Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Prediction of the Quality Marker (Q-Marker) of Ferula Plants in China: A Review.

The genus of Ferula belongs to the family Apiaceae, and many Ferula plants are used as traditional Chinese medicines. Ferula plants were initially identified as early as the "Newly Revised Materia Medica" written in the Tang Dynasty (AD 659), and several of them are also recognized as the traditional medicines of the Uygur, Kazakh, and Mongolian. Ferula plants are distributed in China, Russia, India, Africa, Central Asia, and other places. Currently, the chemical components derived from Ferula plants are mainly coumarins, sesquiterpenes, and volatile oils. Ferula plants can exhibit diverse pharmacological activities such as anti-allergy, analgesia, relieving cough, anticoagulation, and anti-tumor. Therefore, this article summarized the domestic research conducted on the genus Ferula, appropriately combines the research status of the foreign genus Ferula, and describes the chemical composition, biological activity, toxicity issues, and Q-marker prediction. In addition, all the related studies about the genus Ferula are summarized by analyzing the various databases such as CNKI, Wanfang data, PubChem and SciFinder.

Effects of an ethyl acetate extract of Daphne altaica stem bark on the cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of PPARγ in Eca­109 human esophageal carcinoma cells.

Daphne altaica Pall. (D. altaica; Thymelaeaceae) has long been used in traditional Kazakh medicine for the treatment of cancer and respiratory diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the in vitro anticancer effects of D. altaica extract and its constituents in certain cancer cell lines; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understooD. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of an ethyl acetate extract of D. altaica (Da­Ea) by assessing its effects on cell morphology, cell apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in Eca­109 cells. Cell morphology was observed under a phase contrast microscope. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were assessed by flow cytometry following Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and PI single staining, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ were determined by reverse transcription­quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively. Compared with the control group, the percentage of apoptotic cells, cell cycle arrest at S phase and apoptotic morphological cell characteristics were increased in Da­Ea­treated Eca­109 cells. Furthermore, Da­Ea treatment upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ compared with the control cells. High­performance liquid chromatography with diode­array detection indicated that daphnetin­7­O­ß­D­glucoside, daphnetin, demethyldaphnoretin­7­O­ß­D­glucopyranoside and genkwanol A were the main constituents of Da­Ea. Collectively, the results suggested that Da­Ea displayed antiproliferative activities in Eca­109 cells by inducing apoptosis and S phase cell cycle arrest, as well as upregulating PPARγ expression levels.

Arnebiae Radix prevents atrial fibrillation in rats by ameliorating atrial remodeling and cardiac function.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arnebiae Radix, a common herbal medicine in China, is often utilized to treat blood-heat syndrome and has been reported to exert an effect on the heart. AIM OF THE STUDY: The combination of acetylcholine (Ach) and CaCl2 has been widely used to induce atrial fibrillation (AF) in animals. However, whether Arnebiae Radix displays any preventive action on Ach-CaCl2 induced AF in rats remains uncertain. In our study, we attempted to investigate the protective effects of Arnebiae Radix on Ach-CaCl2 induced AF compared to amiodarone, which was employed as the positive control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To establish the AF model, SD rats were treated with a mixture of 0.1 mL/100 g Ach-CaCl2 (60 µg/mL Ach and 10 mg/mL CaCl2) by tail vein injection for 7 days. Rats were also given a gavage of Arnebiae Radix (0.18 g/mL) one week before or concurrently with the establishment of the AF model. At the end of the experimental period, the induction, duration and timing of AF were monitored using electrocardiogram recordings. Left atrial tissues were stained to observe the level of fibrosis. Electrophysiological measurements were used to examine atrial size and function. RESULTS: In Ach-CaCl2-induced AF rats, Arnebiae Radix decreased AF induction, duration and susceptibility to AF. In addition, Arnebiae Radix significantly reduced atrial fibrosis and inhibited atrial enlargement induced by Ach-CaCl2. Moreover, there was an apparent improvement in cardiac function in the Arnebiae Radix-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that Arnebiae Radix treatment can attenuate Ach-CaCl2-induced atrial injury and serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AF in the future.

Study on Quality Standard for Kazakhstan Medicine Peganum harmala / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To establish the quality standard for Kazakhstan medicine Peganum harmala. METHODS： Ten batches of P. harmala collected in Xinjiang Kazakh region were selected as research objects to investigate their characteristics. Qualitative identification of harmaline and harmine was conducted by TLC. The contents of water， total ash， acid-insoluble ash and ethanol extract were tested according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia（2015 edition）. The contents of harmaline and harmine were determined by HPLC. The determination was performed on X-bridge C18 column（250 mm×4.6 mm，5 μm） with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate buffer （adjusted to 6 with glacial acetic acid， gradient elution） at the flow rate of 1 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 267 nm， and column temperature was 25 ℃. The sample size was 5 μL. RESULTS： TLC identification results showed that 10 batches of medicinal material showed clear spots at the same position as harmaline and harmine reference substances. Water， total ash， acid-insoluble ash should not be more than 12％，22％，2％， respectively； ethanol extract must not be less than 16％. HPLC results showed that the linear ranges of harmaline and harmine were 15.22-301.40，15.09-301.80 μg/mL； RSDs of precision， reproducibility and stability tests were all lower than 4％； average recoveries were 100.22％ and 100.94％（all RSD＜2％）. The determination results showed that the content of total alkaloids （harmaline and harmine） should not be less than 6.5 mg/g. CONCLUSIONS： Based on the original standard， test items are added in this study. TLC method is established to identify harmaline and harmine. HPLC method is established to determine their contents. Established quality standard can be used for comprehensive quality control of P. harmala from Xinjiang Kazakh region.

[Determination of Total Carbonates,Total Hydroxides and Mineral Elements in a Kazakh Herbal Medicine-Sahar].

Objective: To investigate the content of total carbonates, total hydroxides and mineral elements in a Kazakh herbal medicine Sahar( an alkaline substance obtained from plant ashes). Methods: Total carbonates and total hydroxides were quantified by using the method which described in GB / T 2306-2008[National standard chemical reagents( potassium carbonate) ]. Besides, The contents of ten mineral elements( potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper,selenium and aluminium) were also measured by using the methods which described in national standards such as GB / T 5009. 91-2003( Determination of potassium and sodium in foods),GB / T 5009. 92-2003( Determination of calcium in foods),GB / T 5009. 90-2003( Determination of iron, magnesium and manganese in foods),GB / T 5009. 14-2003( Determination of zinc in foods),GB / T 5009. 13-2003( Determination of copper in foods),GB / T5009. 93-2003( Determination of selenium in foods),GB / T 23374-2009( Determination of aluminium in foods-Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry),respectively. Results: The experimental datas indicated that the average contents of total hydroxides and total carbonates in Sahar from Haloxylon persicum were 23. 19% and 29. 83%,whereas those in Sahar from Chenopodium glaucum were 24. 42%and 43. 30%,respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed the presence of iron and magnesium. Quantitative analysis showed that in both Sahars the sodium and potassium were the most abundant, and calcium, iron and aluminum were followed by. Conclusion: The results will provide scientific basis for the establishment of quality standard for Sahar.

[Research advances of Tasmayi].

Tasmayi (mumie, shilajit) is a pale brown to black substance which leaks from the layers of rocks in many mountain ranges during the warm summer months. In traditional Kazakh medicine, it is used for the treatment of bone fracture and many inflammatory ailments. It is also used as a remedy in the traditional medical systems of many countries such as India, Russia and Kazakhstan. According to the literatures, Tasmayi possesses anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, antibacterial, free radical scavenging, antioxidative, memory enhancing, antidiabetic, antistress, antiallergic, immunomodulative, anti AIDS, anabolic and regeneration stimulating activities. The major physiological action of Tasmayi could be belonging to the presence of dibenzo-alpha-pyrones along with humic and fulvic acids.

Towards modernization of the formulation of the traditional uighur medicine herbal preparation abnormal savda munziq.

Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq) is a herbal preparation used in Traditional Uighur Medicine for the treatment and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic asthma and cancer. The recommended dose of this decoction for cancer patients is 500 mL administered orally three times a day. Our approach aimed at reducing the high amount of fluid intake required by fractionation of ASMq guided by the antiproliferative activity on HL-60 cells. The fractionation of ASMq resulted in the preparation of an active extract, Extr-4. Using solid phase extraction, Extr-4 was further fractionated into five fractions (SPE-0, SPE-20, SPE-40, SPE-60 and SPE-80), with SPE-40 showing the strongest antiproliferative activity. Caffeic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, rosmarinic acid, luteolin and formononetin were identified in Extr-4 and fractions thereof by means of TLC, HPLC-DAD and LC-MS. SPE-40 contained the main compounds responsible for the antiproliferative activity on HL-60 cells. Thus, a phenolic fraction with high antiproliferative activity on HL-60 cells was obtained from ASMq through the bioassay-guided fractionation process. This could provide a better pharmaceutical formulation that minimizes the administration inconveniencies of a high volume (1.5 L per day) of ASMq decoction for cancer patients.

Active Achilles tendon kinesitherapy accelerates Achilles tendon repair by promoting neurite regeneration.

Active Achilles tendon kinesitherapy facilitates the functional recovery of a ruptured Achilles tendon. However, protein expression during the healing process remains a controversial issue. New Zealand rabbits, aged 14 weeks, underwent tenotomy followed immediately by Achilles tendon microsurgery to repair the Achilles tendon rupture. The tendon was then immobilized or subjected to postoperative early motion treatment (kinesitherapy). Mass spectrography results showed that after 14 days of motion treatment, 18 protein spots were differentially expressed, among which, 12 were up-regulated, consisting of gelsolin isoform b and neurite growth-related protein collapsing response mediator protein 2. Western blot analysis showed that gelsolin isoform b was up-regulated at days 7-21 of motion treatment. These findings suggest that active Achilles tendon kinesitherapy promotes the neurite regeneration of a ruptured Achilles tendon and gelsolin isoform b can be used as a biomarker for Achilles tendon healing after kinesitherapy.