[Historical evolution of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods].

China has a long history of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing with multiple methods available. The pre-sent study collated and summarized the Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods recorded in 23 related herbal medicine books, all editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the 1988 edition of National Regulations for Processing of Chinese Medicine, and 20 current local processing specifications and standards. The results demonstrated various processing methods of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, such as removing residual part of stem, plantlet, or soil, smashing, filing, cutting, decocting, washing with wine, soaking in wine, and stir-frying with wine or blood from pig heart, while raw and wine-processed products are mainly used in modern times. Due to the lack of unified standards, the phenomena of multiple methods adopted in one place and different methods in different places have led to uneven quality of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces, even affecting the safety and effectiveness of its clinical medication. This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing and its rational medication.

The absorption and transport of magnolol in Caco-2 cell model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the absorption and transport mechanism of magnolol in Caco-2 cell model. METHODS: A human intestinal epithelial cell model Caco-2 cell in vitro cultured was applied to study the absorption and transport of magnolol, the effects of time, donor concentration, P-gp inhibitor verapamil, pH and temperature on the absorption and transport of magnolol were investigated. The determination of magnolol was performed by high performance liquid chromatography, then the values of apparent permeability coefficient (P app ) and P ratio Basolateral-to-Apical (BL-to-AP)/Apical-to-Basolateral (AP-to-BL) were calculated. RESULTS: In Caco-2 cell model, comparing the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL and BL-to-AP, the latter was larger. At the same donor concentration, either the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL or BL-to-AP increased with increase in donor concentration and incubation time. Verapamil could significantly improve the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL. The transport of AP-to-BL and BL-to-AP depended on temperature, and there was no significant effect of pH on the transport of AP-to-BL. CONCLUSION: Magnolol could be transported through the intestinal mucosa via a passive diffusion mechanism primarily, coexisting with a carrier-mediated transport, at the same time, the efflux mechanism could be involved.

[New processing procedure for Croton tiglium with study on comparison of Croton tiglium and processed product].

OBJECTIVE: To build a new processing procedure for Croton tiglium, providing a more simple, efficient and safe way of processing. METHODS: Used the contents of isoguanosine and toxic protein in Croton tiglium as the indexes to investigate the effect of different temperature, thickness and baked time on processing for Croton tiglium. After established all factors and levels, processed a batch of Croton tiglium under optimum processing conditions and compared it with raw Croton tiglium in the test of acute toxicity and gastrointestinal propulsive motility. RESULTS: The parameters of optimum processing were as follows:the temperature was set at 180 degrees C, the thickness of placement was 3 cm and baked time was 90 min. The LD50 value of raw Croton tiglium and the processed Croton tiglium was 888 mg/kg and 2139 mg/kg respectively. CONCLUSION: The processing procedure is simple, affordable, safe and efficient, deserved to promote for application.

[Studies on the flavonoidls from the herb of Striga asiatica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the herb of Striga asiatica. METHODS: The constituents were isolated by column chromatography and their structrues were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis. RESULTS: Eleven compounds were obtained and six flavonoiels were identified as apigenin-7-galacturonide( I ), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronide (II), quercitrin (III), acacetin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide (IV), apigenin (V), chrysoreiol (VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds I - IV are obtained from this plant for the first time.