Enhancing the moral courage of nurses: A modified Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: The urgency of ensuring adequate moral courage in clinical nursing practice is evident. However, currently, there are few formal intervention plans targeted at enhancing the moral courage of nurses. AIM: To develop a training program for improving the moral courage of nurses using the modified Delphi method. RESEARCH DESIGN: A modified Delphi study. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: From November to December 2022, a literature review and expert group discussion were conducted to develop a preliminary training plan framework. From January to March 2023, a two-round Delphi survey was performed, and a consensus was reached regarding the plan through online questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (No. 138, 30 August 2021). All participants provided written informed consent. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on eight themes and 33 items to strengthen the moral courage training program for nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Guided by a unified goal of moral education, a multi-level and acceptable intervention plan was designed to enhance the moral courage of nurses.

The association between parental risks and childhood development: findings from a community-based survey in East China.

BACKGROUND: Nurturing care is necessary for optimal early childhood development. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of parental risks in rural East China and assess their impacts on early development in children younger than three years old. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3852 caregiver-child pairs in Zhejiang Province from December 2019 to January 2020. Children aged 0 to 3 years were recruited from China's Early Childhood Development Program (ECD). Local child health care providers conducted face-to-face interviews with the primary caregivers. Demographic information of the participants was collected by questionnaire. Each child was screened for parental risk through the Parental Risk Checklist designed by the ECD program. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used to identify children with potential developmental delays. Multinomial logistic regression model and linear trend test were applied to assess the association between parental risks and suspected developmental delays. RESULTS: Among the 3852 children included in the analyses, 46.70% had at least one parental risk and 9.01% presented suspected developmental delays in any domain of ASQ. Parental risk was statistically associated with the overall suspected developmental delay in young children (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR): 1.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.72; P = 0.010) after adjusting potential confounders. Compared with children with no parental risk, children exposed to 3 or more parental risks had 2.59, 5.76, 3.95, and 2.84 times higher risk of the suspected developmental delay in overall ASQ, communication, problem-solving, and personal-social domain, respectively (P values < 0.05). The linear trend tests found that the more parental risks, the higher possibility of developmental delay (P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Parental risks are prevalent among children under three years in rural East China, which may increase the risk of developmental delays in children. Meanwhile, parental risk screening can be used to recognize poor nurturing care in primary health care settings. Targeted interventions are warranted to improve nurturing care for optimal early childhood development.

Comparison of anthropometric parameters and laboratory test results before and after the COVID-19 outbreak among Chinese children aged 3-18 years.

Objective: To compare the physiological health of Chinese children around the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: We extracted data on children's anthropometric and laboratory parameters from May to November in both 2019 and 2020 from the Health Checkup Center, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. Overall, 2162 children aged 3~18 years without comorbidities in 2019 and 2646 in 2020 were assessed. Mann Whitney U tests were used to compare differences between the above health indicators before and after COVID-19 outbreak. Quantile regression analyses adjusted for age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were also used in analysis. Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests were used for comparing differences of categorical variables. Results: Compared with children examined in 2019 before the outbreak, children in 2020 had a higher median z score of BMI for age (-0.16 vs. -0.31), total cholesterol (TC, 4.34 vs. 4.16 mmol/L), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, 2.48 vs. 2.15 mmol/L), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 1.45 vs. 1.43 mmol/L) and serum uric acid (290 vs. 282 µmol/L), and a lower hemoglobin (Hb, 134 vs. 133 g/L), triglycerides (TG, 0.70 vs. 0.78 mmol/L) and 25(OH)D (45.8 vs. 52.2 nmol/L), all P < 0.05. No differences were identified for waist height ratio, blood pressure and fasting glucose (both P > 0.05). However, in regression models after adjusting, BMI, TC, LDL-C, blood glucose and sUA were positively correlated with year; while Hb, TG and 25(OH)D were negatively correlated with year (all P < 0.05). Accordingly, children in 2020 had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (20.6 vs. 16.7%, P < 0.001), hypercholesterol (16.2%vs. 10.2%, P < 0.001), high LDL-C (10 vs. 2.9%, P < 0.001), hyperuricemia (18.9 vs.15.1%, P = 0.002), vitamin D deficiency (22.6 vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of high TG (4.3 vs. 2.8%, P = 0.018) compared with children in 2019. Conclusion: In this real-world study, we found that long-term lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak might cause adverse impact on children's metabolic health, which might increase their future risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, parents, health professionals, educationists, and caregivers should pay more attention to children's dietary pattern and lifestyle, especially in this new normal against COVID-19.

Moral courage of master's students of nursing during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Moral courage is a recognized virtue. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the master's students of nursing (MSNs) in China have shown tenacious moral courage. OBJECTIVE: This study elaborates on the moral courage of Chinese MSNs through their experiences of volunteering during the pandemic. RESEARCH DESIGN: Descriptive qualitative, interview-based. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Participants were nursing postgraduate students who participated in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic selected by purposeful sampling. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached with 10 participants. Data were analyzed using a deductive method of content analysis. Because of the isolation policy, telephone interviews were adopted. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: After obtaining the approval of the ethical institution of the author's school (No. 138, 30 August 2021), verbal consent was obtained before the interview with the participants. All data were processed anonymously and confidentially. In addition, we recruited participants through MSNs' counselors, and obtained their phone numbers with their permission. RESULTS: Data analysis resulted in 15 subcategories that were subsequently grouped into 3 major categories including proceed without hesitation, the outcome of practicing moral courage, and develop and maintain moral courage. CONCLUSION: This qualitative study is based on the special background of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the MSNs in China have shown tenacious moral courage in the work of epidemic prevention and control. Five factors led them to take action without hesitation, and six possible outcomes followed. Lastly, this study provides some suggestions for nurses and nursing students to enhance their moral courage. To better develop and support moral courage in the future, it is necessary to use different methods and multidisciplinary approaches to study moral courage.

Factors associated with the moral courage of nurses in China: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the level of moral courage among nurses in China, and to explore related influential factors, to help nursing managers take measures to improve nurses' moral courage. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The data adopted a convenient sampling method. From September to December 2021, 583 nurses from five hospitals in Fujian Province completed the Chinese version of the Nurses' Moral Courage Scale (NMCS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, T-test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The Chinese nurses perceived themselves, on average, as morally courageous. The mean NMCS score was 3.64 ± 0.692. The six factors showed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) with moral courage. Regression analysis showed that the main factors influencing nurses' moral courage were active learning of ethics knowledge and nursing was a career goal. CONCLUSION: This study provides the self-evaluation level and related influencing factors of Chinese nurses' moral courage. There is no doubt that nurses still need strong moral courage to face unknown ethical problems and challenges in the future. Nursing managers should pay attention to the cultivation of nurses' moral courage, using various forms of educational activities to help nurses alleviate moral problems and improve their moral courage, to maintain patients' access to high-quality nursing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Brucea Javanica Oil Enhances the Efficacy of Anlotinib in a Mouse Model of Liver-Metastasis of Small-cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant disease with liver and other metastasis. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine Brucea javanica oil (BJO) combined with anlotinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor with anti-angiogenic activity, on a nude-mouse model of SCLC liver metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mouse model was established by injecting NCI-H446 cells (1×106) in Matrigel (20 µl) into the upper liver lobe. All animals were randomized and assigned to three groups: Control (n=8); anlotinib alone (n=8; 3 mg/kg, qd×14+7-day interval with two cycles, oral); anlotinib plus BJO (n=8; 3 mg/kg anlotinib qd×14+7-day interval with two cycles, orally; BJO: 1 g/kg, qd×6 weeks, orally). Body weight was determined every week. Six weeks after initial treatment, tumors were collected for analysis of angiogenesis using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The combination of anlotinib and BJO significantly inhibited growth of SCLC liver metastases and angiogenesis more than anlotinib monotherapy (p=0.043). In addition, BJO alleviated body-weight loss associated with anlotinib therapy, including general mouse condition. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that the combination of anlotinib with BJO is promisingly active against liver metastases of SCLC, and has clinical potential.

Isobavachalcone ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.

Isobavachalcone (ISO) exhibits good anti-inflammatory activity. We evaluated the renoprotective effects of ISO against diabetic nephropathy (DN). Diabetic rats established by the single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were orally treated with ISO. The levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and 24 hr urinary protein were measured. In this study, ISO effectively ameliorated renal damage by reducing BUN, Scr, and 24 hr urinary protein and also improved kidney pathological appearances. ISO prevented STZ-caused apoptosis in the glomerular tissue in vivo and blocked the high glucose (HG)-induced growth inhibitory effect in human renal glomerular endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover, ISO reduced pro-inflammatory mediator production and blocked the NF-κB pathway in the damaged renal tissues and HG-treated HRGEC cells. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that ISO consumption might have significant beneficial effects on the DN and this action might be correlated with the modulation of the NF-κB pathway. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: ISO is an active compound from the dried ripe fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. seed, which is traditionally served as a food ingredient in Asia. In this investigation, we observed the beneficial effects of ISO on a murine model with DN. Further research revealed that the protective action of ISO might be connected with its weak hypoglycaemic and notable anti-inflammatory effects. Our research data suggest that ISO-enriched food might be a good choice for people suffering from DN.

The distribution and correlates of self-rated health in elderly Chinese: the China Kadoorie Biobank study.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) have been widely used as a valid indicator of health status at the population and individual level. We aimed to investigate the distribution and correlates of global SRH and age-comparative SRH in elderly Chinese. METHODS: Survey of 57,693 men and 67,089 women aged 60 years and above was conducted in five rural (Gansu, Sichuan, Hunan, Henan, Zhejiang) and five urban areas (Heilongjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Hainan) in China between 2004 and 2008. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the relations of different factors with global SRH and age-comparative SRH. RESULTS: Among the participants, 38.33% reported their global SRH as good or excellent while 61.67% as fair or poor, and 17.70% reported better age-comparative SRH while 17.99% as worse. In the multivariate model, compared to women, men tended to report a good global SRH and better age-comparative SRH, urban residents tend to report good global SRH and better age-comparative SRH. The socioeconomic and health behavior factors that were associated with good global SRH and better age-comparative SRH (with varying strengths of association) included: high educational level, high household income, house ownership, quitting smoking by own choices, occasional and current alcohol drinking, overweight, and high physical activity level. The factors that were associated with poor global SRH and worse age-comparative SRH included: quitting smoking by illness, former drinking, underweight, and weight lost ≥2.5 kg in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: We found a moderate level of good global SRH and a low level of better age-comparative SRH among elderly Chinese. We identified a number of demographic, socioeconomic and health behavior factors that were related to SRH measures. Our study emphasizes the importance of incorporating both global and age-comparative SRH measures in future studies, and considering gender inequalities and urban/rural disparity, as well as socioeconomic status and health behaviors as important modifiers of health.

Relation of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in midlife with risk of cognitive impairment in late life: the Singapore Chinese Health Study.

Background: the relations of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking with risk of cognitive impairment remain inconsistent. Methods: to examine the independent and joint relations of smoking and alcohol drinking with cognitive impairment, we used data from 16,948 men and women, who had been followed-up for 16-23 (mean of 20) years as participants of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based prospective cohort. Data on smoking and alcohol drinking were collected at baseline (1993-98), when participants were aged 45-74 (mean 53) years. Cognition was assessed using a 30-item Mini-Mental State Examination during follow-up three visits (2014-16), when participants were aged 61-96 (mean 73) years. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: cognitive impairment was present in 2,443 (14.4%) participants. Compared with non-current smokers, current smokers had 20% increased risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.04-1.39). Compared with those who drank less than weekly, regular alcohol drinking (at least weekly) had 17% increased risk (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.01-1.36). Compared with those who were neither smokers nor drinkers, those who were either current smokers or regular drinkers alone had no significantly increased risk, while the risk was highest in those who were both current smokers and regular drinkers (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.39-2.26, Pinteraction = 0.003). Conclusions: co-existence of smoking and regular alcohol drinking at midlife had a much stronger impact than the individual factors on risk of cognitive impairment in late life.

Self-Rated Health Status and Risk of Incident Stroke in 0.5 Million Chinese Adults: The China Kadoorie Biobank Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Self-rated health (SRH) is a consistent and strong predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in various populations. However, the associations between SRH measures and risk of first-ever or recurrent stroke were rarely explored. We thus aim to prospectively investigate the associations between SRH measures and risk of total and subtypes of stroke in Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 494,113 participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank without prior heart diseases or cancer (486,541 without stroke and 7,572 with stroke) were followed from baseline (2004 to 2008) until December 31, 2013. General and age-comparative SRH were obtained from baseline questionnaires. First-ever stroke or recurrent events were ascertained through linkage to disease registry system and health insurance data. RESULTS: We identified 27,662 first-ever stroke and 2,909 recurrent events during an average of 7.0 years of follow-up. Compared with excellent general SRH, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for first-ever stroke associated with good, fair, and poor general SRH were 1.04 (1.00 to 1.08), 1.19 (1.15 to 1.23), and 1.49 (1.42 to 1.56) in the multivariate model, respectively. Compared with better age-comparative SRH, the HRs (95% CIs) of same and worse age-comparative SRH were 1.13 (1.10 to 1.17) and 1.51 (1.45 to 1.58), respectively. The relations of SRH measures with ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and recurrent stroke were similar to that with total first-ever stroke. However, the magnitude of associations was much stronger for fatal stroke than for non-fatal stroke. CONCLUSIONS: This large-scale prospective cohort suggests that self-perceived health status is associated with incident stroke, regardless of stroke subtype.

Association between multiple comorbidities and self-rated health status in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: the China Kadoorie Biobank study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the correlates of self-rated health (SRH) can help public health professionals prioritize health-promotion and disease-prevention interventions. This study aimed to investigate the association between multiple comorbidities and global SRH and age-comparative SRH. METHODS: A total of 512,891 participants aged 30-79 years old were recruited into the China Kadoorie Biobank study from ten regions between 2004 and 2008. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for the associations between comorbidities (including diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, stroke, tuberculosis, emphysema/bronchitis, asthma, cirrhosis/chronic hepatitis, peptic ulcer, gallbladder disease, kidney disease, fracture, rheumatic arthritis, psychiatric disorders, depressive symptoms, neurasthenia, head injury and cancer) and SRH. Population attributable risks (PARs) were used to estimate the contribution of multiple comorbidities to poor global SRH and worse age-comparative SRH. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, suffering from various diseases increased the chance of reporting a poor global SRH [OR (95% CI) ranged from 1.10 (1.07, 1.13) for fracture to 3.21 (2.68, 3.83) for rheumatic heart disease] and a worse age-comparative SRH [OR (95% CI) ranged from 1.18 (1.13, 1.23) for fracture to 7.56 (6.93, 8.25) for stroke]. From the population perspective, 20.23% of poor global SRH and 45.12% of worse age-comparative SRH could attributed to the cardiometabolic diseases, with hypertension (7.84% for poor global SRH and 13.79% for worse age-comparative SRH), diabetes (4.35% for poor global SRH and 10.71% for worse age-comparative SRH), coronary heart disease (4.44% for poor global SRH and 9.51% for worse age-comparative SRH) and stroke (3.20% for poor global SRH and 10.19% for worse age-comparative SRH) making the largest contribution. CONCLUSIONS: Various diseases were major determinants of global and age-comparative SRH, and cardiometabolic diseases had the strongest impact on both global SRH and age-comparative SRH at the population level. Prevention measures concentrated on these conditions would greatly reduce the total burden of poor SRH and its consequences such as poor quality of life and use of health care services.

Self-Rated Health Status and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease in the China Kadoorie Biobank Study: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) is a strong predictor of mortality in different populations. However, the associations between SRH measures and risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) have not been extensively explored, especially in a Chinese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: More than 500 000 adults from 10 cities in China were followed from baseline (2004-2008) through December 31, 2013. Global and age-comparative SRH were reported from baseline questionnaires. Incident IHD cases were identified through links to well-established disease registry systems and the national health insurance system. During 3 423 542 person-years of follow-up, we identified 24 705 incident cases of IHD. In multivariable-adjusted models, both global and age-comparative SRH was significantly associated with incident IHD. Compared with excellent SRH, the hazard ratios for good, fair, and poor SRH were 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.07), 1.32 (95% CI, 1.27-1.37), and 1.76 (95% CI, 1.68-1.85), respectively. Compared with better age-comparative SRH, the hazard ratios for same and worse age-comparative SRH were 1.23 (95% CI, 1.19-1.27) and 1.78 (95% CI, 1.70-1.86), respectively. The associations persisted in all subgroup analyses, although they were slightly modified by study location, education, and income levels. CONCLUSIONS: A simple questionnaire for self-assessment of health status was significantly associated with incident IHD in Chinese adults. Individuals and healthcare providers can use SRH measures as a convenient tool for assessing future IHD risk.

[Simultaneous determination of monosaccharide and oligosacpharide in rice wine by high performance anion exchange chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection and the establishment of their fingerprints].

An analytical method for the determination of glucose, fructose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, maltose, panose and maltotriose was developed by high performance anion exchange chromatography coupled with integrated pulsed amperometric detection. The analysis was performed on a CarboPa™ 10 column with gradient elution of NaOH-NaOAc as mobile phases. The seven sugars were well separated in less than 26 min and showed good linear correlation coefficients between 0.5 and 50 mg/L. The detection limits (LODs) were 0.1 g/L. The recoveries ranged from 76.5% to 108.4% at different spiked levels. The relative standard deviations were between 3.02% and 8.23%. The established method was applied in determining the seven sugars in different batches of Shaoxing Jiafan rice wines from different manufacturers. The standard fingerprints were established by median values using the obtained results. Similarities of the fingerprints of the samples to the standard were calculated by using angle cosine. The results showed that the similarities of wines from different manufacturers were significantly different, so the method could be used for the identification of rice wines from different manufacturers.

Effect of Marine Collagen Peptides on Physiological and Neurobehavioral Development of Male Rats with Perinatal Asphyxia.

Asphyxia during delivery produces long-term deficits in brain development. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs), isolated from Chum Salmon skin by enzymatic hydrolysis, on male rats with perinatal asphyxia (PA). PA was performed by immersing rat fetuses with uterine horns removed from ready-to-deliver rats into a water bath for 15 min. Caesarean-delivered pups were used as controls. PA rats were intragastrically administered with 0.33 g/kg, 1.0 g/kg and 3.0 g/kg body weight MCPs from postnatal day 0 (PND 0) till the age of 90-days. Behavioral tests were carried out at PND21, PND 28 and PND 90. The results indicated that MCPs facilitated early body weight gain of the PA pups, however had little effects on early physiological development. Behavioral tests revealed that MCPs facilitated long-term learning and memory of the pups with PA through reducing oxidative damage and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain, and increasing hippocampus phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression.

Maternal supplementation of nucleotides improves the behavioral development of prenatal ethanol-exposed mice.

Maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy can induce learning deficits in the offspring. The objective of this study was to assess whether supplementation of exogenous nucleotides during pregnancy and lactation would ameliorate prenatal ethanol-induced learning and memory deficits in the offspring of mice, and to explore the possible mechanisms. In the present study, pregnant C57BL/6J mice were exposed to ethanol (5 g/kg body weight) intragastrically from gestational day (GD) 6 to GD15. The dams in exogenous nucleotide intervention groups were fed with feed containing 0.01%, 0.04%, or 0.16% nucleotide powder, with control and ethanol groups receiving normal feed. The dams were allowed to deliver naturally and to breast feed their offspring. After weaning, behavioral tests were carried out in the offspring of each group. Serum oxidation indexes were analyzed, and the hippocampus of each offspring was collected and detected for acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity and the expression of p-CREB, CREB, and BDNF. The results showed that maternal supplementation with exogenous nucleotides during pregnancy could ameliorate prenatal ethanol-induced learning and memory deficits in the offspring of mice, through improving their antioxidant capacity, reversing hippocampus AChE levels, and allowing the expression of some proteins related to learning and memory. However, different sensitivities were found between the two sexes.

[Protective effect of exogenous nucleotides on the developmental toxicity of alcohol].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effect of exogenous nucleotide (EN) on the developmental toxicity of alcohol. METHODS: C57BL/6J pregnant mice were divided into 6 groups randomly: the control group, the alcohol group, the low (0.01%EN), middle (0.04%EN), high (0.16%EN) and higher (0.64% EN) intervention groups. From the 6th gestational days (GD) to the 15th GD, pregnant animals except those in the control group were administrated with 5 g (per kg body weight) alcohol intragastrically. Normal mouse forage was provided to the animals in the control group and alcohol group, while forage containing different quantities of EN was provided to the animals in the intervention groups. On GD 18, all the dams were killed, their blood samples were collected for further analysis, and fetal developmental indexes were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the animals in the alcohol group, offspring's body weight and placenta weight of EN intervention groups improved a lot; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity increased significantly (P<0.05), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased significantly (P<0.01); the live birth rate of animals in the interventions groups has increased significantly and the absorbed embryo rate of them has decreased significantly (P<0.01); the forepaw phalanges, hindpaw phalanges and caudal vertebrae ossification point increased significantly (P<0.01); the anomalies of both occipital and sternum have decreased significantly in 0.04%EN group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EN has a significant protective effect on the developmental toxicity of alcohol.

[Study on condition for extraction of arctiin from fruits of Arctium lappa using supercritical fluid extraction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for arctiin from the fruits of Arctium lappa. METHOD: The extracts were analyzed by HPLC, optimum extraction conditions were studied by orthogonal tests. RESULT: The optimal extraction conditions were: pressure 40 MPa, temperature 70 degrees C, using methanol as modifier carrier at the rate of 0.55 mL x min(-1), static extraction time 5 min, dynamic extraction 30 min, flow rate of CO2 2 L x min(-1). CONCLUSION: SFE has the superiority of adjustable polarity, and has the ability of extracting arctiin.

Extraction of berberine from rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch using supercritical fluid extraction.

Supercritical fluid was used to extract berberine from rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch. The recovery of berberine was compared with various modifiers, i.e. methanol and 95% ethanol with and without surfactant Tween 80, and 1,2-propanediol. The results show that the yield obtained after 3 h extraction with 1,2-propanediol-modified supercritical carbon dioxide was the highest (from 6.91%, w/w at 200 bar to 7.53%, w/w at 500 bar), while that obtained with 95% ethanol modified-supercritical carbon dioxide was the lowest (from 0.15%, w/w at 300 bar to 0.19%, w/w at 600 bar). The recovery of berberine was not improved by adding 5% Tween 80 in supercritical fluid.