Quality Evaluation of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill Based on HPLC Fingerprints Combined with HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Method.

Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STP) is a composite formula of traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It consists of seven medicinal extracts thereof or materials, including Bufonis venenum, synthetic Moschus, Panax ginseng, Bovis calculus artifactus, Bear bile powder, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge and synthetic borneol. However, it is considerably difficult to evaluate the quality of STP due to its complex chemical compositions. This paper was designed to explore a comprehensive and systematic method combining fingerprints and chemical identification for quality assessment of STP samples. Twenty batches of STP samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Ten common peaks were detected by HPLC fingerprint similarity evaluation system. Meanwhile, 100 compounds belonging to 4 structural characteristics, including 23 bufadienolides, 36 organic acids, 34 saponins and 7 other types, were systematically identified as the basic components in STP. This study could be used for clarifying the multiple bioactive substances and developing a comprehensive quality evaluation method of STP.

[Similarities and differences between Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng in treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease].

Ginkgo biloba and Panax notoginseng are both herb medicines for cerebrovascular disease, and play an active role in treating ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICVD). Their mechanisms of action include antioxidant stress, nerve protection, vascular protection. According to the comparative study of literatures, G. biloba has a certain protective effect from the early stage of free radical formation throughout the whole process of causing cell inflammation and apoptosis in antioxidant stress; while P. notoginseng has mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis effects. In the nerve protection and repair of nerve damage caused by glutamate, both could promote neurogenesis, repair damaged axons and protect nerve cells. In addition, G. biloba could also relieve neurotoxicity caused by glutamate damage, while P. notoginseng have a unique effect in repairing blood-brain barrier(BBB) and blood vessel regeneration. In clinic, they are used as auxiliary drugs in combination with thrombolytic therapy, and play curative effects in alleviating inflammation, eliminating edema, improving the cure rate and the prognosis. For cerebral diseases caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, G. biloba could reduce inflammation and improve cognition. In addition, G. biloba could protect neurocyte by adjusting the secretion of dopamine in vivo, and has a certain effect on antidepressant diseases, which however needs further studies.

[Optimization of extraction technology of compatibility of couplet medicines Epimedium brevicornu and Ligusticum chuanxiong by orthogonal design].

The study was using the orthogonal test and making the extraction rates of icariin, ferulic acid, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, baohuoside I and ligustilide determinated by HPLC multiwavelength switch, gradient elution and multi-index comprehensive weighted scoring method (weight coefficient was 0.47: 0.16: 0.07: 0.07: 0.08: 0.06: 0.09) as evaluation index, combine with SPSS 16.0 software to optimizing the best extraction. It was Yinpian soak 1 h, 12 times more than the volumn of 50% ethanol solution, by heating reflux extraction for 60 min. The compliance test indicates that the optimized compatibility extraction technology is stable and practical, and it has provided an experimental basis for compound preparation technology research of Epimedium brevicornu and Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Cardiovascular protection and antioxidant activity of the extracts from the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis act partially via adenosine receptors.

Mycelia of cultured Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is one of the most common substitutes for natural CS and was approved for arrhythmia in China. However, the role of CS in ameliorating injury during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is still unclear. We examined effects of extracts from CS on I/R and investigated the possible mechanisms. Post-ischemic coronary perfusion pressure, ventricular function, and coronary flow were measured using the Langendorff mouse heart model. Oxidative stress of cardiac homogenates was performed using an ELISA. Our results indicate that CS affords cardioprotection possibly through enhanced adenosine receptor activation. Cardioprotection was demonstrated by reduced post-ischemic diastolic dysfunction and improved recovery of pressure development and coronary flow. Treatment with CS largely abrogates oxidative stress and damage in glucose- or pyruvate-perfused hearts. Importantly, observed reductions in oxidative stress [glutathione disulfide (GSSG)]/[GSSG + glutathione] and [malondialdehyde (MDA)]/[superoxide dismutase + MDA] ratios as well as the resultant damage upon CS treatment correlate with functional markers of post-ischemic myocardial outcome. These effects of CS were partially blocked by 8-ρ-sulfophenyltheophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist. Our results demonstrate a suppressive role of CS in ischemic contracture. Meanwhile, the results also suggest pre-ischemic adenosine receptor activation may be involved in reducing contracture in hearts pretreated with CS.

Uricosuric and nephroprotective properties of Ramulus Mori ethanol extract in hyperuricemic mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ramulus Mori, the branch of Morus alba, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions to treat gout and hyperuricemia. AIM OF THIS STUDY: To evaluate the uricosuric and nephroprotective effects of ethanol extract of Ramulus Mori (ERM) and explore its possible mechanisms in hyperuricemic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPLC analysis was employed to determine the main constituents. Hyperuricemia was induced by potassium oxonate (250 mg/kg) in male mice. ERM (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) was orally administered to hyperuricemic and normal mice for 7 days. Serum and urine levels of uric acid, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Simultaneously, renal mRNA and protein levels of mouse urate transporter 1 (mURAT1), glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) and organic cation/carnitine transporters (mOCT1/2, mOCTN1/2) were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. RESULTS: ERM mainly contained mulberroside A, oxyresveratrol, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, resveratrol, 7-hydroxycumarin and morin. ERM significantly reduced serum urate levels and increased 24h-urine urate excretion and fractional excretion of uric acid in hyperuricemic mice. It effectively restored oxonate-induced expression alteration of renal mURAT1, mGLUT9 and mOAT1, resulting in urate excretion enhancement. Moreover, ERM decreased serum creatinine and BUN levels and increased creatinine clearance, and up-regulated expression of mOCT1/2 and mOCTN1/2, contributing to kidney function improvement in this model. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ERM exerts the uricosuric and nephroprotective actions by the regulation of these renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic mice, and provide scientific support for the empirical use of Ramulus Mori.