New ecdysteroid and ecdysteroid glycosides from the roots of Serratula chinensis.

Three new ecdysteroid glycosides (1-3) and one new ecdysteroid (4), were isolated from the roots of Serratula chinensis. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods.

[Two new triterpenoid glycosides from leaves of Ilex latifolia].

Two new triterpenoid glycosides, latifolosides R and S (1 and 2), were isolated from the leaves of Ilex latifolia by various column chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopic data and chemical evidence.

Triterpenoid saponins from the rhizomes of Anemone flaccida and their inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells.

A new ursane-type triterpenoid saponin, flaccidoside IV (1), and three new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, flaccidosides V-VII (2-4), along with 17 known saponins (5-21), were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemone flaccida. The structures of the new triterpenoid saponins were determined based on spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. All the isolated saponins were tested for their inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages, and several bisdesmosidic oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (2, 7, and 10) showed significant inhibitory activities, which indicated they had potential anti-inflammatory activities under their noncytotoxic concentrations in vitro.

[A new flavone C-glycoside from leaves of Lophatherum gracile].

Several kinds of column chromatography method were used to investigate the chemical constituents of the leaves of Lophatherum gracile. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified based on their physicochemical properties and spectral data. A new flavone C-glycoside was isolated and its structure was identified as 3'-methoxyl-luteolin 6-C-beta-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid (1 --> 2) -alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (1).

[A new chromone glycoside from roots of Polygonum multiflorum].

Several kinds of column chromatography methods were used to investigate the chemical constituents of roots of Polygonum multiflorum. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified based on their physicochemical properties, spectral data and chemical methods. A new chromone glycoside was isolated and its structure was identified as (S)-2-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-5-methyl7-hydroxychromone-7-0-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1).

Two new psathyrelloid species of Coprinopsis (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae) from China.

In this study, Coprinopsisjilinensis and Coprinopsispusilla were introduced, based on their morphological characteristics, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit ribosomal (LSU) region sequences of nrDNA. These new psathyrelloid species were found in Jilin Province, China. Coprinopsisjilinensis has brown pileus, utriform pleurocystidia, brown, smooth, dextrinoid basidiospores and tiny pore. It mainly grows on humus. Coprinopsispusilla has small basidiomata, greyish-white pileus, thick and distinct veil at edges, subcolourless and verrucose basidiospores. It is poreless and it grows on the decaying wood of broad-leaved trees. Both of them belong to the C.sect.Melanthinae. A supplementary description of C.sect.Melanthinae was given in combination with the newly-discovered taxa and an identification key to the fourteen psathyrelloid species of Coprinopsis is provided. Coprinopsissect.Canocipes and C.sect.Quartoconatae were evaluated and the phylogenetic position of the psathyrelloid species of Coprinopsis was discussed. Psathyrellasubagraria, as a confusing species, was also discussed in this study.

Effects of cinnamene enhancers on transdermal delivery of ligustrazine hydrochloride.

Cinnamene compounds, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic alcohol, were employed as enhancers. The effects and mechanisms of penetration promoters on the in vitro percutaneous absorption of ligustrazine hydrochloride across hairless porcine dorsal skin were investigated. Transdermal fluxes of ligustrazine hydrochloride through porcine skin were determined in vitro by Franz-type diffusion cells. The results indicated that the penetration flux of ligustrazine hydrochloride by cinnamic acid was the greatest. Significant statistical differences (P<0.05) were found between cinnamic acid and other promoters. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) were carried out to analyze the effects of enhancers on the biophysical properties of the stratum corneum and the permeation enhancement mechanisms. FT-IR results revealed that the changes of peak shift and peak area due to C-H stretching vibrations in the stratum corneum lipids were associated with the selected enhancers. All of them could perturb and extract the stratum corneum lipids to different extent. Morphological changes of the skin treated with enhancers were monitored by a scanning electron microscope. It was demonstrated that the extraction of the stratum corneum lipids by the enhancers led to the disruption of stratum corneum and the desquamation of stratum corneum flake. Apparent density was newly proposed to estimate the desquamated extent of stratum corneum flake. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a linear relationship between apparent density and decrease in peak area. The results showed that the permeation enhancement mechanisms of cinnamene were pleiotropic ones, including disordering the lipids, extracting the lipids and competitive hydrogen bonding between cinnamene enhancers and amides of ceramide head groups in stratum corneum.

[Preparation of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and purify high purity 23-hydroxybetulinic acid from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis. METHODS: By acid hydrolysis, silica gel column chromatographies and recrystalization methods, 23-hydroxybetulinic acid was obtained from the roots of P. chinensis. RESULTS: High purity 23-hydroxylbetuline acid was isolated from the roots of P. chinensis, the contents is over 98. 0%. CONCLUSION: The preparation process is feasible and convenient. High purity 23-hyroxybetulinic acid could be used in the quality control of the materials and medicament of 23-hydroxybetulinic acid.

Investigation of residual fluoroquinolones in a soil-vegetable system in an intensive vegetable cultivation area in Northern China.

One of the largest vegetable cultivation field sites in Northeast China was selected to investigate the occurrence and distribution pattern of fluoroquinolones (FQs) in the soil-vegetable system. A total of 100 surface soil samples and 68 vegetable samples were collected from this study area. The antibiotic concentration was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results indicated the presence of FQs in all soil samples. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) had the highest mean concentration, at 104.4 µg · kg(-1) in the soil, a level that represents a relatively high risk to the environment and to human health. However, in the vegetable samples, norfloxacin (NOR) was significantly higher than CIP and enrofloxacin (ENR), ranging from 18.2 to 658.3 µg · kg(-1). The transfer ability of NOR in soil-vegetables is greater than that of CIP and ENR. Moreover, we found that the solanaceous fruits had a higher antibiotic accumulation ability than the leafy vegetables. Taken together, these data indicate that greater attention should be paid to the region in which vegetables with higher accumulation ability are grown.

Four new flavonoids from the leaves of Morus mongolica.

Four new flavonoids (1-4) were isolated from the leaves of Morus mongolica. The structures were determined on the basis of the spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR.