Characterization and Antioxidant Activities of Polysaccharide Isolated fromLinggui Zhugan Tang / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To characterize the structure of polysaccharide isolated from Linggui Zhugan Tang（LGZGT）,including monosaccharide composition and functional group detection, investigate the difference of the antioxidant activities of crude polysaccharide（CP） and pure polysaccharide（PP）, and provide the basis for the quality evaluation of LGZGT by in vitro bioassay. Method:The average molecular weight of CP was analyzed by high performance gel chromatography（HPGPC）. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS） and fourier transform infrared（FT-IR） were employed to determine the structure of the polysaccharide. The antioxidant activities of CP and PP samples were evaluated on the basis of 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl（DPPH） radical scavenging activity and OH radical scavenging activity. Result:The total polysaccharide was composed of single peaks, with a molecular weight of 3 689 Da. It was mainly composed of arabinose, mannose, glucose, galactose and fructose with a molar ratio of 6.85∶1.00∶109.21∶1.04∶21.82. Among them，glucose and fructose were the predominant components. In addition， IR study indicated the presence of pyranose and anomeric configurations in glycan structure, with two stereoisomers of glycosidic bond (α-glycosidic bond and β-glycosidic bond). It was found that the total polysaccharide had the ability of scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, and the activity of crude polysaccharide was better than that of refined polysaccharide. It was found in antioxidant research that the total polysaccharide had the ability of scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, and the activity of CP was better than that of PP. Furthermore, LC-Q-TOF-MS was used to qualitatively analyze the other components in CP, which indicated that it was related to the adsorption of pentacyclic triterpenoids in Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Conclusion:The polysaccharides and pentacyclic triterpenoids in LGZGT are the material basis for the antioxidative effect of LGZGT. The antioxidative activity determined by in vitro bioassay can be used as an evaluation index for the overall quality control of LGZGT.

UFLC-Q-TOF-MS fingerprints of rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis and its vinegar processed products and inhibitory effect on thrombosis / 中国中药杂志

Both raw and vinegar products of the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis are common drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in traditional Chinese medicine,which could be reflected in the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice. As the traditional processing theory instructs,vinegar tastes sour and bitter,but can activate blood circulation and remove stasis after being infiltrated into the rhizome of C. phaeocaulis as an excipient. In this study,under the help of the ultrafast liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-offlight mass spectrometry( UFLC-Q-TOF-MS),the spectrum-effect relationship between the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice and the rhizome of C. phaeocaulis both before and after the vinegar processing,were established to explore the functional changes of blood circulation and stasis after vinegar process. Based on the peak area from the fingerprint of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS of the alcohol extracts from the raw and vinegar-processed rhizome of C. phaeocaulis and their efficacy for inhibiting tail thrombosis,the correlation between the chromatography of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS and the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice were analyzed by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis( OPLS-DA) method. The results,produced by Simca-P software,showed that effective components consisted of eight peaks 16,24( aromadendrene oxide),3,11,22( dehydro-α-curcumene),19[( R)-(-)-α-curcumene],23 and 10 from the fingerprint,making great contribution to distinguish C. phaeocaulis raw products and the corresponding vinegar processed products. Therefore,from the perspective of inhibiting the formation of tail thrombosis in mice,the marker components could be found through the spectrum-effect relationship to distinguish C.phaeocaulis raw and vinegar products. This study provided new basis to explain the difference between the raw and the processed products of traditional Chinese medicine in the functional change of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Effects of Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma processed by different methods on salivary amylase and D-xylose excretion rate in rats / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effects of Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma processed by different methods (sulfur-fumigation, different temperatures baking and microwave sterilization) on salivary amylase and D-xylose excretion rate in spleen deficiency rats. The rats were divided into blank control group, rhubarb-induced spleen deficiency model control group, and Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma experimental groups processed with different methods. Amylase colorimetric method was used to determine the activities of salivary amylase and D-xylose excretion rate was measured with O-benzylamine method. Then the correlation of salivary amylase activity and D-xylose excretion rate in urinary was analyzed. As compared with blank control group, Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma baked at 100,110 ℃ can increase the unit content of rat salivary amylase and D-xylose excretion rate, with a significant difference (P<0.05). As compared with the model group, Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma baked at 70 ℃ and Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma with microwave treatment had stronger effects than the others, with statistically significant differences (P<0.01). Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma could improve D-xylose absorption function and salivary amylase activity in spleen deficiency rats. In addition, D-xylose excretion rate in urine was positively correlated with salivary amylase activity. Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizoma processed with different temperatures baking and microwave sterilization had little impact on salivary amylase activity and D-xylose excretion rate in urine of spleen deficiency rats, while sulfur fumigation had great effects on the above two indexes.

UFLC/Q-TOF-MS based analysis on material base of atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma stir-fried with wheat bran / 中国中药杂志

To establish a fingerprint spectrum for Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma stir-fried with wheat bran based on UFLC/Q-TOF-MS, and make a principal component analysis (PCA) with Markview software, in order to compare the changes of components between raw and processed Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma with raw wheat bran as the blank. The results showed that the changed in components raw Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma stir-fried with wheat bran were apparently observed by PCA. Six compounds were identified to have significant changes in mass fraction before and after being stir-fried, namely atractylenolide-I, atractylenolide-II, atractylenolide-III, atractylentrid, atractylon and an unknown compound. Among them, atractylenolide-I and atractylenolide-II generated from dehydration and dehydrogenation of atractylenolide-III may be the material base of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma stir-fried with wheat bran for strengthening spleen.

High glucose increases periostin expression and the related signal pathway in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts / 生理学报

Cardiac fibrosis is a major mechanism contributing to myocardial systolic and diastolic dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Periostin is a novel extracellular matrix protein, secreted from cardiac fibroblasts, and closely related with cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of high glucose on periostin expression and the related signal transduction pathway in cardiac fibroblasts. Adult rat cardiac fibroblasts were cultured and stimulated with high glucose (25 mmol/L). The mRNA and protein expressions of periostin were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured using 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), an oxidant-sensitive fluorescent probe. Results showed that the mRNA expression of periostin in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts was increased by 117.26% when treated with high glucose for 12 h. Incubation with high glucose for 24 h enhanced periostin protein expression by up to 93.12%. High glucose induced the production of ROS in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts, which was reduced by chelerythrine (CLT), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. High glucose-induced periostin protein expression was decreased significantly when pretreated with CLT or N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger. The phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) was increased markedly when stimulated with high glucose for 30 and 60 min, which was abolished when pretreated with CLT or NAC. SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor, significantly decreased periostin expression induced by high glucose. In conclusion, high glucose stimulates periostin protein expression via a PKC/ROS/JNK-dependent pathway in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Process mechanism of Atractylodes macrocephala and conversion of sesquiterpenes / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To research the process mechanism of Atractylodes macrocephala and conversion of sesquiterpenes from it.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The contents of atractylenolide I, II and III in the different processed herbal medicines were determined by HPLC. The conversion of the sesquiterpenes was proved by the separation of oxides of atractylone.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The contents of atractylenolide I and III increased after frying, and at high temperature the content of atract ylenolide III decreased. After oxidation, atractylone converted to atractylenolide I, III and biatractylenolide, and atractylenolide III converted to atractylenolide II after dehydration when heated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Atractylone can convert to atractylenolides during process of A. macrocephala, and the contents of each component are related to the level of process.</p>

Distinctive compound in Rhizome of Pinellia ternata / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To look for and determine the distinctive compound in Pinellia ternata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>With TLC, HPLC, the distinctive compound was found and obtained by using the method of HPLC preparation. Its structure was elucidated by spectral analysis and physico-chemical properties.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The compound was identified as inosine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inosine is the distinctive compound in Rhizome of P. ternata, and it was isolated from Banxia for the first time.</p>