[Suggestions on improving administration of local crude drug quality standards].

To improve the administration of local crude drug quality standard, the administration history, and current administration situation of local crude drugs were reviewed, the legal orientation and positive effect of local crude drugs were analyzed, and the existing problems were summarized. It was found that many problems existed in the administration of local crude drug quality standards, especially the phenomenon of homonym and synonym on their names. The suggestions on improving the administration of local crude drug quality standards were proposed. First of all, the construction of legal system should be strengthened to improve the administration methods. Secondly, the coordination mechanism should be developed to solve the outstanding problems. Thirdly, the basic research should be enhanced to resolve the general technical problems. Lastly, the channels to transfer the local crude drugs into pharmacopeia standards should be developed to achieve dynamic administration.

[Inoculation experiments of Cistanche tubulosa on 8 introduced Tamarix species].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the inoculation ratio and echinacoside content of Cistanche tubulosa and provide theoretical basis for Tamarix introduction, resource protection and screening of C. tubulosa. METHOD: 8 Tamarix species were introduced in the North China Plain and inoculation of C. tubulosa was conducted on all species. Phenylethanoid glycosides fingerprinting and echinacoside content of C. tubulosa were analyzed by using HPLC. RESULT: The adaptability of 8 Tamarix species were significantly different, phenylethanoid glycosides component of C. tubulosa on T. gansuensis and T. austromongolica were basically identical in contrast to T. chinensis, echinacoside content showed no obvious difference in C. tubulosa plant growing 4 months. CONCLUSION: T. gansuensis and T. Austromongolica are suitable for the host introduction plant of C. tubulosa resource protection and screening in North China Plain.

[Changes in level of organic acids in fructus crataegi after processing].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the organic acids level in fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida var. major before and after processing. METHOD: The amount of total organic acids and individual citric acid, malate acid, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major before and after processing were determined by pH titration and HPLC analysis. RESULT: Good linear relationship between peakarea and amount was noted for 0.28-9.02 microg of malate acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. Regression equation was Y = 2344.7 + 49309.6 X. Good linear relationships between the logarithm of peak area and amount were noted for 0.348-1.74 microg of usolic acid and 0.498-2.48 microg of oleanolic acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 in each case. Regression equations were Y = 1.3628 X + 5.9508 and Y = 1.4447 X + 5.8236, respectively. CONCLUSION: The lipid-soluble organic acids mostly remain whereas only about 70% of the water-soluble acids remain after processing in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major.

[Application of evaporative light-scattering detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine. METHOD: Papers on the assay of the active compounds of Chinese herbal medicine by HPLC-ELSD method were collected. RESULT: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector has been widely used in assaying the compounds which have no UV absorption or when wavelengths for maximal UV absorption are under 200 nm in natural products. CONCLUSION: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector will have a more widely application in analysis of constituents in Chinese herbal medicine.

[Application of pattern recognition to quality assessment of the traditional Chinese medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of the pattern recognition to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine. METHOD: Papers of application of chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine were collected and the application of different method was reviewed. RESULT: IR, UV, GC, GC-Mass and the sum mass spectra were used to evaluate the chemical character of different samples, and the microscopic features of the epidermis were scored quantitatively by stereology and image analysis on the basis of classical taxonomy,. BP networks were also widely used. CONCLUSION: Chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks are of important use in quality assessment of material medica.