On the basis of literatures and standards relating to Tibetan medicine, the varieties, origin, standards and efficacy of Saxifragaceae plant used in Tibetan medicine were summarized. According to the findings, 75 species(including varieties) in 8 genera of Saxifragaceae plants, involving 21 varieties, are used in Tibetan medicine. Among them, 9 commonly used varieties, namely Songdi, Sedi, Yajima, Aoledansaierbao, Jiansidawu, Saiguo, Katuer, Sangdi, Maoqinghong, are recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Ministry Standards for Tibetan Medicine, Tibetan Medicine Standards and other local standards, accounting for 42.9% of the total number of varieties. Tibetan names, Tibetan translation of Chinese names, as well as original plant of Tibetan medicine varieties are quite different in relevant Tibetan medicine standards and literatures, which resulted in common phenomena of synonym and homonym. The standards of most varieties only involve characters, and microscopic, physical and chemical identification, with low quality standards. Based on the results of the analysis, this paper suggests strengthening surveys on herbal textual research, resources and current utilization of Saxifragaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine, summarizing the varieties, establishing improved quality standards, and perfor-ming a comparative study on therapeutic material basis and biological activity of different original plants, in order to promote rational use of these medicinal plant resources, and ensuring the accuracy, safety, and effectiveness of clinical medication.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Reference Standards ; Saxifragaceae

Chrysosplenium nudicaule,Tibetan name " Yajima",is recorded as an effective medicine for the treatment of liver and gallbladder diseases by Tibetan Pharmacopoeia published in the past dynasties,but its traditional efficacy has not yet been investigated by means of modern pharmacological research methods. In this paper,the protective effect of extract of C. nudicaule(ECN) on liver injury in mice was observed by using the mice model of intrahepatic cholestasis(IC) induced by α-naphthyl isothiocyanate(ANIT) and the possible mechanism by which ECN work as the therapeutic agent was discussed. The results showed that the serum levels of AST,ALT,ALP,DBIL,TBIL and TBA of the model mice were notably reduced in dose-dependent manner(P<0. 01,P<0. 05). The activity of SOD and GSH-Px in the liver homogenate of mice was increased,while the content of MDA was decreased(P<0. 01,P<0. 05).Pathological examination of liver in mice showed that ECN could improve the pathological changes of liver tissue in mice. The mRNA expression level of genes related to bile acid metabolism were detected by RT-PCR and the results suggested that ECN could significantly increase the expression of genes such as BSEP,FXR and MRP2(P<0. 01,P<0. 05),meanwhile significantly reduce the expression of CYP7 A1(P<0. 01,P<0. 05). These results confirmed the protective effect of ECN on intrahepatic cholestasis-induced liver injury in mice,and indicated that the mechanism may be related to activating FXR and its target genes,reducing bile acid synthesis and increasing bile acid excretion. This study provides a modern pharmacological basis for the clinical application of Yajima in Tibetan medicine.
Animals ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Mice ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry

Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides Hook.f.et Thoms led to the isolation of twenty-five compounds, and their structures were identified as n-dotriacontane (1), taraxeryl acetate (2), friedelin (3), epifriedelinol (4), canophyllal (5), stigmast-4-en-3-one (6), stigmasterol (7), (24R)-5A-stigmastane-3,6-dione (8), ursolic acid (9), pomolic acid (10), umbelliferone (11), 4-epifriedelin (12), n-octatriacontanol (13), β-amyrin (14), α-amyrin (15), taraxerol (16), nonadecanol (17), friedelane (18), arachic acid (19), protocatechuic acid (20), n-pentatriacontanol (21), hexadecanoic acid (22), vincosamide (23), daucosterol (24), and skimming (25), respectively. To our best knowledge, compounds 1, 2, 12, 13, 17 - 19 and 21-23 were new within Saxifragaceae family. Compounds 15, 16, and 20 were produced from this genus for the first time. Compounds 4, 14 and 25 were first obtained from species P. viburnoides and compounds 3, 5 - 11, and 24 were achieved from the leaves of P. viburnoides for the first time. Furthermore, the anti-neuroinflammatory activity of these isolates was evaluated.
Coumarins ; Humans ; Palmitic Acid ; Saxifragaceae ; Stigmasterol ; Triterpenes

Bergenin, isolated from the herb of Saxifrage stolonifera Curt. (Hu-Er-Cao) has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and neuroprotective activities. The aim of the present study was to establish a simple, rapid, and sensitive RP-HPLC method for determination of bergenin in rat plasma and compare its oral pharmacokinetic behaviors in normal and CCl-induced hepatic injury rats. With norisoboldine as an internal standard, chromatographic separation was performed on a C analytical column with acetonitrile and water (11 : 89, V/V) containing 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. A good linearity was obtained over the range of 100-10 000 ng·mL. The lower limit of quantification was 50 ng·mL. The developed method was successfully applied to a study of the pharmacokinetic difference of bergenin (100 mg·kg) between normal and hepatic injury rats after oral administration. Marked alterations of pharmacokinetic parameters in hepatic injury rats were observed. Compared to normal rats, the AUC of bergenin in hepatic injury rats was elevated to 2.11-fold and C was increased by 130%, whereas CL value was only 55% of the normal rats, suggesting that the systemic exposure of bergenin was significantly increased under hepatic injury status.
Animals ; Benzopyrans ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

The research was carried out to establish HPLC fingerprints of Tibetan medicinal herb "Songdi" (Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata), and to provide reference for identification an quality control of it. It was performed on an Amethyst-C18-P (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with the mobile phase of methanol-0.4% formic acid in a linear gradient mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 30 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The software for chromatographic fingerprint was applied to analyse the pattern analysis, the common peaks and similarity. Cluster analysis was done based on the common peaks data of 33 samples from different plant species and sources by SPSS software. Ten common chromatographic peaks were identified by fingerprint, showing a low similarity in constituent and variety. Flavonoids and saponins were the principal components. The number and area of peaks were affected by the collection sources and method. The high similarity are showed by the samples derived from the same area with high accuracy and high purity. The method is so simple, exclusive, stable and high repeatable that it can provide reference for identification and quality assessment of "Songdi" (S. umbellulata var. pectinata).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint of ethyl acetate extraction of Saxifraga stolonifera.

METHODThe HPLC analysis was performed on a Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with isocratic elution of acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 256 nm and the column temperature was set at 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe HPLC fingerprint of ethyl acetate extraction of S. stolonifera has been established. There were fifteen common peaks, seven of which were identified by reference substances. The RSD of relative retention time was less than 3% in the precision and repeated tests. Eleven samples from different area can be distinguished from their fingerprints.

CONCLUSIONThis method is reasonable and reliable and can be used for quality control of S. stolonifera.

Acetates ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Quality Control ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of microscopic identification of Tibetan medicinal herb " Songdi" (Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata).

METHODThe different characteristics and microscopic identification of 4 species of Songdi were compared, including the main variety (Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata ) and approximate varieties (S. unguiculata, S. przewalskii and S. tanguTi,) were studied and compared.

RESULTThe botanical anatomy characteristics of Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata (including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, stalks and fruits) have been measured. The methods for powder identifications and transverse section of stems root and leaves of four species of Songdi were established.

CONCLUSIONFour species of Songdi can be identified by the growth pattern of basal leaves, type of hair, type of inflorescence, number of flowers, proportion of tissue structures in stem, form of pollen grains.

Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Microscopy ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; cytology ; Saxifragaceae ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the growth index and physiological index of Tianquan Bergenia purpurascens under different shade conditions (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%), and investigate its adaptation mechanism to shade environment so that it can provide theoretical basis for cultivation and production.

METHODThe growth index such as the length, the width and the number of new leaves, and leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight and specific leaf weight of the samples which were collected from the beginning of March to late May under different shade conditions were measured. The physiological index including the contents of photosynthetic pigments, MDA, soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline and the activity of SOD were measured all together.

RESULTThe growth and morphological index under light intensity 100%-60% were higher than those under light intensity 40%-20%. And except specific leaf weight, the growth and morphological index were significantly higher under light intensity 60% than those under the other shade conditions; The contents of Chla, Chlb, Chl (a + b) and Car under light intensity 100%-60% were higher than those under light intensity 40%-20%, while Chla/b was higher under light intensity 40%-20%; The activity of SOD, soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline contents were higher under light intensity 100%-60%, while MDA content was higher under light intensity 40%-20%. Chl(a+b) content, soluble sugar content and activity of SOD were the highest under light intensity 60%, but MDA content was the lowest.

CONCLUSIONSixty percent irradiance treatment was the most favorable to the growth of Tianquan B. purpurascens; 100%-80% irradiance treatments were favorable to its growth; 40%-20% irradiance treatment was negative for its growth.

Chlorophyll ; analysis ; metabolism ; Light ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo determine arbutin contents in different populations of Bergenia purpurascens in Yunnan province, for screening out the best resource and best part of B. purpurascens.

METHODThe SB-C18 column was used with methanol-water (15: 85) as the mobile phase, at the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1) and column temperature of 30 degrees C, and 282 nm was selected as the detected wavelength.

RESULTThere were much significant differences in arbutin contents among various parts of the same B. population. The sequence of parts from high to low was lamina > petiole > root > rhizome. Arbutin contents in laminae of different B. populations were different at the most significant level and varied between 6.36% and 1.51%. Arbutin contents in rhizomes of different B. populations were also dignificantly different at varied between 1.72% and 0.40%.

CONCLUSIONLamina is the best part for extracting arbutin. B. population distributed in Laojunshan mountain in Lanping county is the best resource for arbutin exploitation in B. purpurascens.

Arbutin ; analysis ; China ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry

To study the chemical constituents of Saxifraga stolonifera (L.) Meeb., chromatographic techniques were applied to separate and purify the compounds, and their structures were confirmed on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data. Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 5-O-methylnorbergenin (1), 3, 4-dihydroxyallylbenzene-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (7R, 8S)-4, 9, 9'-trihydroxyl-3-methoxyl-7, 8-dihydrobenzofuran-1'-propylneolignan-3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), (3S, 5R, 6R, 7E, 9R)-3, 5, 6, 9-tetrahydroxy-7-megastigmane (6), benzyl-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), p-hydroxyacetophenone (8), pyrogallic acid (9) and p-hydroxyphenol (10). Compound 1 is a new compound. Compounds 2-10 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Benzopyrans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrogallol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry