Arsenic speciation in Chinese Herbal Medicines and human health implication for inorganic arsenic.

Rice and drinking water are recognized as the dominant sources of arsenic (As) for human intake, while little is known about As accumulation and speciation in Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs), which have been available for many hundreds of years for the treatment of diseases in both eastern and western cultures. Inorganic arsenic was the predominant species in all of CHMs samples. The levels of inorganic arsenic in CHMs from fields and markets or pharmacies ranged from 63 to 550 ng/g with a mean of 208 ng/g and 94 to 8683 ng/g with a mean of 1092 ng/g, respectively. The highest concentration was found in the Chrysanthemum from pharmacies. It indicates that the risk of inorganic As in CHMs to human health is higher in medicines from markets or pharmacies than that collected directly from fields. Some CHMs may make a considerable contribution to the human intake of inorganic arsenic.

[Study on secondary metabolic organ of echinacoside in herbs of Cistanche tubulosa].

OBJECTIVE: It could give some theory support of confirming the secondary metabolism organ and regulation of echinacoside in Cistanche tubulosa by searching parasitic growth of C. tubulosa ahd echinacoside variation in different organs of host and parasite. METHOD: The echinacoside content was analyzed by HPLC. The relationship between dry matter accumulation and echinacoside accumulation of C. tubulosa as the well as root diameter of host were comparatively analyzed. RESULT: With the increase of dry matter accumulation of C. tubulosa, echinacoside accumulation increased significantly, and both of them were in significantly positive correlated with the root diameter of host. Echinacoside content in haustorium phloem was 15.53%, higher than that of haustorium xylem, C. tubulosa plant and other organs. CONCLUSION: Haustorium phloem was probably the secondary metabolism organ of echinacoside in C. tubulosa.

[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.