An explanation for fluctuations of icariin content in Epimedium production process.

Epimedium has beneficial effects in nourishing and building up the body and is widely used in practical production of Epimedium preparations. As one of the major active compounds in Epimedium preparations, icariin is be used as a quality control index of industrial manufacture. However, content of icariin was observed to increase to uncertain extent in pharmaceutical production, which might bring difficulties in quality control. The content fluctuation mainly occurred in high-temperature extraction process. The aim of this study is to investigate what happen to flavonol-glycosides in Epimedium under heating treatment. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer was applied to profile the transformation rule of flavonol-glycosides in Epimedium and search for an explanation for the increase in icariin content under heating treatment. 56 compounds were found to have significantly changed and their structures were identified, among which 15 flavonol-glycosides were proposed to play a role in icariin content variation. Further studies were conducted based on 8 flavonol-glycosides standard substances to obtain more credible data. Finally, Baohuoside II, 2"-o-rhamnosylicariside II, Epimedin A1, Epimedin A, Epimedin B, Epimedin C, Baohuoside I and Anhydroicaritin were found to transform into icariin during the heating process. This study provides an evidence for the quality control study of Epimedium preparation, as well as reference for chemical researches in natural pharmacy.

[Preventive and therapeutic effects of Keluoxin Capsules on early diabetic retinopathy in db/db mice].

The aim of this paper was to investigate the preventive effects of Keluoxin Capsules(KLX) on diabetic retinopathy in db/db mice. One hundred male db/db diabetic mice(45-55 g, 8 weeks) were randomly divided into 5 groups(model, KLX low dose, KLX middle dose, KLX high dose, Dobesilate) and 20 male C57 BL/KsJdb~(+/+) were taken as control group. Body weight and fasting blood-glucose were detected every week. Mice were administrated with saline(control and model group), KLX(780, 1 560, 3 120 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1), ig), Dobesilate(195 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1), ig) for 20 weeks, respectively. At the end of the administration, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography and electroretinogram of the retina were measured. The eyeball was extirpated and retina was isolated to make paraffin section, followed by HE staining and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that KLX has no obvious effect on body weight and fasting blood level in db/db mice. However, KLX could significantly regulate the thickness of retinal ganglion layer and inner plexiform layer. KLX was able to remarkably reduce the quantity of diabetic microvessel. Meanwhile, KLX could notably improve retinal function. Moreover, KLX could observably modulate the cell arrangement and edema in each layer. There was no markable difference in retina according to the immunochemistry assay. In the present study, KLX exert marked preventive effects on diabetic retinopathy in db/db mice, which provided an experimental evidence for clinical use.