Historical evolution and research advance in processing adjuvant--vinegar / 中国中药杂志

Processing of Chinese medicinals with vinegar is one of the characteristic processing techniques. Vinegar is vital for the quality of vinegar-processed decoction pieces. However, there have been no specified standards for adjuvants. Through consulting relevant literature and monographs, we comprehensively reviewed the historical evolution of processing with vinegar in records, selection and application of vinegar, and summarized the relevant standards and current status of vinegar as an adjuvant in China. According to the records in literature, vinegar is effective in activating blood, moving qi, dispersing blood stasis, removing toxin, promoting appetite, and nourishing the liver. Traditionally, rice vinegar is chosen in processing. Nowadays, the vinegar made from rice under solid-state fermentation should be chosen. At present, only food standards can be taken for reference for vinegar in the processing. Integrative and specific inspection indicators are lacking, so the standards for adjuvants need to be improved urgently. In addition, the inadequacy in quality control and management is also a major problem to be solved. Through literature research, we reviewed the historical evolution and research advance in vinegar to provide a reference for the standardization and further research of vinegar used in the Chinese medicinal processing.

[Reproductive toxicity of triptolide and its mechanism in male rats].

The arrenotokous toxicity of triptolide was evaluated, and the rate of sperm abnormality, the changes of the lipid peroxide, the enzyme activity and the hormone in male rats were observed. With the negative and positive control group, the healthy rats were respectively given by gavage triptolide suspension at the dose of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 mg x kg(-1) for 30 days. Then the rats were killed for the measurement of the indicators in testis and serum, as well as the study on the sperm abnormality. The results showed that the positive control group had significant difference, compared with the negative control group. The content of SOD, LDH, G-6-PD, Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca+ -Mg+ -ATPase decreased significantly in 0.05 mg x kg(-1) group, and reduced more obviously with exposure to the dose of 0.1 mg x kg(-1). The levels of GSH-Px and beta-G showed a significant decrease in the testis of rats only at the dose of 0.1 mg x kg(-1). Nevertheless, the MDA levels, the FSH levels and the LH levels showed no significant difference. The deformity rate of sperm increased significantly in 0.05 mg x kg(-1) group and 0.1 mg x kg(-1) group. The results indicated the triptolide had the effect of the lipid peroxidation to damage Spermatogenic cells, Sertolis cells and Leydig cells. At the same time, the triptolide interfered not only with the energy supply process of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis,but also with the energy utilization in testis by affecting the activities of testis marker enzymes, and produced a damage chain of the male reproductive system

Regularity of changes in chlorogenic acids in Lonicera japonica extracts by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze chlorogenic acids contained in Lonicera japonica water extracts, and to investigate the regularity of changes in chlorogenic acids during the water extraction process.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 analytical column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was eluted with 0.1% formic acid (A)-acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 327 nm and the column temperature was 30 degrees C. Negative MS(n) mode was adopted in mass spectrum for ananlyzing the 22 samples of L. japonica water extracts.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Caffeic acid and six organic acids were accurately identified from the water extracts. During the extraction, the contents of chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid became stable or gradually decreased after reaching the highest value. The contents of other components had long been increasing, but with a decreasing rate of change.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study provides basis for improving the production process of traditional Chinese medicine preparations containing L. japonica.</p>

[Diterpene constituents of Tripterygium willfordii (II)].

In order to study the constituents and pharmacology of Tripterygium plants (Tripterygium willfordii Hook.f), a variety of chromatography methods were used. Four compounds were isolated from Tripterygium plant and their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS, HR-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D-NMR techniques. The isolated compounds were named as triptonide (1), neo-triptetraolide (2), 2alpha-hydroxytriptonide (3), and 15-hydroxytriptonide (4), separately. Compounds 3, 4 belong to new diterpenoids, which can inhibit the growth of K562 cells (leukemia cells) and HL60 cells (acute myeloid leukemia cells).

[Effect of electroacupuncture on NMDAR-2 B mRNA expression in hippocampal tissue in vascular dementia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the underlying mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in improving learning-memory ability in vascular dementia (VD) rats. METHODS: SD rats were randomized into control, sham operation (sham), VD model, non-acupoint and acupoint groups, with 10 cases in each. VD model was established by occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries. Morris water maze test was performed to detect the rats' learning-memory ability. The expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-2 B mRNA in hippocampal CA 1 region and dentate gyrus was measured by hybridization in situ. EA (2 Hz, 1-2 mA)was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Dazhui" (GV 14) and bilateral "Shenshu"(BL 23) and non-acupoint (the chest-abdominal juncture between the first and the second lumbar vertebrae) for 20 min, once daily for 30 days. RESULTS: Self-comparison showed that 6 weeks after modeling, the escape latencies of control and sham groups, and the lingering duration in the 3rd quadrant of water pool of model, non-acupoint and acupoint groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while the escape latencies of model, non-acupoint and acupoint groups, and the lingering duration of control and sham groups increased considerably (P < 0.5). No significant differences were found between control and sham groups, and among model, non-acupoint and acupoint groups in the escape latency and the lingering duration in the 3rd quadrant (P > 0.05). On the 11th week after modeling, compared to their individual escape latencies and lingering duration on the 6th week, the escape latencies of controll sham and acupoint groups shortened obviously (P < 0.05), while the lingering duration in the 3"rd quadrant of the same 3 groups postponed significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, the escape latency of acupoint group shortened obviously and the lingering duration increased significantly (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between control and sham groups, and between model and non-acupoint groups in these two indexes (P > 0.05). Compared to control/sham group, the grey values of NMDAR-2 BmRNA expression in hippocampal CA 1 region and dentate gyrus in model and non-acupoint groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared to model group, the grey values of NMDAR-2 B mRNA expression in these two brain regions increased markedly (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between control and sham groups, and between model and non-acupoint groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint-EA is able to improve VD rats' learning-memory ability which may be related to its effect in upregulating the expression of NMDAR-2 B mRNA in hippocampal and dentate gyrus.

[Study on antitumor activity of extract from roots of Gossampinus malabaria].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antitumor activity of extract (Y2) from the roots of Gossampinus malabaria (L.) Merr. METHODS: Based on the inhibitory effects of Y2 on FGC-85 in vitro, life-prolonging effects of Y2 on mice transplanted with ascites sarcoma-180 (S-180) and antitumor activity of Y2 on mice transplanted with U14 were investigated in vivo. RESULTS: The growth of S-180 in mice was significantly inhibited by Y2. The inhibitory growth effect was dosage-dependent. Y2 could significantly prolong the survival time of mice transplanted with S-180. The inhibition rate of Y2 on the growth of U14 in mice was higher than 90% under high, medium and low dosage. CONCLUSION: Y2 has distinct antitumor activity.

[Diterpenes constituents of Tripterygium wilfordii].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. METHODS: Various column chromatographies with silica gel were used for the isolation and purification. The structures of compounds were established on the basis of its IR, MS, UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS, 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C COSY and NOESY. RESULTS: Four diterpenoids were isolated: 16-hydroxytriptolide (I), triptolidenol (II), tripdiolide (III), 2-epitripdiolide (IV). CONCLUSION: Compound IV is a new diterpenoid.

[Isolation and structure of wilfordlonging from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f].

AIM: To study the chemical composition of Tripterygirm wilfordii Hook. f. METHODS: Colunm chromatography was used to separate the chemical constituents. UV, IR, MS, HRMS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR (COM and OFR), 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C COSY, NOESY and COLOC spectra were used to determine the structures of the isolated constituents. RESULTS: Two sesquiterpene alkaloids were isolated and their structures were elucidated as wilforgine and wilfordlongine on the basis of spectral evidence. CONCLUSION: Wilfordclonine is a new sesquiterpene alkaloid.