Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux: A systematic review on traditional use, and the chemical structures and pharmacological properties of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds in the roots.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aconitum carmichaelii, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, is a widely used traditional herbal plant in Asian countries, especially in China. The lateral ("Fuzi") and mother ("Chuanwu") roots are the two main plant parts used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where they are used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and as analgesics. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to further guide the research direction and application of A. carmichaelii, this study aims to give a systematic and in-depth overview on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies of non-alkaloid natural products with focus on polysaccharides and phenolic compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search in the literature was conducted based on the databases Google Scholar, SciFinder (American Chemical Society), Springer Link, PubMed Science, Science Direct and China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang Data, in addition to books, doctoral and master's dissertations, and official website. The main keywords were: "Aconitum carmichaelii", "Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata", "Fuzi", "Chuanwu", "Aconiti Radix", "monkshood" and "Bushi". RESULTS: A. carmichaelii is known for the use of its different root parts, including "Fuzi" and "Chuanwu". Different types of polysaccharides, both neutral and acidic, and 39 phenolic compounds like flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, lignans, neolignans, and benzoic acid derivatives have been isolated and identified from the roots. Pharmacological studies of the isolated polysaccharides have demonstrated various biological effects such as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, cardiovascular, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, and neuropharmacological activities. Studies on pharmacological effects of the phenolic compounds isolated from the roots are however limited. CONCLUSIONS: This review shows that polysaccharides could be one of the active components in the roots of A. carmichaelii, and they are promising for future applications due to their pharmacological properties. In addition, polysaccharides are generally non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. This review also sheds light on new research directions for A. carmichaelii. A more detailed structural characterization of polysaccharides from different root parts of A. carmichaelii, and their structure-activity relationships are required. Additionally, their pharmacological properties as immunomodulators in the intestinal system should be investigated. Further, more knowledge about the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of the phenolic compounds that have been identified are needed.

Polysaccharides with immunomodulating activity from roots of Gentiana crassicaulis.

Two polysaccharides, GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, were obtained from 100°C water extracts of Gentiana crassicaulis roots by DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The results from methanolysis, methylation, FT-IR and NMR, indicated that these two fractions are typical pectic polysaccharides, with HG and RG-I regions and AG-I/AG-II side chains, and some of the galacturonic acid units of fraction GCP-I-I were methyl esterified. Fractions GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, both exhibited potent complement fixation, and fraction GCP-I-I was more potent than positive control BPII. The higher complement fixation activity obtained in fraction GCP-I-I may be due to the higher Mw and/or higher amount of AG-II present in fraction GCP-I-I than fraction GCP-II-I. The polysaccharides from G. crassicaulis could be used as a potential natural immunomodulator.

[Effects of micro-fertilizers foliar spray on the content of main effective components of Angelica dahurica]. / 叶面喷施微肥对川白芷主要有效成分含量的影响.

The zinc, boron and molybdenum were sprayed on the foliage of Angelica dahurica du-ring the vigorous growth period to explore the effects of the combination of zinc, boron and molybdenum fertilizers on the content of main effective components of A. dahurica, and to find out the optimum spraying amount. The results showed that the application of zinc, boron and molybdenum foliar spray was beneficial to increase the content of imperatorin and total cumarin, whereas had no effect on the content of the isoimperatorin. The effect of boron spray on the accumulation of imperatorin and total coumarin was the most significant, followed by the zinc and molybdenum. The interaction between boron and molybdenum had a negative cooperative effect on the content of imperatorin, while the interaction between zinc and molybdenum had a positivecooperative effect on the content of total coumarin. The contents of total coumarin reached over 0.7% respectively, with the complex fertilizer spray of zinc at 0.15-0.24 kg·hm-2, boron at 2.02-2.36 kg·hm-2 and molybdenum at 0.08-0.13 kg·hm-2. The contents of imperatorin reached over 0.2% respectively, with the complex fertilizer spray of zinc at 0.15-0.20 kg·hm-2, boron at 1.37-1.47 kg·hm-2 and molybdenum at 0.09-0.13 kg·hm-2. It was concluded that the application of zinc, boron and molybdenum foliar spray was beneficial to promote the quality of A. dahurica by enhancing its accumulation of coumarin.