Quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker combined with HPLC fingerprint qualitative analyses for comprehensive evaluation of Aurantii Fructus.

The present study aimed to develop a strategy involving quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint qualitative analysis for performing the quality control of Aurantii Fructus. The content of 12 components (eriocitrin, neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, meranzin, poncirin, naringenin, nobiletin, tangeretin, and auraptene) in samples was determined using reliable relative correction factors that were obtained using naringin as an internal reference standard. The new method demonstrated good applicability, and no significant differences were observed between the external standard method and the new method as determined by calculating standard method difference. Qualitative evaluation of samples was conducted using similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and quality fluctuation analysis. Chromatographic fingerprint data were divided into three groups by similarity and hierarchical cluster analyses, and seven components may have a more significant impact on the quality of Aurantii Fructus in quality fluctuation analysis. Overall, the study suggests that the qualitative and quantitative analyses of multicomponents using quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker combined with chromatographic fingerprinting can be considered good quality criteria for performing quality control and providing technical support for the further pharmacological and pharmaceutical research of Aurantii Fructus.

Development of a Method for Simultaneous Determination of Two Stilbenes and Four Anthraquinones from Polygonum Cuspidatum by RP-HPLC.

Background: Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. (named Huzhang in China) is a traditional and popular Chinese medicinal herb used in removing jaundice, clearing heat-toxin, improving blood circulation, expelling stasis, dispelling wind and dampness, repelling phlegm, and suppressing cough. It is widely used in drug and functional food fields and distributed throughout the world, including in China, Japan, and North America. Objective: To control the quality of Polygonum cuspidatum, an effective, reliable, and simple method for simultaneous determination of two stilbenes (polydatin, resveratrol) and four anthraquinones (emodin, physcion, rhein, and anthraglycoside B) was developed and validated for the first time in this study by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). Methods: Separation was carried out on Agilent C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm) with acetonitrile and 0.10% aqueous phosphoric acid as mobile phase and gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Detection was conducted with mobile wavelength at 30°C. Results: Good validation of the method including linearity, precision, repeatability, and recovery was performed. The contents of the studied analytes are significantly different, and resveratrol and rhein in particular existed in greater fluctuation among the samples. Conclusion: A simple, reliable, and sensitive method has been successfully established and applied to the analysis for simultaneous determination of the target compounds in 11 batches of samples. Highlights: Separation and quantitative analysis of two stilbenes and four anthraquinones from P. cuspidatum were developed by RP-HPLC. This method is convenient, sensitive, and accurate and can provide a reliable basis for further applications of P. cuspidatum in drug or food fields.

Composition of The Essential Oil From Danggui-zhiqiao Herb-Pair and Its Analgesic Activity and Effect on Hemorheology in Rats With Blood Stasis Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Angelica sinensis and Aurantii fructu used in a pair, named Danggui-Zhiqiao herb-pair (DZHP), which was rich in essential oil and has been adopted to promote blood circulation, dispel blood stasis, and relieve pain in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the composition and pharmacological effects of essential oil from DZHP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The composition of the essential oil from DZHP was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Its analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot plate test. The hemorheology test was carried out to evaluate the effect on hemorheology in rats with blood stasis syndrome. RESULTS: Twenty-eight components were identified and the main components were α-pinene (3.07%), ß-pinene (2.0%), ß-myrcene (3.71%), D-limonene (49.28%), γ-terpinen (9.53%), α-terpinolene (1.80%), α-terpineol (2.02%), ß-bisabolene (1.13%), butylidenephthalide (1.43%), and Z-ligustilide (16.08%). The pharmacology test showed that the essential oil significantly inhibited the number of writhes induced by acetic acid with inhibition rate of 44.64% and significantly increased hot-plate latency compared with control group from 30 to 90 min after oral administration of drugs in mice. It could significantly decrease plasma viscosity, whole blood relative index at high and low shear rate, whole blood reduced viscosity at high and low shear rate, and erythrocyte rigidity index in hemorheology test. CONCLUSION: The composition of the essential oil of DZHP was determined successfully and it had analgesic and promoting blood circulation activities. SUMMARY: Angelica sinensis and Aurantii fructu used in a pair, named Danggui-Zhiqiao herb-pair (DZHP), which was rich in Essential oil and has been adopted to promote blood circulation, dispel blood stasis and relieve pain in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Twenty-eight components were identified and the main components were α-pinene (3.07%), ß-pinene (2.0%), ß-myrcene (3.71%), D-limonene (49.28%), γ-terpinen (9.53%), α-terpinolene (1.80%), α-terpineol (2.02%), ß-bisabolene (1.13%), butylidenephthalide (1.43%), and Z-ligustilide (16.08%).The essential oil significantly inhibited the number of writhes induced by acetic acid and increased hot-plate latency compared with control group from 30 min to 90 min after oral administration of drugs in mice.The essential oil could significantly decrease plasma viscosity (PV), whole blood relative index (WBRI) at high and low shear rate, whole blood reduced viscosity (WBRV) at high and low shear rate, and erythrocyte rigidity index (ERI) in hemorheology test. Abbreviations used: DZHP: Danggui-Zhiqiao herb-pair; TCM: traditional Chinese medicine; GC/MS: gas chromatography /mass spectrometry; PV: plasma viscosity; WBRI: whole blood relative index; WBRV: whole blood reduced viscosity; ERI: erythrocyte rigidity index.

[Analytical Methods with Qualitative HPLC Fingerprint and Quantitative Measurement of Effective Components of Processed Asari Radix et Rhizoma].

OBJECTIVE: In order to provide the basis for quality standard and processing principle of processed Asari Radix et Rhizoma, an HPLC fingerprint of processed Asari Radix et Rhizoma was established and the contents of methyl eugenol and asarinin were determined. METHODS: The analytical column was Agligent Tc-C18 (250 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 µm); A mixture of acetonitrile-0. 2% acetic acid solution was used as the mobile phase with gradient elution at the flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min. The wavelength was set at 285 nm and the column temperature was 30 °C. RESULTS: The fingerprint of processed Asari Radix et Rhizoma was established. The asarinin peak was taken as the reference peak. 22 common peaks were assigned, and two peaks were confirmed by comparing with the reference standards. The difference of components was not significant among the various processed products except ginger, honey and fried coke products, but the contents of effective constituents were different among the processed products. The retention rate of methyl eugenol in processed products was in a descending order as follows: wine > vinegar > liquorice > alkali-vinegar > fried coke > rice water system > honey > ginger > salt system > alkali. Methyl eugenol was increased 10% ~ 20% with wine processing and retained more than 95% with vinegar. The retention rate of asarinin in processed products was in declining as: rice water system > liquorice > alkali-vinegar > honey > salt system > wine > ginger > vinegar > alkali > fried coke. The processing techniques increased the content of asarinin except the alkali and fried coke products, and asarinin was increased more than 35% with rice water, alkali-vinegar or liquorice processing. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and reliable, which can be used for the quality control of processed products of Asari Radix et Rhizoma.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of tanshinone IIA after oral administration of Bushen Huoxue Qubi granules to rats with blood stasis syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Bushen Huoxue Qubi (BHQ) granules, a traditional Chinese medicine preparation, has been clinically used for the treatment of the blood stasis syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The main objective is to investigate whether the diseased condition would alter the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of tanshinone IIA in BHQ, which was given orally to the acute blood stasis rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main bioactive constituent in BHQ, tanshinone IIA, was measured in the plasma and tissues of animals by the high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The analysis was successfully performed on an Agilent TC-C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm) protected with a  Octadecylsilane (ODS) guard column (10 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm). The mobile phase was aqueous solution (A) (containing 0.40% aqueous acetic acid) and acetonitrile (B). The conditions of the solvent gradient elution were 35-40% (B) in 0-15 min, 40-42% (B) in 15-18 min and 42-70% (B) in 18-30 min at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection was conducted with wavelength of 270 nm at 30°C. RESULTS: Good linearity relationships were found (r (2)> 0.9955) over the investigated concentration range for bio-samples. Blood stasis was associated with significantly higher area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and biological half-life (t1/2), lower total body clearance (CL) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) of tanshinone IIA in plasma and higher AUC0-t of tanshinone IIA in the analyzed tissues of rats treated with BHQ. CONCLUSION: Blood stasis could alter pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of tanshinone IIA in BHQ.

[Study on pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics correlation of yin teng gu bi kang prescription].

OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) correlation of Yin Teng Gu Bi Kang (YTGBK) prescription through determination of Tanshinone II(A) concentration and the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma in normal and blood stasis rats treated with YTGBK prescription. METHODS: The concentration of Tanshinone II(A) in the plasma was measured by HPLC-UV and loratadine was used as internal standard; Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS) was adopted to determine the concentration of MDA in the plasma Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and area under the effect-time curve (AUE) were calculated using linear trapezoid rule. The correlation and regression analysis was performed by plotting AUE (Y) versus lgAUC (X) using linear regression. RESULTS: YTGBK prescription could significantly decrease MDA level in the plasma in above two different physiological rats at the analyzed time point (P < 0.05). Scatter plots of AUE-lgAUC showed an upward trend. The results of the correlation and regression analysis were as follows: Y = 53.367 X -30.780, r = 0. 822, P = 0.007 for normal rats and Y = 61.091 X -39.863, r = 0.777, P = 0.003 for model rats, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a positive correlation between Tanshinone II(A) level in plasma and the antioxidant activity of YTGBK prescription in decreasing MDA level, which indicates that Tanshinone II(A) is the antioxidant effective substance of YTGBK prescription.

[Comparison of pharmaceutical chemistry difference of effective parts from yin teng gu bi kang prescription in normal rats and rats with acute blood stasis].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the material basis of Yin Teng Gu Bi Kang Prescription (YTGBKP) for efficacy of promoting blood circulation by means of comparing the pharmaceutical chemistry difference of effective parts in normal rats and rats with acute blood stasis. METHODS: The pharmaceutical chemistry fingerprints of effective parts under physiological and pathological status (acute blood stasis) were established by HPLC,and the in vitro and in vivo chromatographic peaks were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Five batches of drug-containing plasma samples had 14 chromatographic peaks under normal physiological status,among which 3 rooted in plasma, 9 existed originally in YTGBKP,2 were metabolites. The compound with retention lime at 12 min was identified as ferulic acid by comparing with reference standard; While under pathological status (acute blood stasis), five batches of the drug-containing plasma samples had 14 chromatographic peaks, among which 3 rooted in plasma, 9 existed originally in YTGBKP, 2 were metabolites. The compounds with retention time at 12 min and 32 min were identified as ferulic acid and icariin respectively by comparing with reference standards. There were 10 common peaks under normal physiological and pathological status (acute bloodl stasis) excluding peaks in blank plasma. The intensity of the common peaks produced under pathological status was stronger than that under normal physiological status significantly; Variance analysis showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in peak areas of 3 peaks. CONCLUSION: Blood stasis has influence on the absorption and metabolism of most ingredients from YTGBKPi; Prototypes and metabolites may be the effective substance on promoting blood circulation.

Transitional mammalian middle ear from a new Cretaceous Jehol eutriconodont.

The transference of post-dentary jaw elements to the cranium of mammals as auditory ossicles is one of the central topics in evolutionary biology of vertebrates. Homologies of these bones among jawed vertebrates have long been demonstrated by developmental studies; but fossils illuminating this critical transference are sparse and often ambiguous. Here we report the first unambiguous ectotympanic (angular), malleus (articular and prearticular) and incus (quadrate) of an Early Cretaceous eutriconodont mammal from the Jehol Biota, Liaoning, China. The ectotympanic and malleus have lost their direct contact with the dentary bone but still connect the ossified Meckel's cartilage (OMC); we hypothesize that the OMC serves as a stabilizing mechanism bridging the dentary and the detached ossicles during mammalian evolution. This transitional mammalian middle ear narrows the morphological gap between the mandibular middle ear in basal mammaliaforms and the definitive mammalian middle ear (DMME) of extant mammals; it reveals complex changes contributing to the detachment of ear ossicles during mammalian evolution.

A Mesozoic gliding mammal from northeastern China.

Gliding flight has independently evolved many times in vertebrates. Direct evidence of gliding is rare in fossil records and is unknown in mammals from the Mesozoic era. Here we report a new Mesozoic mammal from Inner Mongolia, China, that represents a previously unknown group characterized by a highly specialized insectivorous dentition and a sizable patagium (flying membrane) for gliding flight. The patagium is covered with dense hair and supported by an elongated tail and limbs; the latter also bear many features adapted for arboreal life. This discovery extends the earliest record of gliding flight for mammals to at least 70 million years earlier in geological history, and demonstrates that early mammals were diverse in their locomotor strategies and lifestyles; they had experimented with an aerial habit at about the same time as, if not earlier than, when birds endeavoured to exploit the sky.

Large Mesozoic mammals fed on young dinosaurs.

Mesozoic mammals are commonly portrayed as shrew- or rat-sized animals that were mainly insectivorous, probably nocturnal and lived in the shadow of dinosaurs. The largest known Mesozoic mammal represented by substantially complete remains is Repenomamus robustus, a triconodont mammal from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning, China. An adult individual of R. robustus was the size of a Virginia opossum. Here we report a new species of the genus, represented by a skeleton with most of the skull and postcranium preserved in articulation. The new species is 50% larger than R. robustus in skull length. In addition, stomach contents associated with a skeleton of R. robustus reveal remains of a juvenile Psittacosaurus, a ceratopsian dinosaur. Our discoveries constitute the first direct evidence that some triconodont mammals were carnivorous and fed on small vertebrates, including young dinosaurs, and also show that Mesozoic mammals had a much greater range of body sizes than previously known. We suggest that Mesozoic mammals occupied diverse niches and that some large mammals probably competed with dinosaurs for food and territory.