[Quality standard of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba].

In light of related methods in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), this study established the quality standard for Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The TLC identification method was established with silica gel GF_(254) thin layer plate, diosmin standard, linarin standard, and the reference material of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba. The loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and ethanol-soluble extracts of 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples were determined according to the general principles in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Then, HPLC was adopted in the establishment of characteristic chromatogram and content determination. The results showed that the established method can achieve good separation for diosmin, linarin, and lobetyolin. Based on the results of detection for 18 batches of Lobeliae Chinensis Herba samples, the draft quality standard was established, which was expected to provide reference for the revision of this medicinal herb in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

[Steroids from Uncaria rhynchophylla].

Thirteen steroids(1-13) were isolated from the non-alkaloid constituents of Uncaria rhynchophylla by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by analyses of the MS and NMR spectral data. All the compounds were isolated from the genus Uncaria for the first time, and 1 was a new compound. The ~1H-NMR and ~(13)C-NMR data of two compounds(12 and 13) in deuteron-chloroform were completely assigned. This study enriched the steroid constituents of U. rhynchophylla and provided scientific references for the elucidation of active constituents and further development and utilization of U. rhynchophylla.

Three new p-coumaroylated sesquiterpenoids from Pilea cavaleriei.

Four p-coumaroylated sesquiterpenoids (1-4), including three new ones (1, 2, and 4), were isolated from the whole plants of Pilea cavaleriei. Their structures were established on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with data reported in the literature. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their antimycobacterial activities, and 2 and 4 were active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with the MIC values of 19.6 ± 0.19 and 17.4 ± 0.12 µg/mL, respectively.

[Research on in vivo metabolites of Longxue Tongluo Capsules by liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry].

Longxue Tongluo Capsules(LTC) has good efficacy against blood stasis syndrome during the recovery period of ischemic stroke. Its main active ingredient is the phenolic extract of Chinese dragon's blood. In our previous study, the primary mass fragmentation pathways of phenolic derivatives from LTC were clarified. Herein, the metabolites in rat plasma were characterized following the oral administration of loureirin A and loureirin C using liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectro-metry(LC-IT-TOF-MS), with 18 and 55 metabolites identified, respectively. On this basis, with the help of the obtained accurate molecular weight, characteristic fragment ions, reference comparison, combined with LTC database and natural products database self-created in our group, 18 prototypes and 106 metabolites were tentatively identified in rat plasma after oral gavage of LTC at a dose of 500 mg·kg~(-1). Glucuronidation, sulfonation, and methylation were major biotransformation pathways of LTC. This study preliminarily clarified the LTC constituents absorbed into blood and laid the foundation for clarifying the effective substances of LTC.

[Research advances of Zaoren Anshen prescription preparations].

Zaoren Anshen prescription preparations(ZRASs), which are prepared from three traditional Chinese herb medicines, namely fried Zizyphi Spinosae Semen, Salvia Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and vinegar-processed Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, are a series of proprietary Chinese medicines for the treatment of insomnia, amnesia and dizzy in clinic. In recent years, pharmacodynamic effect, chemical constituents and quality control of ZRASs had been extensively studied for the purpose of ensuring their safety, efficacy and stability, and a great progress had been made. However, there is no review of the research advance of ZRASs up to date. The present review summarized the research advance of ZRASs in quality control standards, chemical constituents, pharmacodynamic effects, and chemical analysis for the first time, with the aim to provide a reference for further studies on the effective constituents and quality control of ZRASs.

Discovery of novel potential plant growth regulators from Corydalis mucronifera.

Three pairs of enantiomers mucroniferals A-C (1-3), with a novel skeleton of 1,4-epoxynaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid first reported from nature source, were isolated from Corydalis mucronifera. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and their absolute configurations were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD data. Mucroniferals A-C showed broad-spectrum inhibitory activities on seedling growth of all plants tested (Lepidium apetalum, Raphanus sativus, Lactuca sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana) with a dose-dependent relationship. Additionally, mucroniferals A and B exhibited significant inhibitory effects on germination of most seeds at concentration of 80 µg/mL, and the inhibition was reversible.

The effectiveness of cupping therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: We investigated the effectiveness of cupping therapy with three different pressures in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were randomly assigned to three groups, as follows: cupping pressure of -0.02 mpa (n = 38), -0.03 mpa (n = 38), or -0.05 mpa (n = 36). Each group received cupping treatment that consisted of 10 sessions over 5 weeks (2 sessions per week). The primary outcomes were Fatigue Scale (FS-14) score and Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) score after 5 and 10 sessions. The secondary outcomes were the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. RESULTS: There were 91 participants who completed the trial. After five sessions of treatment, the primary outcome of FS-14 score decreased by 3.20 (2.19, 4.21) in the -0.02 mpa group, by 2.39 (1.51, 3.27) in the -0.03 mpa group, and by 3.40 (2.28, 4.52) in the -0.05 mpa group (P = 0.667). After 10 sessions of treatment, the outcome of FS-14 score decreased by 5.00 (3.79, 6.21) in the -0.02 mpa group, by 4.06 (3.07, 5.05) in the -0.03 mpa group, and by 4.77 (3.52, 5.94) in the -0.05 mpa group (P = 0.929). And, the results were statistically different between 5 sessions and 10 sessions of treatment (P < 0.01). However, there were no statistical differences in FAI, SAS, SDS, and PSQI scores between the three groups after 5 sessions and 10 sessions of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, cupping therapy has significantly relieved fatigue symptoms and improved emotion and sleep condition of CFS patients, and 10 sessions of treatment had superior results compared with 5 sessions in each group. Moreover, in 5 sessions of treatment, cupping with high pressure showed better improvement in fatigue syndromes and sleep condition according to effective rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR1800017590); Ethical approval number: ChiECRCT-20180085.

Chemical constituents from the whole plants of Pilea cavaleriei Levl subsp. cavaleriei.

Three new sesquiterpene glycosides (1-3), three new glycerol glycosides (4-6), two new alkaloids (7-8), together with seven known compounds (9-15) all of which were isolated from the genus Pilea for the first time, were isolated from the whole plants of Pilea cavaleriei Levl subsp. cavaleriei. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against four cancer cell lines, and none of the tested compounds caused a significant reduction of the cell number.

Prenylated benzoic acid derivatives from the stem of Euodia lepta.

Two new prenylated benzoic acid derivatives, leptoic acid A and (+)-S-anodendroic acid (1-2), along with one known compound, 2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carboxylic acid (3) were isolated from the stem of Euodia lepta (spreng.) Merr. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Two new prenylated isoflavones from Hedysarum multijugum.

Chemical investigation on the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Hedysarum multijugum resulted in the isolation of two new prenylated isoflavonoids: 5, 7, 2'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-3'-(γ, γ-dimethylallyl) isoflavone (hedysarimisoflavone A, 1) and 5, 7, 2'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6, 8-di-(γ, γ-dimethylallyl) isoflavone (hedysarimisoflavone B, 2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, especially, 1H and 13C NMR spectra in conjunction with their 2D experiments, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY.

[Subacute toxicity and chemical analysis of Tibetan medicine Oxytropis falcata].

Four different extracts of Oxytropis falcata, including the aerial aqueous extract, and the underground aqueous extract, the aerial lipophilic extract, and the underground lipophilic extract were prepared and then administrated orally to mice at the maximum dose (50 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) calculated by raw material) for fifteen days respectively. Compared with the control group, which was administrated of 1.0% tween-80, the treatment groups did not show significant differences in appearance and behavior. However, the organcoefficient, blood biochemical indicator and pathological section results showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts of O. flacata showed mild injury to the liver of mice, while the aerial and underground aqueous extracts and the underground lipophilic extract showed mild toxicity to the kidney of male mice. Chemical analysis showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts, especially aerial lipophilic extract, consisted of large amount of flavonoid aglycones with little amount of polysaccharides and proteins, while the aqueous extracts contained much polysaccharides and proteins with almost no flavonoid aglycones detected.

New phenolic glycosides from Pilea cavaleriei.

Five new phenolic glycosides, 2-hydroxy-(2'E)-prenyl benzoate-2,4'-di-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2-hydroxy-(2'E)-prenyl benzoate-2-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4-methylphenol-1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), 4-methylphenol-1-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), and 3,5-dimethoxyphenol-1-O-ß-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), together with six known glycosides (6-11), were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction of the EtOH extract of Pilea cavaleriei Levl subsp. cavaleriei. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as HR-ESI-MS, and chemical evidences. All these compounds were isolated from the genus Pilea for the first time.

Two new glycosides from Carduus acanthoides.

Two new glycosides, syringic acid-4-O-ß-L-arabinopyranoside and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-7-O-ß-D-glucuronopyranoside, were isolated from whole plants of Carduus acanthoides (Asteraceae), and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

[Chemical constituents from whole plants of Carduus acanthoides].

Fourteen compounds were isolated from wholeplants of Carduus acanthoides by various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over HP-20 macroporous resin, MCI gel, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and ODS and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as salidroside (1), 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3,5-di-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), p-coumaric acid (4), 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propan-1-one (5), 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl) propan-1-one (6), syringin (7), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (8), salicylic acid (9), tachioside (10), vanillic acid-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), syringic aldehyde (12), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenol-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13), and 2, 6-dimethoxy-p-hydroquinone-4-0-P-D-glucopyranoside (14) on the basis of spectroscopic data analysiS. All compounds were isolated from the genus Carduus for the first time except for compounds 4 and 7.

[Chemical constituents of Pilea cavaleriei subsp. cavaleriei].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chemical constituents from folk herb Pilea cavaleriei subsp. cavaleriei. METHOD: The compounds were separated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and the like. The structures were identified by spectral methods such as (1)H, (13)C-NMR and MS. RESULT: Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as benzoic acid (1), 4-hydroxy benzalde-hyde (2), coumaric acid(3), protocatechuic acid (4), gallic acid (5), 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (6), 3-indole carboxaldehyde (7), 3-indole carbo-xylicacid (8), 4-methyl-(1,2,3) -triazole(9), uracil(10), nicotinamide (11), (2S,E)-N-[2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy phenyl) ethyl] ferulamide (12), (+) -dehydrovomifoliol (13), hentriantane (14), beta-sitosterol (15), palmitic acid (16), daucossterol (17) , respectively. CONCLUSION: All compounds were obtained from the genus for the first time.

Identification of xanthones from Swertia punicea using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Swertia punicea Hemsl. (Gentianaceae) are used mainly for the treatment of acute bilious hepatitis, cholecystitis, fever, intoxification and jaundice in China, as a traditional Chinese folk medicine. Xanthones as the main chemical components of Swertia punicea have many possible pharmacological properties, such as hepatoprotective and anti-HIV. In order to obtain an overall picture of the xanthones of Swertia punicea, high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/DAD-ESI-MS(n)) was applied to the structural characterization of xanthones in ethyl acetate and acetone extracts. METHODS: The ESI-MS fragmentation behaviors of xanthones were investigated based on the 17 reference xanthones and then applied to the structural characterization of xanthones in ethyl acetate and acetone extracts of Swertia punicea by HPLC/DAD-ESI-MS(n). RESULTS: The fragmentation rules of aglycone, C-glycosides, O-glycosides, and polyxanthones with different linkages were summarized. The observed fragmentation pathways were used successfully for the analysis of the xanthone constituents of Swertia punicea, and a total of 34 xanthones were identified, among which 16 compounds were new and one compound was reported from this species for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: The described methods were very valuable for the identification of xanthones, especially of the trace compounds, and therefore could be utilized for sensitive and rapid qualitative analysis of xanthones in Swertia punicea.

[Phenolic acid derivatives from Alchornea trewioides].

To study the chemical constituents of Alchornea trewioides, silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, reverse phase ODS column chromatography, MCI and semi-preparative HPLC were used to separate the 95% EtOH extract of the root of Alchornea trewioides. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies including ESI-TOF-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC and HMBC. Eight phenolic acids were obtained and identified as 1-O-galloyl-6-O-vanilloyl-beta-glucose (1), gallic acid (2), ethyl gallate (3), syringic acid (4), glucosyringic acid (5), erigeside C (6), 3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, compounds 4-8 are isolated from the genus Alchornea for the first time, and the others are isolated from the plant for the first time.

A new triterpenoid and a new glycoside from Pilea cavaleriei.

A new triterpenoid, 11α,12α-epoxy-3ß-hydroxy-24-nor-olean-4(23)-en-28,13ß-olide (1), and a new glycoside, benzyl 2-O-ß-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 2)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl benzoate (2), together with eight known triterpenoids (3-10), were isolated from Pilea cavaleriei subsp. cavaleriei. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR techniques. All compounds showed no anti-hepatitis C virus activity.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl flavonol glycosides from Oxytropis falcata.

Five new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) flavonol 3-O-glycosides, named oxytroflavosides A-E (1-5), and two new rhamnocitrin 3-O-glycosides, oxytroflavosides F and G (6 and 7) were isolated from the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of an EtOH extract of Oxytropis falcata together with seven known kaempferol glycosides (8-14), of which six were isolated from the genus Oxytropis for the first time. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods. The absolute configuration of HMG in compounds 1-5 was determined to be S through spectroscopic analysis of the mevalonamide obtained by amidation and reduction of the HMG moiety. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activities using lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells, but none of them showed inhibitory effects on NO production.

[Phenolic acid derivatives from Bauhinia glauca subsp. pernervosa].

To study the chemical constituents of Bauhinia glauca subsp. pernervosa, eleven phenolic acids were isolated from a 95% ethanol extract by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, ODS, MCI, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. By spectroscopic techniques including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS, these compounds were identified as isopropyl O-beta-(6'-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (1), ethyl O-beta-(6'-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (2), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), gallic acid (5), methyl gallate (6), ethyl gallate (7), protocatechuic acid (8), 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (9), erigeside C (10) and glucosyringic acid (11). Among them, compound 1 is a new polyhydroxyl compound; compounds 2, 10, and 11 were isolated from the genus Bauhinia for the first time, and the other compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time. Compounds 6 and 8 showed significant protein tyrosine phosphatase1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity in vitro with the IC50 values of 72.3 and 54.1 micromol x L(-1), respectively.