Harmonizing international quality standards for Andrographis paniculata: A comparative analysis of content determination methods across pharmacopeias.

The quality standards for Andrographis paniculata, a widely used medicinal herb, exhibited significant variations across different pharmacopeias. In this study, we compared the HPLC content determination methods and total lactone content of A. paniculata samples from different regions, as specified in the Chinese (CP), United States (USP), European (EP), Thai (TP), and Indian pharmacopeias (IP), as well as the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HK). We aimed to assess the differences and similarities among these pharmacopeias and harmonized international quality standards for A. paniculata. The analysis revealed variations in sample preparation, liquid chromatographic conditions, fingerprint profiles, and total lactone content among the different pharmacopeias. Specifically, the CP and HK methods exhibited superior sample preparation and chromatographic separation. Further comparing the content of 20 A. paniculata samples with the CP, USP, EP and HK methods showed consistent determinations for the same components, indicating similar detection capabilities. The discrepancies in total lactone content primarily stemmed from differences in the number and types of detected compounds. Moreover, the acceptance criteria exhibited a stringency in the order CP > HK > EP > USP. In conclusion, this comparison analysis of content determination in CP, USP, HK, EP, TP and IP provided a scientific foundation for the international standardization and trade regulations of A. paniculata. It also served as a valuable reference for the development of international quality standards for other medicinal herbs, facilitating the harmonization of global pharmaceutical standards.

Current quality standards of Andrographis Herba of different countries and regions / 中国中药杂志

Andrographis Herba is a commonly used plant medicine, and has been recorded in pharmacopeias of different countries. However, there are some differences in the quality standards. Based on this, this paper compare the quality standards of Andrographis Herba between Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards, United States Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia and Indian Pharmacopoeia, including origin, botanical characteristics, identification(microscopic identification and chromatographic identification), content determination, specific test(such as impurities, loss on drying, extractives, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other items) and storage requirements, so as to provide a reference for studying international quality standards of Andrographis.

[Current quality standards of Andrographis Herba of different countries and regions].

Andrographis Herba is a commonly used plant medicine, and has been recorded in pharmacopeias of different countries. However, there are some differences in the quality standards. Based on this, this paper compare the quality standards of Andrographis Herba between Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards, United States Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia and Indian Pharmacopoeia, including origin, botanical characteristics, identification(microscopic identification and chromatographic identification), content determination, specific test(such as impurities, loss on drying, extractives, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other items) and storage requirements, so as to provide a reference for studying international quality standards of Andrographis.

Cytotoxic Prenylated Xanthones from the Leaves of Garcinia bracteata.

Six new prenylated xanthones (1: -6: ) and seventeen known xanthones were isolated from extracts of Garcinia bracteata leaves. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR and MS spectroscopic data analysis. The inhibitory activities of the isolates were assayed on HeLa, A549, PC-3, HT-29, and WPMY-1 cell lines. Compounds 1: and 15: -17: showed moderate inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth, with IC50s ranging from 3.7 to 14.7 µM.

[Spatial patterns and influence factors of specialization in tea cultivation based on geographically weighted regression model: A case study of Anxi County of Fujian Province, China]. / åŸºäºŽåœ°ç†åŠ æƒå›žå½’çš„èŒ¶å¶ç§æ¤ä¸“ä¸šåŒ–ç©ºé—´æ ¼å±€åŠå½±å“å› ç´ ­­ä»¥ç¦å»ºçœå®‰æºªåŽ¿ä¸ºä¾‹.

Anxi County, specializing in tea cultivation, was taken as a case in this research. Pearson correlation analysis, ordinary least squares model (OLS) and geographically weighted regression model (GWR) were used to select four primary influence factors of specialization in tea cultivation (i.e., the average elevation, net income per capita, proportion of agricultural population, and the distance from roads) by analyzing the specialization degree of each town of Anxi County. Meanwhile, the spatial patterns of specialization in tea cultivation of Anxi County were evaluated. The results indicated that specialization in tea cultivation of Anxi County showed an obvious spatial auto-correlation, and a spatial pattern with "low-middle-high" circle structure, which was similar to Von Thünen's circle structure model, appeared from the county town to its surrounding region. Meanwhile, GWR (0.624) had a better fitting degree than OLS (0.595), and GWR could reasonably expound the spatial data. Contrary to the agricultural location theory of Von Thünen's model, which indicated that distance from market was a determination factor, the specialization degree of tea cultivation in Anxi was mainly decided by natural conditions of mountain area, instead of the social factors. Specialization degree of tea cultivation was positively correlated with the average elevation, net income per capita and the proportion of agricultural population, while a negative correlation was found between the distance from roads and specialization degree of tea cultivation. Coefficients of regression between the specialization degree of tea cultivation and two factors (i.e., the average elevation and net income per capita) showed a spatial pattern of higher level in the north direction and lower level in the south direction. On the contrary, the regression coefficients for the proportion of agricultural population increased from south to north of Anxi County. Furthermore, regression coefficient for the distance from roads showed a spatial pattern of higher level in the northeast direction and lower level in the southwest direction of Anxi County.

[Transcriptome profiling and analysis of Panax japonicus var. major].

The rhizome of Panax japonicus var. major have been used as the natural medicinal agent by Chinese traditional doctors for more than thousand years. Most of the therapeutic effects of P. japonicus var. major had been reported due to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic triterpene saponins. In this study, Illumina pair-end RNA-sequencing and de novo splicing were done in order to understand the pathway of triterpenoid saponins in this species. The valid reads data of 15. 6 Gb were obtained. The 62 240 unigenes were finally obtained by de novo splicing. After annotation, we discovered 19 unigenes involved in ginsenoside backbone biosynthesis. Additionally, 69 unigenes and 18 unigenes were predicted to have potential function of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase based on the annotation results, which may encode enzymes responsible for ginsenoside backbone modification. This study provides global expressed datas for P. japonicus var. major, which will contribute significantly to further genome-wide research and analysis for this species.

Transcriptome profiling and analysis of Panax japonicus var. major / 中国中药杂志

The rhizome of Panax japonicus var. major have been used as the natural medicinal agent by Chinese traditional doctors for more than thousand years. Most of the therapeutic effects of P. japonicus var. major had been reported due to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic triterpene saponins. In this study, Illumina pair-end RNA-sequencing and de novo splicing were done in order to understand the pathway of triterpenoid saponins in this species. The valid reads data of 15. 6 Gb were obtained. The 62 240 unigenes were finally obtained by de novo splicing. After annotation, we discovered 19 unigenes involved in ginsenoside backbone biosynthesis. Additionally, 69 unigenes and 18 unigenes were predicted to have potential function of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase based on the annotation results, which may encode enzymes responsible for ginsenoside backbone modification. This study provides global expressed datas for P. japonicus var. major, which will contribute significantly to further genome-wide research and analysis for this species.

Study on intestinal absorption of formononetin in Millettia nitita var. hirsutissima in rats / 中国中药杂志

To use the single-pass intestine perfusion (SPIP) model and HPLC to determine the concentration of formononetin, the effect of quality concentrations of formononetin, different intestinal segments and P-glycoprotein inhibitor on intestinal absorption of formononetin, in order to observe the intestinal absorption mechanism of formononetin from Millettia nitita var. hirsutissima in rats. The experimental results showed that the qulaity concentration of formononetin in the perfusate had no significant effect on the absorption rate constant (K(a)) and the apparent absorption coefficient (P(app)); K(a) and P(app) of formononetin in duodenum, jejunum and ileum showed no significant difference. However, K(a) was significantly higher than that in colon (P < 0.05), with significant difference between that in intestinum tenue and colon. P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil showed significant difference in K(a) and P(app) in intestinal segments (P < 0.05). This indicated that the absorption mechanism of formononein in rat intestinal tracts passive diffusion, without any saturated absorption. Formononein is absorbed well in all intestines. Their absorption windows were mainly concentrated in the intestinum tenue, without specific absorption sites. Formononein may be the substrate of P-glycoprotein.

Effect of rheum on gastrointestinal hormones in rats with severe scald injury / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes in motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SS) in plasma of rats with severe scald injury at early stage and the effect of rheum on their changes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC, n = 8), scald group (S, gavage of distilled water after full-thickness scald, n = 40), therapeutic group (T, gavage of rheum solution after full-thickness scald, n = 40). The blood samples were harvested from inferior vena cava at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 post scald hours (PSH) to determine the levels of MTL, SS, SP and VIP with radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The levels of MTL and SP were (198 +/- 28), (61 +/- 10) ng/L, respectively, in NC group. The levels of MTL and SP in S group reached their minimum values [(110 +/- 15), (30 +/- 5) ng/L, respectively] at 6 PSH, then ascended slowly, peaked at 72 PSH but still lower than those in NC group (P < 0.05). The levels of MTL and SP slowly descended in T group, reached normal levels at 48 PSH, and obviously higher than those in NC group at 72 PSH [(232 +/- 32), (73 +/- 11) ng/ L, respectively, P < 0.05], which were higher than those in S group at 6 -72 PSH. (2) The levels of VIP and SS were (35 +/- 6), (30 +/- 5) ng/L, respectively, in NC group. The levels of VIP and SS in S group were (70 +/- 12), (49 +/- 9) ng/L at 6 PSH, which were obviously higher than those in NC group (P < 0.01), then descended slowly, but still higher than normal level at 72 PSH (P < 0.05). The levels of VIP and SS in T group ascended slowly, reached the normal level at 48 PSH, which were lower than those in S group at each time points, and VIP reached peak value at 12 PSH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rheum may regulate secretion and release of gastrointestinal hormones to plasma in rats with severe scald injury at early stage.</p>

Qingrelishi-category Chinese medicine for chronic prostatitis: a systematic review / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Qingrelishi-category Chinese medicine (for dispelling heat and resolving dampness) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Randomized clinical trials or controlled clinical trials comparing Qingrelishi with plant america, other herbal medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of chronic prostatitis were identified by electronic and manual retrieval and analysis. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed and Meta-analysis was performed with Revman 4. 2 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-four randomized clinical trials or controlled clinical trials (n=5746) were identified. The methodological quality ranked high in three double-blind trials and the others ranked low. Meta-analysis indicated that Qingrelishi was more effective than Nankangpian( RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35) and Prostate( RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.41) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. Subgroup analysis revealed that Qingrelishi was more effective than Qianliekang (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19-1.45) and quinolones antibiotic (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15-1.57). There were no significant differences in efficacy either between Qingrelishi and a-receptor blocker and Puleanpian or between Qingrelishi plus quinolone antibiotics and quinolone antibiotics alone. Eighteen articles reported side effects and no serious adverse events were reported.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Qingrelishi may be effective in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. However, the evidence is not strong due to the generally low methodological quality and the variations of the herbs. More randomized clinical trials are required.</p>

Cerebral perfusion SPECT imaging for assessment of the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on patients with postbrain injury neural status / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on patients with postbrain injury neural status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two to 4 courses of HBO therapy and/or medications were used to treat 320 patients who were randomly divided into two groups. Assessment was made with (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer ( (99m)Tc-ECD) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference between the HBO therapy group and the non-HBO therapy group. HBO therapy was superior to medication treatment alone in the recovery of clinical symptoms, control of epilepsy, and resolution of hydrocephalus (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HBO therapy has specific curative effects on patients with postbrain injury neural status, and (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT could play an important role in diagnosing postbrain injury neural status and monitoring the therapeutic effects of HBO.</p>

An experimental study on the prevention and treatment of postburn intestinal injury and bacterial translocation by Sijunzi decoction in scalded rats / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction on amelioration of postburn intestinal injury in scalded rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. scald and treatment (T), scald control (S) and normal control (C) groups. The rats in T group were gavaged with the decoction consisting of tangshen, tuckahoe, large head atractylodes rhizome, glycyrrhizic and rhubarb in a dose of 2 ml twice daily, while the rats in C group were just gavaged with the same amount of distilled water. The rats were sacrificed according to the scheduled postburn observation timepoints. The contents of TNF, NO, MDA and ATPase activity in rat plasma and the intestinal mucosa and the S-IgA content in the intestinal mucus were determined respectively. The changes in histopathology of intestinal mucosa were observed. The samples from internal organ tissue and blood were obtained for bacterial culture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of TNF, NO and MDA in the intestinal mucosa tissue and the rat plasma in scalded rats were lowered significantly by Sijunzi decoction. Furthermore, S-IgA secretion from intestinal mucous cells was maintained by Sijunzi decoction. T cell count was recovered and intestinal mucous barrier injury were lessened, and the bacterial positive rate in the internal organs was decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Traditional Chinese herbal medicine Sijunzi decoction might be helpful in alleviation of postburn intestinal injury and in the prevention of intestinal bacterial translocation.</p>