Comparison of volatile compounds in different parts of fresh Amomum villosum Lour. from different geographical areas using cryogenic grinding combined HS-SPME-GC-MS.

BACKGROUND: The essential oil is one of the main active ingredients of Amomum villosum Lour. However, volatile compounds are easily lost during the drying, storage and even sample preparation procedure. Therefore, using fresh samples can obtain more accurately data for qualitative and comparative analysis. METHODS: In this study, the volatile compounds in different parts of fresh A. villosum from different origins were systemic analyzed and compared by using cryogenic grinding combined HS-SPME-GC-MS for the first time. GC-MS analyses were performed on a 6890 Series GC instrument coupled to a 5973 N mass spectrometer. The volatile compounds were extracted by the SPME fiber (100 µm PDMS). Analytes separation was achieved on a HP-5MS capillary column. The oven temperature was initially programmed at 70 °C, then raised 4 °C/min to reach 125 °C and then programmed at 0.5 °C/min to 133 °C, then at 6 °C/min to 170 °C and finally, at 20 °C/min to 280 °C held for 2 min. The temperatures of the injection port, ion source and transfer line were set at 250 °C, 230 °C and 280 °C, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-eight main compounds were identified in different parts of fresh A. villosum. The most abundant components in fresh fruit samples were camphor (3.91%), bornyl acetate (10.53%), caryophyllene (8.70%), ß-bisabolene (11.50%), (E)-nerolidol (14.82%) and cubenol (10.04%). This is quite different with that of dried samples analyzed in our previous work. As different parts of the same plant, many common components with biological activities were detected in fruit and other parts. In principle components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), four parts of A. villosum were divided into different groups clearly. Additionally, fruit and root samples also could be divided into two subgroups (HCA) in accordance with their regions. CONCLUSION: The developed method was successfully used for qualitative and comparative analysis of volatile compounds in fresh A. villosum samples. Additionally, using fresh samples can obtain much more information which is helpful for their performance in the fields of functional foods, agriculture and biomedical industry. Furthermore, our research is helpful for comprehensive utilization and quality control of A. villosum.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AMOMUM VILLOSUM: A SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION ON THREE DIFFERENT PRODUCTION MODES.

BACKGROUND: Amomum Villosum (A. Villosum), called Chunsharen in Chinese, is widely used in treating gastrointestinal disease. Its clinical benefits have been confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Facing the shortage of wild A. Villosum, artificial cultivating and natural fostering have been practiced in recent years. Therefore, it would be wondered whether the three different types of A. Villosum are comparable or not, particularly the herbal qualities, technological challenges, ecological impacts and economic benefits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we combined quality research by using GC-MS, and field investigation to provide a systematic assessment about the three types of A. Villosum from these four aspects. RESULTS: It found that the wild type had low output and was in an endangered situation. The artificial cultivation had larger agriculturing area with higher productivity, but faced the ecological challenges. Lastly, the natural fostering type generated the highest economic benefit and relatively low ecological impact. In addition, the natural fostering type had relatively better quality than the other types. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it suggests that natural fostering can be applied for long-term sustainable development of A. Villosum.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Antitumor Drug Use in China: A Hospital-Based Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To present a systematic review of the usage of antitumor drugs in Chinese hospitals from 2009 to 2011. METHODS: The market data of antitumor drugs was collected from the Menet database that covered 350 Class A tertiary hospitals from 16 major cities in China. The data of antitumor drugs were divided into 3 categories by mechanism action: cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapeutic drugs, and other antitumor drugs. The usage characteristics of each category were analyzed through sales volume and sales value, and the characteristics of main drugs in each category were further analyzed. RESULTS: During 2009-2011, the sales volume and sales value of antitumor drugs used in hospitals had markedly increased in China. Specifically, cytotoxic chemotherapy was the most prevalent category in clinical treatment, with total sales volume shares of 61.93%, 63.90%, and 68.40% during 2009-2011. Its share of total sales value was more than 70% in the same period. The sales volume share of molecular targeted therapeutic drugs was less than 1%, but the sales value share was about 20% in the corresponding period. In addition, plant alkaloids had become the leading subcategory of antitumor drugs in hospitals, which contributed 43.72% of total sales volume and 37% of total sales value in 2011. Antimetabolites still played an important role, with around 20% of sales volume, and monoclonal antibody and small-molecule compounds experienced rapid growth. CONCLUSIONS: Plant alkaloids have become the most widely used antitumor drug for clinical medical treatment in China. In the future, monoclonal antibody and small-molecule compounds are expected to have wider usage in China.