[Research advance on structure and function of amides in Zanthoxylum plants].

Zanthoxylum belongs to the Rutaceae family, and there are 81 Zanthoxylum species and 36 varieties in China. Most of the Zanthoxylum plants are used as culinary spice. In recent years, scholars in China and abroad have carried out in-depth research on Zanthoxylum plants, and found that the peculiar numbing sensation of Zanthoxylum plants originates from amides. It is also determined that amides are an important material basis for exerting pharmacological effects, especially in anti-inflammatory analgesia, anesthesia and other aspects. In this paper, 123 amides in 26 Zanthoxylum plants and their pharmacological activity that have been reported were summarized, which provided scientific reference for the clinical application of Zanthoxylum plants and the research and development of new drugs, and also facilitated the sustainable development and utilization of Zanthoxylum plant resources.

Alkylamides from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and their neuroprotective activity.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is an important medicinal plant, and its pericarps are commonly used as a natural spice in Asian countries. In this study, fifteen alkylamides were isolated and elucidated from the pericarps of Z. armatum, including five undescribed alkylamides (1-5) and ten known compounds (6-15). The molecular structures of all compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry, among which the absolute configuration of compound 15 was determined by the Mo2(OAc)4-induced circular dichroism method. Moreover, all compounds were screened for their neuroprotective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells for the evaluation of their neuroprotective activity. Especially, compounds 2-4 expressed potential neuroprotective activity, and further research showed that the cell viability was significantly enhanced in a concentration dependent manner when the cells were treated for 6 h. Moreover, compounds 2-4 could decrease reactive oxygen species accumulation. This paper enriched structure types of alkylamides in Zanthoxylum armatum.

[The effects of different herbal compound and extracts from different extraction methods on hypoxia tolerance in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effects of different prescription compositions of traditional Chinese medicine and its different extraction methods of compound formula extracts on hypoxia tolerance in mice, in order to preferably select their prescription compositions and preparation extraction methods. Methods: Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank control group, compound danshen group, compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract group (Rhodiola rosea, Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus), compound Rhodiola Rosea water extract group, compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group (Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus) and compound Astragalus water extract group, 30 mice in each group. Each group was administered continuously by gavage for 10 d. The blank group was gavaged with sterilized injection water. The mice in the other groups were treated with 0.15 g/kg of compound danshen, 3 g/kg of compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract or water extract, and 1.7 g/kg of compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract or water extract, respectively. Each group was subjected to normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, sodium nitrite toxicity survival test and acute cerebral ischemia-hypoxia test 1 h after the last gavage, and the mice brain tissues were used to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes and metabolites related to oxidative stress. Results: Compared with the blank control group, in normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, the survival time of mice in the compound danshen group and the compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group and water extraction group was prolonged significantly (P＜0.01), and the number of open-mouth gasping after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia was increased significantly (P＜0.05). There was no statistical difference in survival time after sodium nitrite injection in each group. Compared with the blank control group, the activities of T-AOC, SOD, GSH and CAT were increased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the compound Astragalus water extract group. Compared with the compound danshen group, the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH were increased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Compound Astragalus water extraction has the best effect of hypoxia tolerance, compound Rhodiola Rosea can eliminate Rhodiola rosea and consists of Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus and its extraction method is water extraction.

Characterization of chemical composition variations in raw and processed Codonopsis Radix by integrating metabolomics and glycomics based on multiple chromatography-mass spectrometry technology.

Codonopsis Radix, a popular food homology medicine, is widely used in clinical traditional Chinese medicine and food supplement, raw products and three types of processed products are the main forms of decoction pieces in China. However, there is no scientific basis for comprehensive chemical characterization of raw and three types of processed products. Herein, we investigated qualitatively and quantificationally secondary and primary metabolites in raw Codonopsis Radix and three types of processed products by metabolomics and glycomics employing multiple chromatography-mass spectrometry technology combined with chemometric analysis further to look for differential compounds and propose the processing-induced chemical mechanisms. The results indicated that Codonopsis Radix became dark-colored and the smell of burnt incense odor was observed after processing. The principal component analysis demonstrated that secondary metabolome and glycome were significantly altered between raw and processed products, and 36 differential secondary metabolites and 11 differential primary metabolites were finally screened through orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis. The main types of compounds are alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, amino acids, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and furfural derivatives. Meanwhile, Chemical mechanisms could be involved, including oxidation, glycosidic hydrolysis, esterification, dehydration, and Maillard reaction. This work supplies a chemical basis for the application of various types of Codonopsis Radix decoction pieces.

[Study on the chemical constituent from the dichloromethane extract. of the pine needles of Cedrus deodara].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the dichloromethane extracted from pine needles of Cedrus deodara. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified from the dichloromethane extract of pine needles by chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and physicochemical property. RESULTS: Nine compounds were isolated and purified. Their structures were identified as stigmasterol (1), oleanolic acid (2), parahydroxybenzaldehyde (3), beta-sitosterol (4), syringaresinol (5), daucosterol (6), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), gallicin (8) and gallic acid (9). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-3, 5 -9 are isolated from pine needles of this genus for the first time.

[Study on the chemical constituents from Patrinia scabra].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from Patrinia scabra Bunge. METHODS: Chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated and purified. Their structures were identified as villosol (I), patriscabrol (II), protocatechuic acid (III), beta-daucosterol (IV), oleic acid (V), beta-sitosterol (VI), erucic acid (VII). CONCLUSION: Compounds I, III, V, VII are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Anticancer potential of Euphorbia helioscopia L extracts against human cancer cells.

Euphorbia helioscopia L is considered a traditional Chinese herb which is widely distributed in China. The active anticancer fractions and anticancer mechanism of the herb are unclear. In this study, we evaluated the growth inhibitory effects of Euphorbia helioscopia L extracts on five different human cancer cell lines for screening the main active fraction with antitumor effect. In this regard, the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) was found to markedly inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. EAE treatment arrested cell cycle in G-1 phase and EAE used at the concentration range of 100-200 µg/mL induced a marked increase of subdiploid peak. After EAE treatment at the concentrations of 150 and 200 µg/mL, the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased. At the EAE concentration of 200 µg/mL, the typical morphology of early apoptotic change was observed in SMMC-7721 cells. Since tumorigenesis is often defined by an uncontrolled proliferation and transplantability, we also determined the anti-invasive effects of EAE. The EAE treatment displayed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on tumor cell invasion and MMP-9 expression. Also, the major active fraction was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The data showed that the flavonoids could be the main constituents of EAE. Based on the evidence from these data, we inferred that the EAE of Euphorbia helioscopia L could have chemopreventive potential against the human cancer.

Quantitative analysis of quercetin in Euphorbia helioscopia L by RP-HPLC.

Euphorbia helioscopia L is widespread in China and has a large number of flavonoids. Quercetin glycosides, having useful biological activities, are abundant in this plant, and no validated analytical method has so far been developed for their determination. We, therefore, standardized a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) assay for quercetin detection. For this, the plant was locally procured and identification was confirmed based on its morpho-histological characteristics. Ethyl acetate extracts of leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed by RP-HPLC using Agilent 1120 HPLC TC-C(18) column (250 × 4.6 mm; 5 µm) with UV-detector system. The mobile phase of methanol-0.2% phosphoric acid (65:35) solution was used with the flow rate of 1.0 ml min(-1) at 30°C, and the detection was performed at 360 nm wavelength. Our data show that the linear range of quercetin was 0.025-0.150 mg.ml(-1) (r = 0.9995; n = 6) with the recovery rate of 97.50-103.30% (average 100.40%; RSD = 2.28%). The target component was baseline separated during only the period of 9 min. The repeatability of RP-HPLC analysis was demonstrated with an RSD of 1.77% (n = 6), and the highest quercetin content (average 1.42 mg g(-1)dry-weight) was present in leaves. It was, therefore, concluded that RP-HPLC is a simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive method for the detection of quercetin from Euphorbia helioscopia L.