Improving Chuanxiong Rhizoma quality standards using an effect-constituent index based bioassay.

Chuanxiong Rhizoma is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is used to promote blood circulation. We set out to improve Chuanxiong Rhizoma quality standards using a bioassay-based Effect-constituent Index (ECI). We performed high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to determine the chemical constituents of 10 Chuanxiong Rhizoma samples from different locations. We then constructed a direct bioassay method to investigate each sample's antiplatelet aggregation effects. To screen for active ingredients that promote antiplatelet aggregation, we carried out Pearson correlation analyses between biopotency and compounds identified in the HPLC data. We developed an ECI of platelet aggregation inhibition using a multi-indicator synthetic evaluation method based on the integration of biopotency and active constituents. To further assess the biopotency-based Chuanxiong Rhizoma quality evaluation result accuracy, we compared the ECI with the chemical indicator' method. Eight common chemical fingerprints peaks indicated notable content variation among samples. Biological evaluation showed that all 10 samples could inhibit platelet aggregation, although they had significantly different biological potencies. Using spectrum-effect relationships, we determined that Ligustilide was the significant active constituent responsible for antiplatelet aggregation. Using correlation analysis, we found that ECI correlated with the Chuanxiong Rhizoma extract's platelet aggregation inhibitory effect. Additionally, ECI proved to be a good indicator of Chuanxiong Rhizoma quality, whereas chemical indicators failed to distinguish and predict the biopotency-based quality grade. This work indicates that ECI is a useful tool for associating sample quality with chemical markers linked to TCM clinical effects. ECI also provides a paradigm for improving the quality control of other TCMs that invigorate blood circulation.

Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extract from Chrysanthemum indicum Linné on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: As a prevalent type of cryptogenic fibrotic disease with high mortality, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) still lacks effective therapeutic drugs. The compounds extracted from buds and flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum Linné with supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid (CISCFE) has been confirmed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lung-protective effects. This paper aimed to clarify whether CISCFE could treat IPF induced by bleomycin (BLM) and elucidate the related mechanisms. METHODS: Rats (Sprague-Dawley, male) were separated into the following groups: normal, model, pirfenidone (50 mg/kg), CISCFE-L, -M, and -H (240, 360, and 480 mg/kg/d, i.g., respectively, for 4 weeks). Rats were given BLM (5 mg/kg) via intratracheal installation to establish the IPF model. A549 and MRC-5 cells were stimulated by Wnt-1 to establish a cell model and then treated with CISCFE. Haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson staining were employed to observe lesions in the lung tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to observe changes in genes and proteins connected with the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. RESULTS: CISCFE inhibited the proliferation of MRC-5 cells (IC50: 2.723 ± 0.488 µg/mL) and A549 cells (IC50: 2.235 ± 0.229 µg/mL). In rats, A549 cells, and MRC-5 cells, BLM and Wnt-1 obviously induced the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, type I collagen (collagen-I), and Nu-ß-catenin. The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and - 9 (MMP-9), two enzymes that degrade and reshape the extracellular matrix (ECM) were also increased while those of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) were decreased. However, CISCFE reversed the effects of BLM and Wnt-1 on the expression pattern of these proteins and genes. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that CISCFE could inhibit IPF development by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and may serve as a treatment for IPF after further investigation.

[Study on allelopathy effect of pericarp extract of Phellodendron amurense].

Through the study of allelopathy of the pericarp of Phellodendron amurense, the role of self-regeneration barriers was investigated in order to find ways and means for the protection of wild populations of P. amurense. Solution preparation: soaked pericarp of P. amurense in distilled water at 4 degrees C to get solution A, and reflux extraction of pericarp with distilled water at 100 degrees C to get solution B. Both of the solution A and solution B were used in the experiment of seed germination and seedling growth with the seeds of cabbage and wheat. The results showed that 20 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A and solution B inhibited significantly seed germination of cabbage and wheat, while 100 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A even completely inhibited the seed germination of wheat. 20 g x L(-1) concentration of solution A significantly inhibited the cabbage and wheat seedling growth, completely inhibited the root growth of cabbage, while 100 g x L(-1) concentrations of solution A completely inhibited seedling growth of cabbage and wheat. Comparing to solution A, the intensity of solution B are diminished on seed germination and seedling growth. It is concluded that the allelopathy of pericarp of P. amurense is multi-material role in the results, some of allelochemicals are easily degradable when exposed to heat. Overall, the allelopathy of pericarp of P. amurense can affect the seed germination and seedling growth. It is supposed that allelochemicals existed in the pericarp of P. amurense is one of the reason leading to difficulties in self-regeneration of its population.

[Study on procedure of seed quality testing and seed grading scale of Phellodendron amurense].

OBJECTIVE: To study the procedure of seed quality testing and seed grading scale of Phellodendron amurense. METHOD: Seed quality testing methods were developed, which included the test of sampling, seed purity, weight per 1 000 seeds, seed moisture, seed viability and germination rate. The related data from 62 cases of seed specimens of P. amurense were analyzed by cluster analysis. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The seed quality test procedure was developed, and the seed quality grading scale was formulated.