[Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-producing multiple myeloma presenting with neutrophilia].

A 71-year-old woman complained of nausea and anorexia. Laboratory tests revealed significant neutrophilia and immunoglobulin A-kappa type M proteinemia, as well as increased plasma cells on bone marrow examination. Furthermore, the serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) concentration was high at 160 pg/ml, and the colony stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R)-T618I mutation was negative. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of bone marrow specimens using the anti-G-CSF antibody revealed immunopositivity of some myeloma cells. The patient was diagnosed using G-CSF-producing myeloma and was treated with daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone. Her treatment resulted in a very good partial response, with normalization of both serum G-CSF levels and neutrophil count. There have been a few cases of G-CSF -producing myeloma reported, and it has previously been reported as chronic neutrophilic leukemia with M proteinemia. According to previous reports, techniques such as serum G-CSF measurements, IHC with an anti-G-CSF antibody, and CSF3R gene mutation analysis are useful for differentiating G-CSF-producing myeloma. However, the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of G-CSF-producing myeloma remain unknown. Additional case gathering and investigations are required.

Effect of Cultivation Conditions on Components of Ephedra sp. Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Multivariate Analysis.

In this study, we investigated the correlation between the cultivation conditions and chemical composition of Ephedra sinica and E. sp. (denoted EP-13, which has been grown at the National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health, and Nutrition for many years). The total contents of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are specified in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia; therefore, we investigated the changes in their content under different cultivation conditions, including varying soil conditions and fertilization or the lack of fertilization. Poor growth due to low soil nutrition and lack of sunlight caused decrease of the alkaloid content. As expected, the plants accumulated proline, although the proline content varied considerably with cultivation location. The proline concentration correlated with the content of methanoproline. Moreover, a new compound, namely N,N-dimethyl-p-hydroxyphenylethylamine-O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside], was isolated from E. sinica but was absent in EP-13. This study on the correlation between cultivation methods and the alkaloid content in Ephedra is expected to assist in the future production of quality Ephedra herb.

Evaluation of a chest rehabilitation project in Nepal using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test.

[Purpose] The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is rapidly increasing worldwide. In Nepal, it has the highest mortality rate among all noninfectious diseases. Since 2015, we have been involved in a project that aims to facilitate chest rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Nepal. We compared the Nepali version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire with the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test, the latter of which was translated into Nepali for this project. We also evaluated the extent to which patient quality of life improved after the rehabilitation program. [Participants and Methods] The Nepali St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test were used to assess the health status of patients both before the intervention's initiation and one year after it. Between May and September of 2016, 122 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease participated in this program. [Results] We collected valid responses from 57 patients both before and after the intervention. The scores of both screening tools were significantly lower after the intervention than before and showed a significant correlation with one another. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the Nepali version of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test is a reliable tool for the evaluation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that the intervention used in the project might be effective for patients afflicted with the disease. However, there are limitations to the research design, such as the limited number of participants used in the study.

Heme oxygenase-1 prevents glucocorticoid and hypoxia-induced apoptosis and necrosis of osteocyte-like cells.

Glucocorticoids and hypoxia is considered to promote osteocyte apoptosis and necrosis, which are observed in glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis and osteoporosis. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induced by hemin is reported to have cytoprotective effects in ischemic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HO-1 on osteocyte death caused by glucocorticoids and hypoxia. We confirmed that hemin induced HO-1 expression in MLO-Y4 mouse osteocytes. MLO-Y4 was cultured with dexamethasone (Dex) under hypoxia (DH group). Furthermore, these cells were cultured with hemin (DH-h group) or hemin and zinc protoporphyrin IX (an HO-1 inhibitor) (DH-h-PP group). The rates of apoptosis and necrosis of these groups were analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with cells cultured under normal condition. Both apoptosis and necrosis increased in the DH group. Hemin administration significantly reduced cell death caused by glucocorticoids and hypoxia in the DH-h group, and its effect was attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor in DH-h-PP group. Capase-3 activity significantly decreased in the DH-h group. This implied that the cell death inhibition effect due to hemin is mediated by HO-1 and caspase-3. HO-1 induction may be useful in the treatment of glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis and osteoporosis.

Evaluation of femoral perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI after simultaneous initiation of electrical stimulation and steroid treatment in an osteonecrosis model.

This study aimed to evaluate femoral perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for two weeks after the simultaneous initiation of electrical stimulation (ES) and steroid treatment in a steroid-induced osteonecrosis (ON) model. A single dose of methylprednisolone was injected into 14 rabbits. Seven rabbits underwent ES (ES group), and seven rabbits did not (control group). DCE-MRI was performed before steroid administration and 1, 5, 10, and 14 days after steroid administration. Regions of interest were set in the bilateral proximal femora. The enhancement ratio, initial slope, and area under the curve were analyzed. These parameters were evaluated after steroid administration in each group and between the two groups, and the ratios of ON in both groups were compared. In the control group, the minimum values of all parameters decreased significantly after steroid administration (P < 0.05), but in the ES group, the parameters did not decrease. In the ES group, all parameter values were significantly increased on the 10th and 14th days (P < 0.05). All parameter values in the ES group were significantly higher than those in the control group on the 14th day (P < 0.05). In the control group, ON was detected in three of five rabbits (in three of ten femora). In the ES group, ON was not detected. These results suggest that increased femoral blood flow elicited by ES may be related to ON prevention after steroid administration.

Evaluation of femoral perfusion in a rabbit model of steroid-induced osteonecrosis by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with a high magnetic field MRI system.

PURPOSE: To evaluate perfusion during the early phase after steroid administration in vivo using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with a high magnetic field MRI system. The main pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis is considered to be ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single dose of methylprednisolone (MPSL) was injected into nine rabbits. DCE-MRI was performed for these rabbits before MPSL administration and 1, 5, 10, and 14 days after administration. Time-signal intensity curves were created for each femur based on the signal intensity to evaluate perfusion. Enhancement ratio (ER), initial slope (IS), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated and the value before MPSL administration and the minimal value after administration were compared statistically. RESULTS: ER, IS, and AUC values after MPSL administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively). All of them decreased by the 5th day in 56% of the femora and by the 14th day in 83%, and some femora even showed a decrease from the 1st day. CONCLUSION: In this study, decreased perfusion in the femora after steroid administration was proven. Additionally, we could show that it occurred from the early days after steroid administration.

Cortical bone water changes in ovariectomized rats during the early postoperative period: Objective evaluation using sweep imaging with Fourier transform.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cortical bone signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats during the early postoperative period as a method to measure bone quality using the sweep imaging with Fourier transform (SWIFT) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 64) were divided into sham and OVX groups. Preoperative tetracycline was immediately administered subcutaneously to distinguish new cortical bone area, and tibial samples were collected at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed using proton density-weighted imaging (PDWI) and SWIFT to obtain cross-sectional images of the tibial diaphysis. The cortical bone SNR was calculated. Bone histomorphometry was performed. RESULTS: Histomorphometry findings showed that the new bone area was significantly greater at 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively in the OVX group (P < 0.05) while the porosity area decreased gradually in both groups (P < 0.001). The difference of SNR receiving PDWI did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.057). The SWIFT technique showed that the SNR was significantly higher at 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively in the OVX group (P < 0.05) and was correlated with the new bone area (R(2) = 0.430). CONCLUSION: The SWIFT findings suggest that the SWIFT technique may depict early changes in cortical bone quality.

Prenylated benzophenones from Triadenum japonicum.

Six new prenylated benzophenones, (-)-nemorosonol (1) and trijapins A-E (2-6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Triadenum japonicum. (-)-Nemorosonol (1) and trijapins A-C (2-4) have a common tricyclo[4.3.1.0(3,7)]decane skeleton, while 1 is an enantiomer of (+)-nemorosonol previously isolated from Clusia nemorosa. The absolute configuration of (-)-nemorosonol (1) was assigned by ECD spectroscopy. Trijapins A-C (2-4) are analogues of 1 possessing an additional tetrahydrofuran ring. Trijapins D (5) and E (6) are prenylated benzophenones with a 1,2-dioxane moiety and a hydroperoxy group, respectively. (-)-Nemorosonol (1) exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC, 8 µg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC, 16 µg/mL), Bacillus subtilis (MIC, 16 µg/mL), Micrococcus luteus (MIC, 32 µg/mL), Aspergillus niger (IC50, 16 µg/mL), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (IC50, 8 µg/mL), and Candida albicans (IC50, 32 µg/mL), while trijapin D (5) showed antimicrobial activity against C. albicans (IC50, 8 µg/mL).

Femoral perfusion after pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation in a steroid-induced osteonecrosis model.

This study was designed to evaluate femoral perfusion after pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation in a steroid-induced osteonecrosis rabbit model by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Steroid-induced osteonecrosis was produced by single intramuscular injection of methylprednisolone in 15 rabbits. Eight rabbits underwent PEMF stimulation (PEMF group) and seven did not (control group). DCE-MRI was performed before PEMF stimulation, immediately before steroid administration, and 1, 5, 10, and 14 days after steroid administration. Regions of interest were set in the bilateral proximal femora. Enhancement ratio (ER), initial slope (IS), and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed. ER, IS, and AUC in the control group significantly decreased after steroid administration compared with before administration (P<0.05). In PEMF group, IS significantly decreased; however, ER and AUC showed no significant differences after steroid administration compared with before. ER and IS in PEMF group were higher than in control group until 10th day, and AUC was higher until 5th day after steroid administration (P<0.05). PEMF stimulation restrains the decrease in blood flow after steroid administration.

Hepatitis B virus strains of subgenotype A2 with an identical sequence spreading rapidly from the capital region to all over Japan in patients with acute hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To examine recent trends of acute infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Japan by nationwide surveillance and phylogenetic analyses. METHODS: During 1991 through 2009, a sentinel surveillance was conducted in 28 national hospitals in a prospective cohort study. Genotypes of HBV were determined in 547 patients with acute hepatitis B. Nucleotide sequences in the preS1/S2/S gene of genotype A and B isolates were determined for phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: HBV genotype A was detected in 137 (25% (accompanied by genotype G in one)) patients, B in 48 (9%), C in 359 (66%), and other genotypes in the remaining three (0.5%). HBV persisted in five with genotype A including the one accompanied by genotype G; another was co-infected with HIV type 1. The genotype was A in 4.8% of patients during 1991-1996, 29.3% during 1997-2002, and 50.0% during 2003-2008 in the capital region, as against 6.5%, 8.5% and 33.1%, respectively, in other regions. Of the 114 genotype A isolates, 13 (11.4%) were subgenotype A1, and 101 (88.6%) were A2, whereas of the 43 genotype B isolates, 10 (23.3%) were subgenotype B1, 28 (65.1%) were B2, two (4.7%) were B3, and three (7.0%) were B4. Sequences of 65 (64%) isolates of A2 were identical, as were three (23%) of A1, and five (18%) of B2, but none of the B1, B3 and B4 isolates shared a sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Acute infection with HBV of genotype A, subgenotype A2 in particular, appear to be increasing, mainly through sexual contact, and spreading from the capital region to other regions in Japan nationwide. Infection persisted in 4% of the patients with genotype A, and HBV strains with an identical sequence prevailed in subgenotype A2 infections. This study indicates the need for universal vaccination of young people to prevent increases in HBV infection in Japan.

Essential oil composition of Curcuma species and drugs from Asia analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Essential oils (EOs) comprised of various bioactive compounds have been widely detected in the Curcuma species. Due to the widespread distribution and misidentification of Curcuma species and differences in processing methods, inconsistent reports on major compounds in rhizomes of the same species from different geographical regions are not uncommon. This inconsistency leads to confusion and inaccuracy in compound detection of each species and also hinders comparative study based on EO compositions. The present study aimed to characterize EO compositions of 12 Curcuma species, as well as to detect the compositional variation among different species, and between the plant specimens and their related genetically validated crude drug samples using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The plant specimens of the same species showed similar EO patterns, regardless of introducing from different geographical sources. Based on the similarity of EO compositions, all the specimens and samples were separated into eight main groups: C. longa; C. phaeocaulis, C. aeruginosa and C. zedoaria; C. zanthorrhiza; C. aromatica and C. wenyujin; C. kwangsiensis; C. amada and C. mangga; C. petiolata; C. comosa. From EOs of all the specimens and samples, 54 major compounds were identified, and the eight groups were chemically characterized. Most of the major compounds detected in plant specimens were also observed in crude drug samples, although a few compounds converted or degraded due to processing procedures or over time. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis allowed the marker compounds to discriminate each group or each species to be identified.

Genetic analysis of Curcuma species from Asia based on intron regions of genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase.

Intron length polymorphism (ILP) markers in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase (DCS) and curcumin synthase (CURS) showed high identification rates in 13 Curcuma species from Asia. However, the sequences of the intron regions have not yet been analyzed. To elucidate the sequence differences in intron regions of the DCS and CURS genes and to search for specific sequences suitable for the identification of Curcuma species, a large number of sequences were determined through subcloning coupled with sequencing analysis of six Curcuma plant specimens belonging to five species that showed distinct ILP patterns. More than 30 sequences of each region from each specimen were grouped into genes DCS1, DCS2, or CURS1-3 and subsequently the sequences of the same genes were compared. Sequences belonging to the same gene showed inter-species similarity, and thus, these intron sequences were less informative within each single-gene region. The determined sequences from each specimen showed 3-5 kinds of sequence lengths in DCS intron I region, and 5-7 kinds of sequence lengths in CURS intron region. The length of determined sequences and the fragment number in each intron region were different among species, or specimens in C. longa, which were in accordance with the fragment lengths and numbers in their corresponding ILP patterns.

Hypercalcemic crisis caused by primary hyperparathyroidism in a 11-year-old boy: a rare case report and review of the literature.

Background: Hypercalcemic crisis caused by primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in pediatric patients is very rare, and appropriate treatment approach for this condition has not been well demonstrated. Here, we report a case of PHPT-induced hypercalcemic crisis in a boy. Case Description: An 11-year-old boy visited the clinic with abdominal pain and nausea that lasted for 3 months, but the cause of his symptoms could not be identified. As these symptoms worsened after 1 month, he was referred to a nearby hospital. The boy's albumin-corrected serum calcium level was very high (14.3 mg/dL). Treatment was immediately started with the administration of normal saline, furosemide, and calcitonin to lower his serum calcium levels. Based on elevated intact-parathyroid hormone (i-PTH) (405 pg/mL) level and enlargement of the right superior parathyroid on diagnostic imaging, he was diagnosed with hypercalcemic crisis due to PHPT. As his albumin-corrected serum calcium level increased to 16.5 mg/dL and he could not take almost any foods due to severe nausea, he was transferred to our hospital and treated with pamidronate. Although his albumin-corrected serum calcium level decreased to 14.0 mg/dL, his symptoms did not improve completely. Therefore, 2 days after transfer to our hospital, he underwent emergency surgery to resect the enlarged right superior parathyroid gland. Fifteen minutes after removal of the enlarged parathyroid gland, the serum intact-PTH level decreased to 41.7 pg/mL. The histopathological diagnosis of the enlarged parathyroid gland was adenoma. The boy became asymptomatic, and his albumin-corrected serum calcium level was maintained within the normal limits for 6 months post operatively. Genetic testing performed after the surgery did not detect any pathogenic mutations in the MEN1 and CDC73 genes, and no genetic predisposition has been identified to date. Conclusions: Emergency focused parathyroidectomy prior to genetic testing might be an appropriate strategy when the pediatric patient presents with a PHPT-induced hypercalcemic crisis.

Discrimination of Curcuma species from Asia using intron length polymorphism markers in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase.

Recently, Curcuma rhizome-related foods with claimed health benefits have been used worldwide; however, correct identification and quality assessment have not been conducted. Due to the wide distribution and morphological similarities of Curcuma species, the classification of some species is debated and nomenclature is inconsistent among countries. In this study, to elucidate specific molecular markers of medicinally used Curcuma species in Asia, and to solve the confusion on the reported botanical origin of crude drugs, molecular analysis based on the intron length polymorphism (ILP) in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase and the trnK intron sequences was performed using 59 plant specimens and 42 crude drug samples from 13 Curcuma species, obtained from Asian countries. The ILP patterns of the respective species from both plant specimens and crude drug samples revealed high consistency in C. aromatica, C. zedoaria, C. phaeocaulis, C. aeruginosa, C. wenyujin, and C. zanthorrhiza, but showed intraspecies polymorphism in C. longa, C. kwangsiensis, C. amada, C. mangga and C. comosa. The C. longa specimens and samples were separated into three subgroups which were highly consistent with their geographical origins. Based on the ILP markers and the trnK intron sequences, the botanical origins of "Khamin oi" from Thailand were correctly determined to be C. longa or a hybrid between C. longa and other species, and "Wan narn kum" from Thailand and "Kasturi manjal" from India were correctly determined to be C. zanthorrhiza.

Lyconadins D and E, and complanadine E, new Lycopodium alkaloids from Lycopodium complanatum.

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids, lyconadins D (1) and E (2), and complanadine E (3), were isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum. Lyconadin D (1) was the first example of fastigiatine-type alkaloid isolated from Lycopodium complanatum. The structures and relative stereochemistry of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Complanadine E (3) enhanced mRNA expression for NGF.

Variation of glycyrrhizin and liquiritin contents within a population of 5-year-old licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) plants cultivated under the same conditions.

Cultivated licorice plants (Glycyrrhiza uralensis FISCH.) contain smaller amounts of the triterpene saponin glycyrrhizin than wild licorice plants. To resolve this problem and to breed strains with high-glycyrrhizin content we determined the glycyrrhizin content of 100 samples of G. uralensis that were propagated from seed and grown under the same conditions in the field for 5 years. There was a 10.2-fold variation in glycyrrhizin content among these plants, ranging from 0.46 to 4.67% (average 2.11±0.90%). There was also a wide variation in liquiritin content, ranging from 0.11 to 2.65% (average 1.00±0.49%). The glycyrrhizin content was positively correlated with that of liquiritin in the taproots (r(2)=0.5525). Our results indicate that there are various genetic strains for glycyrrhizin and liquiritin synthesis within a population of plants propagated from seed. The selected high-glycyrrhizin and liquiritin strains will be useful for licorice production and studies on biosynthetic analysis of glycyrrhizin and liquiritin.

New isoflavone glucosides in yabumame (Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fernald subsp. edgeworthii (Benth.) H.Ohashi var. japonica (Oliv.) H.Ohashi) and their effect on leukotriene B4 production in mast cells.

Yabumame (Amphicarpaea bracteata (L.) Fernald subsp. edgeworthii (Benth.) H.Ohashi var. japonica (Oliv.) H.Ohashi) is a legume plant that the Ainu people eat as a traditional food, although the bioactive ingredients other than vitamins have not been studied. In this study, the structures of yabumame isoflavone glucosides were determined and their effect on leukotriene (LT) B4, a chemical mediator of type I allergy, produced in mast cells, was investigated in vitro. Seven compounds were isolated from yabumame. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses, which were genistein-7-O-ß-D-glucoside (1), formononetin-7-O-(2″-O-ß-D-glucosyl)-ß-D-glucoside (2), formononetin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside (3), biochanin A-7-O-(2″-O-ß-D-glucosyl)-ß-D-glucoside (4), formononetin-7-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-ß-D-glucoside (5), biochanin A-7-O-(2″-O-ß-D-glucosyl-6″-O-ß-D-glucosyl)-ß-D-glucoside (6), and biochanin A-7-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-ß-D-glucoside (7). Compounds 2, 4, and 6 were determined as new compounds. Compound 3 showed statistically significant suppressive effect on LTB4 production in mast cells, although the activity was not strong. On the other hand, biochanin A, an aglycone common to compounds 4, 6, and 7, strongly inhibited the LTB4 production. The results suggest that some of yabumame isoflavone glucosides might contribute to mitigate type I allergy. Seven isoflavone glucosides including 3 new compounds were found in yabumame and their anti-allergic effect was evaluated.

Characterization of metabolites in Saposhnikovia divaricata root from Mongolia.

Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR), derived from the dried root and rhizome of Saposhnikovia divaricata, is a popular crude drug used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. To evaluate the metabolites of S. divaricata roots from Mongolia and to investigate their geographical variation, we developed the HPLC method, determined the contents of 9 chromones and 4 coumarins, and conducted multivariate statistical analysis. All Mongolian specimens contained prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (1) and 4'-O-ß-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (3), and their total amount (5.04-25.06 mg/g) exceeded the criterion assigned in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Moreover, the content of 1 (3.98-20.79 mg/g) was significantly higher in the Mongolian specimens than in Chinese SR samples. The specimens from Norovlin showed the highest contents of 1 and 3. The total levels of dihydropyranochromones were higher in the specimens from Bayan-Uul. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis revealed that the Mongolian specimens tended to be separated into three groups based on growing regions, in which several chromones contributed to each distribution. Furthermore, 1H NMR analysis revealed that Mongolian specimens had less amount of sucrose and a substantial amount of polyacetylenes. Thus, in this study, the chemical characteristics of Mongolian S. divaricata specimens were clarified and it was found that the specimens from the northeast part of Mongolia, including Norovlin, had the superior properties due to higher amounts of major chromones.

Metabolomic profiling of Saposhnikoviae Radix from Mongolia by LC-IT-TOF-MS/MS and multivariate statistical analysis.

Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) is a commonly used crude drug that is obtained from the root and rhizome of Saposhnikovia divaricata which is distributed throughout China, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. To evaluate the quality of Mongolian S. divaricata, metabolomic profiling of 43 plant specimens from different regions of Mongolia, as well as 8 SR samples and 2 plant specimens from China, were conducted by liquid chromatography-ion-trap-time-of-flight-mass spectrometer (LC-IT-TOF-MS). LC-MS profiles of the specimens showed uniformity and 30 compounds were tentatively identified, including 13 chromones and 17 coumarins. Among them, 16 compounds were isolated and unambiguously verified by comparing them with the spectroscopic data of standard compounds. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) based on LC-MS data from 7 Mongolian specimens and 8 Chinese SR samples as well as 2 plant specimens revealed that these 2 groups were clearly distinguishable and that Mongolian specimens were characterized by an abundance of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (1). Moreover, the OPLS-DA of the Mongolian specimens showed that they can be discriminated by their growing regions based on the content of 8 chromones. The total content of dihydrofurochromones 1-3 was relatively higher in the specimens from Khalkhgol in the far eastern part of Mongolia, while contents of 10, 11, 15, and 16 were higher in those from Holonbuir in the eastern part. Based on this research, the roots of S. divaricata from Mongolia have potential as a new resource of SR in Kampo medicine.