To study the effect of different storage time on the chemical compositions and sulfur dioxide residues of sulfur-fumigated Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR), and provide scientific basis for solving the quality and safety issues of sulfur-fumigated traditional Chinese medicinal materials. GR, sulfur-fumigated GR and its medicinal slices were stored under the same conditions, and then 8 active ingredients and sulfur dioxide residues were measured respectively. The results showed that the content of gastrodins in sulfur-fumigated GR and its medicinal slices was significantly lower than that in the non-fumigated GR. Moreover, the content of sulfur dioxide residue in sulfur-fumigated GR was significantly higher than that in its medicinal slices. That is to say, sulfur fumigation degree had significantly higher effect on GR quality as compared with its medicinal slices. During the whole storage time (8 months), the content of the eight chemical components in GR was not changed greatly in general. However, after the storage for 4 months, the content of 8 components and sulfur dioxide residues in all of GR samples were significantly changed. In particular, the content of sulfur dioxide residue in GR medicinal materials decreased up to 50% or more.
Drug Storage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sulfur ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis

Studies on the characteristic chemical markers of sulfur fumigation have become an effective auxiliary way for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine. This study established a quantitative analysis method for the determination of -hydroxybenzyl hydrogen sulfite (-HS) in Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR) based on UPLC-MS/MS. Then, 37 batches of GR were screened, and the results showed that 27 batches of them were sulfur-fumigated. Especially, the GR samples in Yunnan producing areas were sulfur-fumigated more seriously. Based on the stability of -HS after different storage time and heat treatment methods, it was found that the content of -HS was stable and reliable in the storage period of 8 months and under normal heat treatment (50, 60, 70, 80 °C) conditions. In conclusion, this study shows a high sensitivity, good selectivity and good stability of -HS, which can provide reference for the quality control and sulfur fumigation screening of GR.
China ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Fumigation ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sulfites ; analysis ; Sulfur ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Toxicologic pathology plays an important role in the safety evaluation of drugs.The results of toxicologic pathology can answer the basic problems of pathological lesions such as location,severity grading,nature and prognosis,etc.Necropsy and gross pathology examination are important aspects of toxicologic pathology assessment.Procedures typically include preparation for the necropsy,euthanasia procedures,identification and recording all gross lesions,collection of tissues listed in the study protocol,determination of organ weight,as well as tissue fixation so as to be ready for the subsequent tissue processing and histopathology examination.All the procedures must be done in a consistent manner and in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).The present paper briefly introduced the principles of necropsy and gross pathology examination for toxicologic pathology in order to standardize the procedures and to lay foundation for the improvement of the histopathology examination in the field of preclinical safety evaluation of drugs of China.

Objective To detect the hepatotoxicity biomarkers using normal human hepatocyte (HepaRG) and high-content screening,and to combine the micronucleus test and single cell gel electrophoresis to estalish a rapid screening platform for in vitro cytotoxitity and genotoxicity.Methods The effects of rhubarb anthraquinones (AQs) on the reactive oxygen species (ROS),intracellular Ca2+ concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepaRG cells were studied using appropriate fluorescent probes Hoechst33342、DCFH-DA、Fluo4-AM、Mito Tracker Red CMX Ros and high-content screening methods,and the potential genotoxiciy triggered by AQs were analyzed using the high-content based cytokinesis block micronucleus test and high throughput comet assay.Results The intracellular ROS level of HepaRG cells was significantly elevated by a 24 h treatment with Emodin (25.0 μg/mL),aloe-emodin (25.0 μg/mL) or chrysophanol (50.0 μg/mL),which are dose-concentration dependent (P ＜ 0.05 and 0.01);the intracellular Ca2+ increased and mitochondrial damage were observed with the treatment of aloe-emodin (25.0 μg/mL) and rhein (50.0 μg/mL,P ＜ 0.05 and 0.01).Comparing to control group,Emodin (25.0 μg/mL) induced an increased micronucleus rate (1.59％ ± 0.68 ％,P ＜ 0.01) and significantly higher percentage tail DNA and Olive tail moment (respectively 10.155％ ± 2.17％ and 0.510 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.05 and 0.01) after 24 h;while the chrysophanol increased the micronucleus rate to 1.29％ ± 0.54％ (P ＜ 0.01) after 72 h.Conelnsion The results on the cytotoxicities and genotoxicities of AQs are consistent with the literatures.In this study,a rapid screening model for both hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity was successfully established,which will help with the early screening during the drug development stage.

Computerized system has been played an increasingly important role in preclinical safety evaluation of drugs and has been used directly or indirectly for data acquisition,processing,reporting as well as raw data storage.However,the computerized system has not been widely used in facilities for preclinical safety evaluation of drugs or only some functions of modules of computerized system have been used.Based on the current application status of the computerized system in the facilities for preclinical safety evaluation of drugs in China,this paper briefly introduced the following aspects about validation of computerized system,such as GLP regulatory requirements of validation of the computerized system,validation process of the computerized system,maintenance of validation state of the computerized system,safety precautions of performance of the computerized system,as well as electronic records and electronic signatures with the purpose to provide some references for carrying out and speeding up the validation of computerized system and to further improve the efficiency of the computerized system in facilities for preclinical safety evaluation of drugs in China and to be in line with international practice.