ; classification ; Biopharmaceutics ; Caco-2 Cells ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Mice ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Permeability ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Solubility

This study is to determine the content of three alkaloids and establish the HPLC fingerprint of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. The HPLC method of content determination was as follows: Thermo C18 (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with acetonitrile-sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution-acetic acid (56: 43: 1) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. The method of HPLC fingerprint was as follows: Agilent ZORBAX SB-Aq C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with gradient elution of methanol and water at a flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1), the monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. Similarities evaluation and hierarchical clustering analysis were applied to demonstrate the variability of 12 batches of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula samples. The results demonstrated that 11 batches showed good similarity on chemical constituents. The method could well display the chemical information of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. It was simple, reliable and could be used for the chemical quality control of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry

This paper employed UPLC-Electrospray Ionization /Quadrupole-Time of Flight-Mass /Mass Spectrometry( UPLC-ESI/Q-TOF-MS/MS) to analyze the chemical constituents in the stems of Nelumbo nucifera. The stems of N. nucifera were extracted with 75% methanol, and we applied an Agilent Zorbax SB-Aq column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.8 μm) to UPLC analysis with water methanol-water( containing 0.05% formic acid) in gradient as mobile phase. The eluates were then detected by ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Results indicated that 22 benzylisoquinoline alkaloids were indendified. Among them, one alkaloid may be a new compound and a component was found in the Lotus for the first time. We fully identify the composition of the Lotus stems for the first time, Which could provides theoretical foundation for further study and utilization of the medicinal resources.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

This research is to investigate study the flavonoids from stems of Nelumbo nucifera and the cytotoxic activities of iso- lated compounds. The constituents were separated by column chromatography,and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for cytoxic activities by MTT method. Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as rhamnazin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), luteolin-3', 4'-dimethylether-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3,3'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), 1, 8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone (5), isorhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(6) , kaempferol(7), isorhamnetin (8), quercetin(9), astragalin(10), hyperoside (11) and 1-hy- droxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone(12). All compounds were isolated from stems of this plant for the first time, and compounds 1-5 were firstly isolated from the family nelumbonaceae. Compounds 24 and 6 showed significant cytotoxic activities against BEL-7402 carcinoma cell lines at a concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) with the inhibitory rate of 67.36%, 53.25%, 57.78%, 60.13% and 52.11%, respectively.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

To study the chemical constituents, twenty-seven compounds were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract from leaves of Nelumbo nucifera by modern chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified as 10-octacosanol (1), beta-sitosterol (2), 1-undecanol (3), 1-eicosanol (4), daucosterol (5), 6'-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (6), 3,7,8-trimethoxy-1-hydroxy-xanthone (7), rhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), chrysoeriol-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (9), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (11), hyperoside (12), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (13), astragalin (14), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1--> 6)-[alpha-D-lyxopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranoside] (15), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-D-lyxopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (16), isorhamnetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (17), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (18), quercetin (19), kaempferol (20), dehydronuciferine (21), roemerine (22), stigmast-7-en-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (23), stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol (24), and benzene-1,2-diol (25) on the basis of spectral data analysis. Compounds 1, 6, 7, 8, 24 and 25 were isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 15-18 were isolated from the leaves for the first time. Compounds 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 showed inhibitory activities against beta amyloid (1-42) by A-beta aggregation method with inhibition rates of (63.99 +/- 24.29)%, (79.61 +/- 4.49)%, (49.96 +/- 12.61)%, (101.19 +/- 8.19)%, (88.41+/-6.76)% and (72.48 +/- 8.97)%, respectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Chemical investigation was carried out to study the alkaloids from stems of Nelumbo nucifera and their cytotoxic activities. The constituents were separated by column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities by MTr method. Fifteen compounds were isolated from the total alkaloids extract and identified as asimilobine (1), isococlaurine (2), N-acetylnorarmepavine (3), crykonisine (4), velucryptine (5), pycnarrhine (6), liriodenine (7), nuciferine (8), nornuciferine (9), armepavine (10), N-methylasimilobine (11), coclaurine (12), N-norarmepavine (13), N-methylcoclaurine (14) and lysicamine (15). Compounds 1-7 and 12-15 were isolated from stems of this plant for the first time, and compounds 2-6 were firstly isolated from the family Nelumbonaceae. Compounds 7-10, 13 and 14 showed significant cytotoxic activities against HL-60 carcinoma cell line with inhibitory ratios of 51.36%, 59.09%, 52.51%, 53.93%, 51.43%, and 64.31% at concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1), respectively.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

The present study was conducted to develop new inhibitors of pancreatic lipase and alpha-glucosidase from Chinese dietary herbs. Sixty-three dietary herbs from 39 taxonomic families were selected and extracted with aqueous ethanol or water. The extracts were then tested with in vitro enzyme assays for their ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha-glucosidase activities. Orlistat and acarbose were used as two positive controls. The extracts of Nelumbo nucifera, Curcuma longa, Piper longum and Morus alba showed strong pancreatic lipase inhibitory effects with IC50 at (28.00 +/- 5.51), (5.24 +/- 0.51), (14.76 +/- 2.58), (4.78 +/- 0.58), (3.41 +/- 0.67) mg x L(-1), respectively. These extracts also showed potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC50 at (1.98 +/- 0.13), (0. 18 + 0.007), (0.71 +/- 0.08), (0.077 +/- 0.005), (0.089 +/- 0.006) g x L(-1), respectively. The results provide useful information for developing new drugs or natural health products for hyperlipidemia and hypoglycemia from Chinese dietary herbs.
Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Morus ; chemistry ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Pancreas ; enzymology ; Piper ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC method for the determination of four alkaloids, i.e., 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine, pronuciferine, nuciferine and roemerine, in Nelumbo nucifera and its alkaloid fraction.

METHODThe determination was carried out at 35 degrees C on a Hypersil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), eluting with acetonitrile-water containing 0.1% triethylamine as mobile phases in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and detection at the wavelength was set at 270 nm.

RESULTThe linear ranges of 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine, pronuciferine, nuciferine and roemerine were 0.110-0.658 microg (r = 0.9995), 0.0210-0.126 microg (r = 0.9995), 0.103-0.618 microg (r = 0.9998), 0.085 6-0.514 microg (r = 0.9995), with the average recoveries (n=6) were 101.5%, 99.14%, 99.21% and 98.41% for the alkaloid fraction of N. nucifera and 99.53%, 100.5%, 97.51% and 100.1% for N. nucifera respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe determination results of the three batches of samples showed that the method was easy and accurate which could be used to determine the contents of four components in N. nucifera and its alkaloid fraction.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Aporphines ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Spiro Compounds ; chemistry