[Comparative Study on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Medicinal Ingredients in Different Months of Inula nervosa].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the photosynthetic characteristics and medicinal ingredients in different months in order to provide a theoretical basis for cultivation and harvest of Inula nervosa. METHODS: The photosynthetic characteristics was measured by using LI-6400 and morphological characteristics were compared in different months, and the contents of total flavonoids and total phenols were determined by UV spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Net photosynthetic rate of Inula nervosa was the highest in June, which showed a single peak curve, and the average of daily change reached to 8.50 µmol/(m2 x s). Light response curve data showed the ability of using the strongest light was in June. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters values also displayed that, openness of reflect center and photochemical efficiency of leaves' photosystem II were the highest, which also had the fastest rate of electron transfer in June. Morphological indicators showed that the single leaf area and leaf area of Inula nervosa were significantly higher in June than those in other months. The content of total phenols were much higher than that of total flavonoids in Inula nervosa. And the medicinal ingredient content of the underground part was higher than that in the aerial part. CONCLUSION: The best harvest time of underground part of Inula nervosa should be after autumn, when the weight and active ingredients are accumulated to a considerable level.

[Study on impact of ethanol extracts from Sedum sarmentosum in inhibiting STAT-3 signaling and inducing apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of ethanol extracts from Sedum sarmentosum (ESB) on STAT-3 signaling and its probable molecular mechanism in inducing apoptosis. METHOD: MTT assay was used to detect the impact of ESB on HepG2 cell proliferation. FITC-Annexin V-FITC /PI double-labeling were used to investigate the impact on hepatoma carcinoma cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to test the expression levels of cell apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9, PARP, P-STAT-3 (Tyr705) , STAT-3, Bcl-2, Mcl-1. RESULT: ESB could notably inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cells, and induce HepG2 cell apoptosis, with the dose-dependent inhibitory effect. In addition, ESB could inhibit STAT-3 signaling, down-regulate Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 expressions, and induce degradation/activation of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 and PARP degradation in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: ESB inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by inhibiting STAT-3 signaling and Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 expressions.

[Chemical constituents of Indocalamus latifolius leaves].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Indocalamus latifolius leaves. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified with silica column chromatography and gel chromatography. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and various spectroscopic methods including NMR spectrum, MS, UV, etc. RESULTS: Fourteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate part as isovitexin (1), vitexin (2), orientin (3), homoorientin (4), vanillic acid (5), chlorogenic acid (6), caffeic acid (7), ferulic acid (8), friedelin (9), tricin (10), tricin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), fernenol (12), luteolin-6-C-glucopyranoside (13) and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (14). CONCLUSION: All compounds are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Genetic variation and population differentiation in a medical herb Houttuynia cordata in China revealed by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs).

Houttuynia cordata is an important traditional Chinese herb with unresolved genetics and taxonomy, which lead to potential problems in the conservation and utilization of the resource. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess the level and distribution of genetic diversity in 226 individuals from 15 populations of H. cordata in China. ISSR analysis revealed low genetic variations within populations but high genetic differentiations among populations. This genetic structure probably mainly reflects the historical association among populations. Genetic cluster analysis showed that the basal clade is composed of populations from Southwest China, and the other populations have continuous and eastward distributions. The structure of genetic diversity in H. cordata demonstrated that this species might have survived in Southwest China during the glacial age, and subsequently experienced an eastern postglacial expansion. Based on the results of genetic analysis, it was proposed that as many as possible targeted populations for conservation be included.

[Studies on the chemical constituents from the bark of Choerospondias axillaries].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Choerospondias axillaries. METHODS: All compounds were isolated and purified by normal column chromatograph, paper thin layer chromatograph and sephadex chromatograph, the chemical strucures were mainly elucidated by ESI-MS and NMR spectra. RESULTS: seven compouds were isolated from the Choerospondias axillaries and as following: beta-sitostero (I), hexadecanoic acid (II), correctitude fourty-two alkyl acid (III), daucosterol (IV), quercetin (V), rutinum (VI), lueolin-3'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (VII). CONCLUSION: Compounds II, III, V, VII are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Tentative fingerprint-efficacy study of Houttuynia cordata injection in quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.

To establish potent fingerprint for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine, Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae) injection (HCI), the attempt on fingerprint-efficacy was developed in this study. HCI from ten different factories were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS) and classified by hierarchical clustering. The anti-inflammatory effect of HCI was characterized with the rat pleurisy model induced by carrageenin and the mice ear edema model by xylene. The results showed that anti-inflammatory effect of the injections from most of factories on the two models was significant. There was corresponding relationship between the fingerprint of HCI and efficacy to certain extent. The main common constitutes in injection from the factories that possess anti-inflammatory activity were analysed with GC-MS and identified using the NIST Mass Spectral Database. This common pattern of HCI based on the efficacy was helpful for the purpose of quality control.