[Overview of metalomics research and its application prospect in mineral Chinese medicine research].

Metallomics is a frontier interdisciplinary subject at its vigorous development stage. Its goal is to systematically study the content, distribution, chemical species, structural characteristics and functions of metal elements in biological system. It is also a comprehensive discipline to study the existing state and function of free or complex metal elements in life. Metallomics is an ideal tool to study the biological behavior of inorganic elements, which can be used to solve many problems in the research of mineral Chinese medicine(MCM). It provides a strong theoretical basis and technical support for the research of MCM. Its theory and methods provide re-ference and enlightenment for the in-depth study of MCM, and also provide new ideas and open up new ways for the research of MCM. The application of metallomics theory and methods in the research of MCM is of great significance to reveal the material basis and mec-hanism of MCM, promote the process of basic research on MCM, fully exploit and utilize medicinal mineral resources and carry forward the traditional MCM treasure in China. In this paper, we introduced the concept, academic development, research content and research methods of metallomics, and discussed the application prospects of metallomics in the analysis of inorganic element composition characteristics and quality control, material basis and mechanism of MCM, so as to provide reference for further researches on MCM.

[Mineral composition analysis and hemostatic effect of limonitum with different mineral genesis].

Models were established in mice with warfarin sodium method, and their bleeding time and hemostasis time were measured by tail cutting method and slide method respectively. Rats were administered for 15 consecutive days to measure their recalcification time, plasma viscosity, platelet adhesion rate, platelet aggregation rate and other blood indexes. As compared with the blank group, the bleeding time was prolonged in model groupn(P<0.05). As compared with the model group, the results showed that the positive vitamin K, the leaching type water decoction and the sediment type decoction could significantly shorten the bleeding time (P<0.01); positive vitamin K significantly (P<0.01) shortened clotting time, and the leaching type water decoction, the sediment type water decoction and the sediment type powder could also shorten the clotting time (P<0.05). As compared with blank group, low dose, medium dose of leaching type water decoction, medium dose of powder, high dose of sediment type decoction and low dose of drug residues could reduce plasma viscosity (P<0.05), and high dose of leaching powder and low dose of water decoction could significantly reduce (P<0.01) plasma viscosity. As compared with blank group, Limonitum leaching type decoction high dose group could significantly reduce the platelet adhesion rate (P<0.05), while sediment type water decoction could significantly increase the platelet adhesion rate (P<0.05); the high dose of leaching type water decoction, high dose of drug residues, low dose of leaching type powder and low dose of drug residues could decrease the platelet aggregation rate (P<0.05), while high dose of leaching type water decoction and high dose of the powder could increase the platelet aggregation rate (P<0.05). Analysis of mineral compositions was conducted by polarized light microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of the both methods showed that Limonitum mineral compositions contained goethite, quartz, and kaolinite, and sedimentary type also contained illite and albite. Sediment type of Limonitum showed better hemostatic effect, which may be related to the high content of goethite and illite.

Application of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) Fingerprint in the Quality Control of Mineral Chinese Medicine Limonitum.

In the present paper, the fingerprint of Limonitum (a mineral Chinese medicine) by FTIR was established, and the spectrograms among crude samples, processed one and the adulterant sample were compared. Eighteen batches of Limonitum samples from different production areas were analyzed and the angle cosine value of transmittance (%) of common peaks was calculated to get the similarity of the FTIR fingerprints. The result showed that the similarities and the coefficients of the samples were all more than 0.90. The processed samples revealed significant differences compared with the crude one. This study analyzed the composition characteristics of Limonitum in FTIR fingerprint, and it was simple and fast to distinguish the crude, processed and the counterfeit samples. The FTIR fingerprints provide a new method for evaluating the quality of Limonitum.

[Analysis on competitive interaction between arenobufagin and verapamil hydrochloride with serum albumin].

OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to investigate competitive interaction between arenobufagin and verapamil hydrochloride with serum albumin. METHODS: Equilibrium dialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to analyze the binding rates of the two medicines to serum protein. The interactions based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated by using spectrofluorimetry. The interaction mode of arenobufagin and verapamil hydrochloride binding to serum proteins was simulated by molecular docking. RESULTS: The rate of arenobufagin (0.1µg/mL) binding to bovine serum was (61.1±0.2)%. Verapamil hydrochloride (0.025 to 0.1µg/mL) significantly reduced the bovine serum binding rate of arenobufagin, from (60.2±3.7)% to (36.9±3.4)%. However, arenobufagin at the tested doses had no marked effects on the binding rate of verapamil hydrochloride. Furthermore, the verapamil hydrochloride had an active effect on the arenobufagin-induced fluorescence quenching of BSA and HSA. The molecular docking results showed that verapamil hydrochloride and arenobufagin binded to HSA at site I. Molecular interaction energy of verapamil hydrochloride binding to site I was stronger than that of arenobufagin. CONCLUSION: Verapamil hydrochloride reduces the binding of arenobufagin to bovine serum. The mechanism may be a competitive interaction of arenobufagin and verapamil hydrochloride at site I on HSA.

Two new cerebrosides from the pollen of Typha angustifolia.

Two new cerebrosides, 1-O-(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxytricosanoylamino]-8-nonadecene-3,4-diol (1) and 1-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-(2S,3R,4E,8Z)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxynonadecanoylamino]-4,13-nonadecene-3-diol (2), were isolated from the pollen of Typha angustifolia. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral means. This is the first report on the occurrence of cerebroside in Typha (Typhaceae). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited effect on the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) induced by fatal bovine serum (FBS).

Separation, characterization and dose-effect relationship of the PPARgamma-activating bio-active constituents in the Chinese herb formulation 'San-Ao decoction'.

San-ao decoction (SAD), comprising Herba Ephedrae, Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae and Seneb Armeniacae Amarum, is one of the most popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae for asthma. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) areey regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism and have become important therapeutic targets for various deseases, PPARgamma activation might exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in different chronic inflammatory processes. The EtOAc fraction of SAD showed a significant effect on PPARgamma activation. A simple and rapid method has been established for separation and characterization of the main compounds in the PPARgamma-activating fraction of SAD by ultra-fast HPLC coupled with quadropole time-of-flight mass pectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). A total of 10 compounds were identified in the activating fraction of SAD, including amygdalin (1), liquiritin (2), 6'-acetyliquiritin (3), liquiritigenin (4), isoliquiritigenin (5), formononetin (6), licoisoflavanone (7), glycycoumarin (8), glycyrol (9) and uercetin (10). The results also characterized formononetin as a predominant component in this fraction. The dose-effect relationship comparison study of formononetin and the EtOAc fraction of SAD by adding formononetin was performed, the results suggested that formononetin was the major component of the EtOAc fraction of SAD responsible for activating PPARgamma, and the method will possibly be applied to study the complex biological active constituents of other TCMs.

[Study on the SFE condition for curcumin in Curcuma longa].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the conditions of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for curcumin in Curcuma longa. METHOD: Optimum extraction conditions were studied by orthogonal tests. The extracts were analyzed by HPLC. RESULT: The optimal extraction conditions were pressure 25 MPa, temperature 55 degrees C, static time 4 h, dynamic time 5 h, flow rate of CO2 3.5 L x min(-1), co-solvent ethanol 30% (mL x g(-1)). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to extract curcumin by SFE.