[Optimal processing technology of Zhangbang vinegar-processed Olibanum with multi-indicator-response surface methodology and anticoagulant effect evaluation].

This study first optimized the processing technology for Zhangbang vinegar-processed Olibanum and investigated its in vitro anticoagulant activity. A multi-index-response surface methodology was used, with yield, powder yield, and the relative percentage of the content of six non-volatile components [11-keto-boswellic acid(KBA), 3-acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid(AKBA), ß-elemonic acid, α-boswellic acid(α-BA), ß-boswellic acid(ß-BA), and α-acetyl-boswellic acid(α-BA)] and three volatile components(octyl acetate, incensole, and incensole acetate) as evaluation indicators. Analytical hierarchy process(AHP) combined with coefficient of variation method was used to calculate the weight of each indicator and calculate the comprehensive score(OD). Furthermore, response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of frying temperature(A), burning time(B), rice vinegar dosage(C), and steaming time(D) on the processing technology of vinegar-processed Olibanum. Vinegar-steamed Olibanum was prepared according to the optimal processing technology for in vitro anticoagulant experiments. The results showed that the weights of octyl acetate, incensole, incensole acetate, KBA, AKBA, ß-elemonic acid, α-BA, ß-BA, α-ABA, yield, and powder yield were 0.358 2, 0.104 5, 0.146 4, 0.032 9, 0.123 7, 0.044 4, 0.022 1, 0.042 2, 0.110 1, 0.012 2, and 0.0032, respectively. The optimal processing technology for Zhangbang vinegar-processed Olibanum was as follows. Olibanum(50 g) with a particle size of 1-5 mm was continuously stir-fried at a low heat of 150-180 ℃ until in a gel-like state, ignited for burning for 15 s, sprayed with 7.5 g of rice vinegar(15%), and steamed for 3 min without fire. Subsequently, the cover was removed, and the product was continuously stir-fried at 150-180 ℃ until in a soft lump shape, removed, cooled, and crushed. The results of the in vitro anticoagulant experiments showed that compared with the blank group, both Olibanum and vinegar-processed Olibanum significantly prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), thrombin time(TT), and prothrombin time(PT) of rat platelet-poor plasma(PPP), and the effect of vinegar-processed Olibanum was significantly better than that of Olibanum(P<0.05). The optimized processing technology for Zhangbang vinegar-processed Olibanum is stable, feasible, and beneficial for the further development and utilization of Olibanum slices. At the same time, using the content of volatile and non-volatile components, yield, and powder yield as indicators, and verifying through pharmacological experiments, the obtained results are more reasonable and credible, and have positive guiding significance for the clinical application of characteristic processed Olibanum products.

Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae-Assessing the influence of herbal processing methods and improved effects on functional dyspepsia.

Background: The unique pharmaceutical methods for the processing of botanical drugs according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) affect clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment. The objective of this study was to comprehensively elucidate the principles and mechanisms of an herbal processing method by investigating the alterations in the metabolites of Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (AMR) processed by Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) decoction and to determine how these changes enhance the efficacy of aqueous extracts in treating functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: A qualitative analysis of AMR before and after processing was conducted using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, and HPLC was employed for quantitative analysis. A predictive analysis was then conducted using a network analysis strategy to establish a botanical drug-metabolite-target-disease (BMTD) network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the predictions were validated using an FD rat model. Results: A total of 127 metabolites were identified in the processed AMR (PAMR), and substantial changes were observed in 8 metabolites of PAMR after processing, as revealed by the quantitative analysis. The enhanced aqueous extracts of processed AMR (PAMR) demonstrate improved efficacy in treating FD, which indicates that this processing method enhances the anti-inflammatory properties and promotes gastric motility by modulating DRD2, SCF, and c-kit. However, this enhancement comes at the cost of attenuating the regulation of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), acetylcholine (Ach), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Conclusion: Through this series of investigations, we aimed to unravel the factors influencing the efficacy of this herbal formulation in improving FD in clinical settings.

[Mechanism of Euodiae Fructus stir-fried with water decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma in treatment of chronic colitis based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, network pharmacology and experimental verification].

To elucidate the mechanism of Euodiae Fructus stir-fried with water decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma in the treatment of chronic colitis, this study employed ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), network pharmacology, and experimental verification to predict the involved targets and signaling pathways. The chronic colitis mouse model was constructed to verify the core targets. A total of 48 compounds in the herbal medicine were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. SwissTargetPrediction was used to screen the potential active components and drug targets. GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGKB, and TDD were used to search for the disease targets. A total of 31 active ingredients, 453 targets of the herbal medicine, and 3 960 targets of chronic colitis were obtained. The common targets shared by the herbal medicine and chronic colitis were introduced into STRING to construct the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, and CytoNCA plug-in was used to screen the key targets. A total of 90 key targets were obtained, and the key active components included isorhamnetin, quercetin, limonin, and oxyberberine. GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment for the key targets were carried out via DAVID. The targets were mainly involved in the positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process, and negative regulation of apoptotic process. The medicine may treat chronic colitis through PI3 K-Akt, VEGF, HIF-1, and TNF signaling pathways. A mouse model of chronic colitis was established and then treated with Euodiae Fructus stir-fried with the water decoction of Coptidis Rhizoma. The experimental results demonstrated that the medicine can alleviate the pathological damage of colon, significantly reduce the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, inhibit the activation of PI3 K/Akt pathway, and down-regulate the expression of VEGFA in the treatment of chronic colitis.

Diuretic Effect and Metabolomics Analysis of Crude and Salt-Processed Plantaginis Semen.

Plantaginis Semen (PS) is well recognized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and health products. Crude PS (CPS) and salt-processed CPS (SPS) are the two most commonly used decoction pieces of PS, and are included in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Although they all have multiple effects, the mechanisms for treating diseases are different and remain unclear, the processing mechanism of SPS is also indeterminate, which hinders their clinical application to a certain extent. In order to solve these problems and further develop PS in the clinical application. Here, we used saline-loaded model rats for experiments, and utilized an integrated approach consisting of pharmacological methods and metabolomics, which could assess the diuretic impact of CPS and SPS ethanol extracts on saline-loaded rats and elucidate the underlying mechanism. The results showed that CPS and SPS both produced increased urine volume excretion and urine electrolyte excretion, but the levels of aldosterone (ALD) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) were decreased. And 30 differential metabolites such as linoleic acid, lysoPC(O-18:0), sphingosine-1-phosphate, lysoPC(18:0) were found, mainly involving three metabolic pathways. In conclusion, CPS and SPS both have a diuretic effect, and that of SPS is better. This work investigated the possible diuretic mechanisms of CPS and SPS which may also be the mechanism of PS for anti-hypertension. In addition, a holistic approach provided novel and helpful insights into the underlying processing mechanisms of TCM.

[Exploration of objective quality evaluation parameter of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces].

To establish a quality constant evaluation system of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces,in order to provide reference for regulating the market circulation of this decoction pieces. A total of 18 batches of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces were collected from different pharmaceutical factories,and the morphological parameters of each sample were tested. The content of alisol B 23-acetate in Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces was determined by HPLC in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia,and the parameters such as quality constant and relative quality constant were calculated. The quality constant range of 18 batches of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces was 0. 390-2. 076. If 18 batches of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces were divided into 3 grades,taking 80% of the maximum quality constant as first grade,50% to 80% as second grade,and the rest as third grade,then the quality constant of firstgrade samples was ≥1. 66,the quality constant of second-grade samples was ≥1. 04 and <1. 66,and the quality constant of third-grade samples was <1. 04. The established quality constant evaluation method is objective and feasible,which can be used to classify the grade of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces and provide a reference method to control the quality of this decoction pieces.

[Modern researches on effect of processing of Chinese herb medicine on Chinese medical properties].

The processing of Chinese herb medicine( PCHM) is the premise and necessity of treating diseases in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM). After processing,Chinese herbal medicine can achieve the effects of correcting odor,inducing channel tropism,changing drug properties and reducing toxicity. As the most important part of TCM theory system,Chinese medicine property,involving four odors and five flavors,ascending and descending,channel tropism,toxicity and side effects. In recent years,with the development of modern science and technology,many researches on the changes of properties of Chinese herb medicines by PCHM have been reported. In this paper,the researches in four aspects of processing method,chemical composition,medicinal effect and biological effect on properties changes by PCHM were reviewed,so as to discuss the modern research ideas and technologies,and explain the importance of the increase of clinical efficacy of TCM through property changes by PCHM. In the end,the future research ideas and cutting-edge technologies were discussed to make the studies on property changes by PCHM more systematic and deeper.

[Inheritance and innovation of traditional processing technology of Chinese medicine].

To discuss the inheritance and innovation study of Chinese medicine processing technology from three aspects： inheritance, standardization and industrial innovation development, propose "three lacks" in inheritance, "six lacks of standardization, and one lack of unity" in standardization, and "three emphasizing and three despising aspects" in industrial innovation, and propose feasible solutions for the above mentioned problems, providing a good foundation for inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine processing.

[Determination of the active constituents in aurantii fructus from Jiangxi province at different harvest time by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of the main active constituents in Aurantii Fructus from Jiangxi at different harvest time and make sure the best harvest time. METHODS: RP-HPLC was used to assay the active constituents (including naringin, neohesperidin, synephrine, nobiletin, tangeretin, meranzin hydrate, meranzin, marmin and auraptene) contents in the Aurantii Fructus at different harvest periods from Xingan and Zhangshu countries. RESULTS: The trend of the contents of those active constituents was basically decreased as the day trailing. CONCLUSION: The best harvest time of Aurantii Fructus from Jiangxi is about the Great Heat.

[Analysis of feature and development of traditional processing branches].

Processing of Chinese materia medica is one of the important part of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Drugs in small pieces or slices are special for China and the whole world. Processing technic of Chinses materia medica existed for thousands of years and presented the essence of TCM. The purpose of analyzing the feature and development of traditional processing culture branches was to make a better understanding of traditional processing technic, and further the development of special processing culture branches.

Colorimetric grading scale can promote the standardization of experiential and sensory evaluation in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines.

Experiential and sensory evaluation is an ancient method that remains important in the current quality control system of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs). The process is rapid and convenient when evaluating the quality of crude materials in TCM markets. However, sensory evaluation has been met with skepticism because it is mainly based on experience and lacks a scientific basis. In this study, rhubarb was selected to demonstrate how color-based sensory evaluation could differentiate the quality of herbal medicines objectively. The colors of the rhubarb samples, expressed as RGB values, were obtained from different parts and forms of the plant, including the plant's surface, fracture surface color, and a powdered form with or without treatment with a color-developing reagent. We first divided the rhubarb samples into three grades based on the total content of five hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives, the major pharmacological components in rhubarb. Then, a three-layer back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN), calibrated with selected training samples, was used to correlate the quality of the rhubarb with its color. The color of the rhubarb powder after coloration attained the highest accuracy (92.3%) in predicting the quality grade of the test samples with the established artificial neural networks. Finally, a standardized colorimetric grading scale was created based on the spatial distribution of the rhubarb samples in a two-dimensional chromaticity diagram according to the colors of the powdered rhubarb after color enhancement. By comparing the color between the scale and the tested samples, similar to performing a pH test with indicator paper, subjects without sensory evaluation experience could quickly determine the quality grade of rhubarb. This work illustrates the technical feasibility of the color-based grading of rhubarb quality and offers references for quantifying and standardizing the sensory evaluation of TCMs, foods and other products.

Searching for the main anti-bacterial components in artificial Calculus bovis using UPLC and microcalorimetry coupled with multi-linear regression analysis.

The fingerprints of artificial Calculus bovis extracts from different solvents were established by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and the anti-bacterial activities of artificial C. bovis extracts on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) growth were studied by microcalorimetry. The UPLC fingerprints were evaluated using hierarchical clustering analysis. Some quantitative parameters obtained from the thermogenic curves of S. aureus growth affected by artificial C. bovis extracts were analyzed using principal component analysis. The spectrum-effect relationships between UPLC fingerprints and anti-bacterial activities were investigated using multi-linear regression analysis. The results showed that peak 1 (taurocholate sodium), peak 3 (unknown compound), peak 4 (cholic acid), and peak 6 (chenodeoxycholic acid) are more significant than the other peaks with the standard parameter estimate 0.453, -0.166, 0.749, 0.025, respectively. So, compounds cholic acid, taurocholate sodium, and chenodeoxycholic acid might be the major anti-bacterial components in artificial C. bovis. Altogether, this work provides a general model of the combination of UPLC chromatography and anti-bacterial effect to study the spectrum-effect relationships of artificial C. bovis extracts, which can be used to discover the main anti-bacterial components in artificial C. bovis or other Chinese herbal medicines with anti-bacterial effects.

[Study on the composition and pharmacological function change of rhizoma polygonati before and after processing].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the processing mechanism of Rhizoma Polygonati (RP) through studying the correlation between the change of composition and pharmacological function in raw and processed RP. METHODS: The extraction of petroleum ether, methylene dichloride, ethyl acetate and 1-butanol of the raw and processed RP were compared by HPLC. The compounds changed in processed RP in the methylene dichloride extraction were further identified with reference substances. The immune function of methylene dichloride extraction of raw and processed RP were compared. RESULTS: The changed compound in concentration was determined to be 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural. After processed, the concentration of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural sharply increased. The carbon clearance index (P < 0.01) and coefficient of phagocytosis (P < 0.05) were increased remarkably by processed RP comparing to those of the normal saline and raw RP. CONCLUSION: The increase of immune function of processed RP may be related to increasing of concentration of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural. The results provide a better understanding of RP processing.

[Analysis of volatile oil in Fructus Aurantii processed with Zhangband method by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chemical components of the volatile oil in processed pieces of Fructus Aurantii (PPFA) with JiangXi Zhangband methods by GC-MS. METHODS: The volatile oil was obtained from PPFA by steam distillation. The amount of the components from the volatile oil were determinated by area normalization method. The separated components were identified by GC-MS. RESULTS: Composed of the total volatile oil over 90% , 70 components were separated and identified. All of the processed Fructus Aurantii produced new chemical composition, in the meantime,the contents were changed in some chemical composition after processed. CONCLUSION: The method is reliable, stable and has good repeatability. This method can be applied to the analysis of volatile oil components in PPFA. It will provide the certain scientific methods for further evaluating of PPFA quality.

[Determination of five primary chemical constituents in Cassia angustifolia by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determining the content of primary chemical constituents in the leaves of Cassia angustifolia. METHOD: The HPLC with Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column was used , acetonitrile-1% acetic acid (10:90-15: 85-18: 82-20: 80-25: 75) in a gradient manner was used as a mobile phase, with flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1), column temperature at 40 degrees C and detection wavelength at 270 nm. RESULT: The results showed that 5 effective components all separated well and showed good linearity. CONCLUSION: The method was proved to be rapid, sensitive, accurate, credible and repeatable. It can be applied to quality control of Folium Sennae.

Simultaneous determination of seven bioactive lignans in Herpetospermum caudigerum by RP-HPLC method.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection was established to simultaneously determine the seven bioactive lignans in Herpetospermum caudigerum, namely ent-isolariciresinol (1), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2), herpetrione (3), herpetin (4), herpetetrone (5), herpetotriol (6) amd herpetal (7). The HPLC assay was performed on a Restek Pinnacle DB C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid within 65 min. The detection wavelength was 240 nm. The flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r2 > 0.9998) within test ranges. The method was reproducible with intra- and inter-day variation of less than 1.98%. The method provided good accuracy with recoveries in the range 95.19-102.64% with RSDs less than 1.52%. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of seven constituents in 15 H. caudigerum samples collected from different cities. The results indicated that the developed assay could be considered as a suitable quality control method for H. caudigerum.

[Study on HPLC fingerprint of different growing areas on fructus aurantii fried with bran].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for HPLC fingerprint determination of different growing areas on Fructus Aurantii fried with bran. METHOD: HPLC chromatographic experiment was carried out by ultrasonic distilment of acetacetic ester, gradient elution mode and the detection wavelength of 320 nm. The column temperature was set at 30 degrees C, and flow rate is 1.0 mL x min(-1). Naringin served as the reference standard. Ten batches of Fructus Aurantii fried with bran in the different places were analyzed. Similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM proceeded the evaluation, The correlation coefficients between ten batches were used to define the similarity. RESULT: There were eleven characteristic peaks in Fructus Aurantii fried with bran by HPLC fingerprint which constituted fingerprint characters. Both the reproducibility and stability on HPLC fingerprint were proper. CONCLUSION: The method was accurate and simple. It can be applied to the analysis on Fructus Aurantii fried with bran. The fingerprint spectrum can be used to distinguish Fructus Aurantii fried with bran and to be its quality control.

[HPLC determination of strychnine and brucine in Semen Strychni and its processed products].

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports a HPLC method for determinition of strychnine and brucine in Semen Strychni and its processed products of Jiangxi method and innovated methed. METHOD: SiO2 was used as the stationary phase, n-hexane-dichloromethane-methanol-ammonia(47.5:47.5:5:0.35) as the mobile phase, with detection wavelength of 254 nm. RESULT: The contents of strychnine and brucine in the processed products of Jiangxi are lower. CONCLUSION: This method is accurate, simple and reliable.