Comparison on anti-inflammatory activity of Gynostemma pentaphyllum processed with different methods / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum dried with two different methods(air drying and heating) on inflammation in acute lung injury(ALI) mice in vivo and in vitro. Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was sprayed into the airway of wild type C57BL/6J male mice to establish the model, and the drug was injected into the tail vein 24 h after modeling. Lung function, lung tissue wet/dry weight(W/D) ratio, the total protein concentration, interleukin 6(IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and pathological changes of the lung tissue were used to evaluate the effects of different gypenosides on ALI mice. The results showed that total gypenosides(YGGPs) and the gypenosides substituted with one or two glycosyl(GPs_(1-2)) in the air-dried sample improved the lung function, significantly lowered the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF, and alleviated the lung inflammation of ALI mice. Moreover, GPs_(1-2) had a more significant effect on inhibiting NO release in RAW264.7 cells. This study showed that different drying methods affected the anti-inflammatory activity of G. pentaphyllum, and the rare saponins in the air-dried sample without heating had better anti-inflammatory activity.

Comparison of chemical components between aerial and underground parts of Coptis chinensis based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E technology / 中国中药杂志

The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS~E) technology was employed to compare the chemical components between the aerial and underground parts of Coptis chinensis samples from different batches. According to the retention time, molecular ion peak, and LC-MS~E fragment information of the reference substances and available literature, we identified a total of 40 components. Thirty-three and 31 compounds were respectively identified in the underground part(taproots) and the aerial part(stems and leaves) of C. chinensis. Among them, 24 compounds, including alkaloids(e.g., berberine and jatrorrhizine) and phenolic acids(e.g., chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and tanshinol), were common in the two parts. In addition, differential components were also identified, such as magnoline glucoside in the underground part and(±) lariciresionol-4-β-D-glucopyranoside in the aerial part. The analysis of fragmentation pathways based on spectra of reference substances indicated the differences among samples of different batches. Furthermore, we performed the principal component analysis(PCA) for the peak areas of C. chinensis in different batches. The results showed that the underground part and the aerial part were clearly clustered into two groups, indicating that the chemical components contained in the two parts were different. Furthermore, the results of partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) identified 31 differential compounds(VIP value>1) between the underground part and the aerial part, mainly including alkaloids, phenolic acids, lignans, and flavonoids. This study proves that C. chinensis possesses great development potential with multiple available compounds in stems and leaves. Moreover, it sheds light on for the development and utilization of non-medicinal organs of C. chinensis and other Chinese medicinal herbs.

Ecology suitability study of Polygonatum cyrtonema / 中国中药杂志

Using the 260 geographical distribution records of Polygonatum cyrtonema in China, combined with 53 environmental factors, the maximum entropy modeling(MaxEnt) was used to study the ecological factors affecting the suitability distribution of P. cyrtonema. The ArcGIS software was used to predict the potential distribution of the population of P. cyrtonema. The dominant factors were chosen by using the Jackknife test and the Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve was used to evaluate the simulation. The results showed that high value of area under curve(AUC) denoted good results, which significantly differed from random predictions. Based on the evaluation criterion, the accuracies of the predictions of P. cyrtonema potential distribution in the current periods were excellent. The main environmental factors affecting the suitable growth of P. cyrtonema were the monthly precipitation, the wettest monthly precipitation, the annual average temperature range and the precipitation of November, March, February, April, May and October. There are 9 environmental factors in soil type. The potential fitness of P. cyrtonema in China is high, mainly concentra-ted in Hunan, western Hubei, Guangdong, northeastern Guangxi, southeastern Guizhou, Jiangxi, southwestern Anhui, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, southwestern Henan and Chongqing. The growth distribution of the potential distribution area of P. cyrtonema was divided, and the zoning map of the growth suitability of P. cyrtonema was formed. Through the comparative analysis of the potential distribution range based on MaxEnt and the distribution range of literature records, the understanding of the distribution range of P. cyrtonema was expanded.

Dynamic accumulation of dry substance and active components in root of Peucedanum praeruptorum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the dynamic accumulation regulation of dry substance and four coumarin constituents in root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, so to provide the basis for optimal harvest time.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Roots of P. praeruptorum were collected periodically. The dry weight of the roots was measured and the content of four coumarins was determined by HPLC method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The dry substance accumulation of the root reached the maximum amount and the coumarin contents maintain stability at the end of the vegetative growth period. The coumarins of roots decline significantly in the reproductive growth period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The most optimum collecting time of root of P. praeruptorum cultivated in Ningguo county in Anhui province should be from December to next February.</p>

Terpenoid compounds isolated from Ligularia sagitta / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of radix and rhizome of Ligularia sagitta.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Isolation and purification were carried out on the column chromatography of silica gel and sephadex LH -20. The structures were identified by spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven terpenoid compounds were isolated from the radix and rhizome of L. sagitta. Five of them are sesquiterpenoids, the structures were determined as 7alpha-hydroxy-9(10) -ene-1, 8-dioxo-6, 7-dihydrofuranoeremophilane (1), 1p, 10P3-epoxy-6beta, 8 beta-dihydroxy-eremophil7 (11) -en-12, 8alpha-olide (2) , 1-oxo-9-desoxycacalol (3), benzofuranoeremophil-l-ene (4) and bakkenolide (5); other two compounds belong to triterpenoid. 3p, 16P3-dihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-al (6) and lupeol (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compoundsl-3 and 6 were: isolated from L. sagitta for the first time, and compounds 3 and 6 were obtained from Ligularia for the first time.</p>

Species of Ligularia in the northwestern China and their medicinal uses / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the species of Ligularia distributed in the northwestern China and their medicinal uses in the local area.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Field investigation, specimen collection, taxonomic study and datum check were adopted.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>There are 29 species and 1 varieties of Ligularia distributed in the northwestern China, and 18 species of them had been used as folk medicines with the function of resolving phlegm, relieving cough, clearing heat and toxins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The northwestern China is abundant in medicinal resource of Ligularia.</p>

Medicinal species of genus Polygonum s. lat. distributed in Anhui Province / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the resource of medicinal plants of genus Polygonum s. lat. distributed in Anhui Province.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Conducting field investigation and consulting related specimens and data.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>The distribution, growing environment and medicinal use of 32 taxa have been clarified. A scientific basis for further study for these medicinal plants has been provided.</p>