The effect of ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.4.

To investigate the inhibitory effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) and its monomeric compounds on Nav1.4 voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and analyze the relationship between the content of its marker compounds and the inhibitory rate. Based on this study, we found that 4 mg/ml ethanol extract of G. uralensis at 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% (v/v) exhibited 77.00 ± 0.03%, 34.75 ± 0.09%, 100.00 ± 0.01% and 2.00 ± 0.01% inhibitory rates on INav1.4 respectively, and 8 mg/ml ethanol extract of G. uralensis at 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% (v/v) exhibited 99.00 ± 0.01%, 97.10 ± 0.02%, 100.00 ± 0.01% and 17.00 ± 0.04% inhibitory rates on INav1.4 respectively. Isoliquiritigenin, echinatin, liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid exhibited higher inhibitory rates of 39.98 ± 4.55%, 33.20 ± 1.61%, 22.62 ± 0.30% and 20.54 ± 4.82% respectively. However, liquiritigenin, formononetin, neoisoliquiritin and glycyrrhetinic acid exhibited lower inhibitory rates of less than 20%. Further, liquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin and neoliquiritin exhibited almost no effect on INav1.4. These findings showed that glycyrrhizic acid reached a maximum concentration of 49.15 µg/ml, while echinatin had the lowest concentration. The ethanol extract of G. uralensis has significant inhibitory effects on Nav1.4 VGSCs. This may be an important mechanism in the treatment of gastrocnemius spasm and could guide further research regarding material basis and mechanism of the treatment of gastrocnemius spasm with peony and licorice decoction.

Evaluation on the concentration change of paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizic acid in different formulations of Shaoyao-Gancao-Tang by the tri-level infrared macro-fingerprint spectroscopy and the whole analysis method.

As a kind of common prescriptions, Shaoyao-Gancao-Tang (SGT) contains two Chinese herbs with four different proportions which have different clinical efficacy because of their various components. In order to investigate the herb-herb interaction mechanisms, we used the method of tri-level infrared macro-fingerprint spectroscopy to evaluate the concentration change of active components of four SGTs in this research. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Second derivative infrared spectroscopy (SD-IR) can recognize the multiple prescriptions directly and simultaneously. 2D-IR spectra enhance the spectral resolution and obtain much new information for discriminating the similar complicated samples of SGT. Furthermore, the whole analysis method from the analysis of the main components to the specific components and the relative content of the components may evaluate the quality of TCM better. Then we concluded that paeoniflorin and glycyrrhizic acid were the highest proportion in active ingredients in SGT-12:1 and the lowest one in SGT-12:12, which matched the HPLC-DAD results. It is demonstrated that the method composed by the tri-level infrared macro-fingerprint spectroscopy and the whole analysis can be applicable for effective, visual and accurate analysis and identification of very complicated and similar mixture systems of traditional Chinese medicine.

Screening and Identification of the Metabolites in Rat Plasma and Urine after Oral Administration of Areca catechu L. Nut Extract by Ultra-High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Linear Ion Trap-Orbitrap Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Areca catechu L. nut, a well-known toxic traditional herbal medicine, has been widely used to treat various diseases in China and many other Asian countries for centuries. However, to date the in vivo absorption and metabolism of its multiple bioactive or toxic components still remain unclear. In this study, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the major components and their metabolites in rat plasma and urine after oral administration of Areca catechu L. nut extract (ACNE). A total of 12 compounds, including 6 alkaloids, 3 tannins and 3 amino acids, were confirmed or tentatively identified from ACNE. In vivo, 40 constituents, including 8 prototypes and 32 metabolites were identified in rat plasma and urine samples. In summary, this study showed an insight into the metabolism of ACNE in vivo, which may provide helpful chemical information for better understanding of the toxicological and pharmacological profiles of ACNE.

Identification of the Major Components of Buddleja officinalis Extract and Their Metabolites in Rat Urine by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap.

Buddleja officinalis Maxim, one of the most popular herbal medicines in China, is widely prescribed for curing eye diseases for centuries. In this study, the major components of B. officinalis extract (BOE) and their metabolites in rat urine were detected and identified by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap). A total of 19 compounds, including 8 flavonoids and 11 phenylethanoid glycosides, were confirmed or tentatively identified from BOE. In vivo, 33 components, including 3 prototypes and 30 metabolies, were confirmed or tentatively identified in rat urine samples. The metabolic pathways of different types of compounds were also proposed. This study would effectively narrow the range of potentially bioactive constituents of BOE and shed light to its action mechanism.