[Optimization of process of sodium aescinate lyophilized powder].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal freeze-drying process of Sodium Aescinate lyophilized powder in order to shorten the lyophilization cycle. METHODS: Using the single factor experiment and L9 (3(4)) orthogonal test to optimize parameters of the herbal liquid volume and concentration, pre-freezing time, pressure, drying time and analytical temperature. RESULTS: The best lyophilization process parameters were as follows: 1.0 mL herbal liquid with concentration of 10 mg/mL, phased cooling style, pre-freezing temperature at - 35 degrees C, 6.5 h; vacuum of 20 Pa;sublimation drying time of 7 h; and desorption-drying temperature of 35 degrees C for 5.5 h. CONCLUSION: Compared with the original process conditions, the product quality is more stable and the freezing-drying cycle time is shorten of 3 h, which can provide technical reference for production process of the freeze-dried powder of sodium aescinate.

[Supercritical CO2 extraction and component analysis of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil].

OBJECTIVE: To research the optimal extraction process of supercritical CO2 extraction and analyze the component of the oil extracted from Aesculus wilsonii seed. METHODS: Using the yield of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil as the index, optimized supercritical CO2 extraction parameter by orthogonal experiment methodology and analysed the compounds of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil by GC-MS. RESULTS: The optimal parameters of the supercritical CO2 extraction of the oil extracted from Aesculus wilsoniit seed were determined: the extraction pressure was 28 MPa and the temperature was 38 degrees C, the separation I pressure was 12 MPa and the temperature was 40 degrees C, the separation II pressure was 5 MPa and the temperature was 40 degrees C, the extraction time was 110 min. The average extraction rate of Aesculus wilsonii seed oil was 1.264%. 26 kinds of compounds were identified by GC-MS in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil extracted by supercritical CO2. The main components were fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Comparing with the petroleum ether extraction, the supercritical CO2 extraction has higher extraction rate, shorter extraction time, more clarity oil. The kinds of fatty acids with high amounts in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil is identical in general, the kinds of fatty acids with low amounts in Aesculus wilsonii seed oil have differences.

Sodium aescinate and its bioactive components induce degranulation via oxidative stress in RBL-2H3 mast cells.

Sodium aescinate (SA) is a vital salt of sodium escin from Aesculus wilsonii Rehd seeds. SA injection (SAI) has received great success in treating cerebral edema, venous reflux disease and other inflammatory conditions. Recently, high incidences of immediate hypersensitivity reactions were reported after SA infusion, which raised questions on safety and risk associated with its clinical application. This study was designed to check whether SAI and its four components induce degranulation using RBL-2H3 mast cells. For this purpose, we evaluated different treatment levels of SAI (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg ml-1) and its four characteristic components, SA-A, SA-B, SA-C and SA-D, at 60 µg ml-1 in different tests including cell viability test, ß-hexosaminidase and histamine assays, oxidative stress indices, apoptosis analysis and intracellular calcium ions in RBL-2H3 cells. Our results demonstrated that SAI at 80 µg ml-1 and 100 µg ml-1, and its two components (SA-B and SA-D) at 60 µg ml-1 were responsible for disturbing cell morphology and cell viability, elevated levels of ß-hexosaminidase, histamine, modulation of oxidative stress indices, induced apoptosis and increase in intracellular calcium ions in RBL-2H3 cells, when compared with the control. Our results demonstrated for the first time that SAI was more likely to induce immediate hypersensitivity reactions attributable to degranulation via oxidative stress caused by SA-B and SA-D components. These results would not only be useful for the safety of end user but also for the industry to improve the quality of SA infusion.

[Effects of penetration enhancers on percutaneous permeability of geniposide in Xiao'er Ninhuang tuire cataplasms].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different permeation enhancers on the transdermal permeation of Xiao'er Niuhuang tuire cataplasms (XNTC). METHOD: Using improved franz-type diffusion cell with excised rat skin in vitro as the transdermal barrier, the content of permeated geniposide was determined by HPLC to study the kinetic parameters such as cumulative permeation quantity and permeation rate. RESULT: The result showed that the process of penetrating of geniposide in XNTC through skin could be in accordance with zero-rade releasing equation and XNTC was stable during the course of experiment. CONCLUSION: 5% Propylene glycol (PG)-azone (2:3) has the best permeation-enhancing effect, and the results provided a primary basis for the future research on Xiao'er Niuhuang tuire cataplasms.