Metabolic profiles of Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule in rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule (FXJC), a traditional Chinese medicine that evolved from "Yinqiao Powder", is widely used for the treatment of cold and influenza. However, due to a lack of in vivo metabolism research, the chemical components responsible for the therapeutic effects still remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to describe the metabolic profiles of the FXJC in rat plasma, urine, and feces. A combined data mining strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was employed and 201 xenobiotics, including 117 prototype components and 84 metabolites were detected. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenes, and lignans were prominent ingredients absorbed in vivo, and the major metabolic pathways of the detected metabolites were glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, and oxidation. This is the first systematic study on the metabolism of the FXJC in vivo, providing valuable information for future studies on the efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism of the FXJC.

A new immunosuppressive pregnane glycoside from aqueous fraction of Epigynum cochinchinensis.

Chemical investigation on the aqueous fraction of the stems of Epigynum cochinchinensis led to the isolation of a new pregnane glycoside named as epigycoside A (1) along with three known analogues (2-4). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques, including HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The immunosuppressive activity of 1 was evaluated by an in vitro model of concanavalin A-induced mice splenocytes proliferation. Compound 1 showed significant inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner, closer to the efficacy of positive control, dexamethasone, at a concentration of 50 µM.

Novel immunosuppressive pregnane glycosides from the leaves of Epigynum auritum.

Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Epigynum auritum led to the isolation of three novel C21 pregnane glycosides, epigynosides, E-G (1-3), together with two known pregnane glycosides, epigynosides A (4) and C (5). Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data (MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) analysis, as well as comparison with the reported data. The immunological activities of the new compounds was evaluated against concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated proliferation of mice splenocyte in vitro. Compounds 1-3 displayed significant immunosuppressive activities, close to the efficacy of the positive control (dexamethasone) at the concentration of 50µM.

Seco-pregnane glycosides from the stems of Epigynum auritum.

Chemical investigation of the stems of Epigynum auritum led to the isolation and identification of a novel 16,17-seco pregnane glycoside, epigynoside D, along with other three known compounds (2-4). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments. All isolated compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic, immunological and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities.

Progress of pharmacological studies on alkaloids from Apocynaceae.

Alkaloid was a kind of biological active ingredient. There were various types of alkaloids in Apocynaceae. This paper reviewed the progress on alkaloids from Apocynaceae, which contained origin, structure, and pharmacological activity.