GC-MS analysis and cytotoxic activity of the supercritical extracts from roots and stems of Zanthoxylum nitidum / 中国中药杂志

The volatile components of roots and stems of Zanthoxylum nitidum were investigated by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO2) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Thirty-one and fifty-one compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts from roots and stems of Z. nitidum, respectively, and total twenty-seven compounds were the common constituents. Among them, the major constituents in root and stem supercritical extracts were spathulenol (18.49 and 26.18%), n-hexadecanoic acid (14.24% and 12.79%), ar-tumerone (6.95% and 8.88%), oleic acid (8.39% and 5.71%) and hexanoic acid (4.39% and 7.78%). The in-vitro MTT assay showed that the volatile components of roots and stems of Z. nitidum did not exhibited any cytotoxic activity against human cancer Huh-7 and normal IEC-6 cells. These results indicated the same nature of the volatile constituents in the root and stem of Z. nitidum. This investigation may provide further evidence for expansion of medicinal parts of Z. nitidum.

Research on the distribution difference of MRI signals in osteonecrosis of the femoral head patients of different TCM syndrome types / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the distribution difference of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) patients of different TCM syndrome types.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited 29 ONFH patients were assigned to the tendon and vessel stagnation group (14 cases) and the Gan-Shen deficiency group (15 cases) according to TCM syndrome typing. The distribution difference of their MRI signals of MRIT1WI, T2WI + fs, T1 and T2 combined signal were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistical difference in T1W1 signal distribution between the two TCM syndrome types (P = 0.04). There was no statistical difference in T2WI + fs or T1 and T2 combined signal between the two TCM syndrome types (P = 0.42, P = 0.15). MRI signals in the tendon and vessel stagnation group were mainly manifested as fat-like signals,while they were mainly manifested as mixed signals in the Gan-Shen deficiency group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Distribution difference of MRI signals exists between ONFH patients of different TCM syndrome types.</p>

Active neuraminidase constituents of Polygonum cuspidatum against influenza A(H1N1) influenza virus / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify active neuraminidase constituents of Polygonum cuspidatum against influenza A (H1N1) influenza virus.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>On the basis of the bioassay-guided fractionation,such chromatographic methods as silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and HPLC were adopted to isolate active constituents of extracts from Polygonum cuspidatum, and their molecular structures were identifiied on the basis of their spectral data such as NMR and MS and physico-chemical properties.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of P. cuspidatum and identified as 2-methoxystypandrone (1), emodin (2), resveratrol (3), polydatin (4), emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), (E)-3, 5, 12-trihydroxystilbene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-2'-(3", 4", 5"-trihydroxybenzoate) (6) and catechin-3-O-gallate (7), respectively. Among them, the NA test showed that compounds 3, 6 and 7 had inhibitory effect against NAs activity, with IC50 values of 129.8, 44.8 and 21.3 micromol x L(-1), respectively. Moreover, the further CPE test showed compounds 6 and 7 had significant inhibitory effect against H1N influenza virus (EC50 = 5.9, 0.9 micromol x L(-1), respectively), with very low cytotoxicity to the host cells, their therapeutic selective index(SI) in MDCK cells ranged from 56 to 269.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neuraminidase inhibitors against H1N1 anti-influenza virus isolated from extracts of P. cuspidatum on the basis of the bioassay-guided fractionation are significant in specifying their therapeutic material basis and drug R&D against influenza.</p>