Cause and control of Radix Ophiopogonis browning during storage / 中国天然药物

In the storage of Radix Ophiopogonis, browning often happens to cause potential risk with regard to safety. Previously few reports investigate the browning of Radix Ophiopogonis. In this research, the causes and mechanisms of the browning of Radix Ophiopogonis were preliminarily elucidated. Content determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry, enzyme activity determination by colorimetry, and morphological observation by electron microscopy were performed in the present study. Uniform design and three-dimensional response surfaces were applied to investigate the relationship between browning and storage factors. The cortex cell wall of browned Radix Ophiopogonis was ruptured. Compared with the normal Radix Ophiopogonis, cellulase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes were activated, the levels of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), total sugars, and reducing sugars were increased, while the levels of polysaccharides and methylophiopogonanone A were decreased in browned Radix Ophiopogonis. The relationship between the storage factors and degree of browning (Y) could be described by following correlation equation: Y = - 0.625 4 + 0.020 84 × X3 + 0.001 514 × X1 × X2 - 0.000 964 4 × X2 × X3. Accompanied with browning under storage conditions, the chemical composition of Radix Ophiopogonis was altered. Following the activation of cellulase, the rupture of the cortex cell wall and the outflow of cell substances flowed out, which caused the Radix Ophiopogonis tissue to become soft and sticky. The main causes of the browning were the production of 5-HMF, the activation of polyphenol oxidase, Maillard reactions and enzymatic browning. Browning could be effectively prevented when the air relative humidity (HR), temperature, and moisture content were under 25% RH, 12 °C and 18%, respectively.

Improving the solubility of fraxinellone to increase its oral bioavailability and hepatoprotective action against acute liver injury in mice / 药学学报

Fraxinellone, the major component of Cortex Dictamni, is naturally degraded limonids compound. Fraxinellone has significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute liver injury model. However, the low solubility and permeability of fraxinellone limited its potential application and even therapeutic effects. The aim of the paper is to increase oral bioavailability of fraxinellone, thus improving its hepatoprotection effect in vivo. We evaluated the effects of different pH values and different solubilizer (PEG 6000, PVP K30, HP-beta-CD, F68 and SDS) on the solubility of fraxinellone. The results showed that HP-beta-CD increased solubility of fraxinellone up to 155 times compared to that of water. More than 2. 1 mg mL1 fraxinellone can be resolved when adding 20% HP-beta-CD. Mouse acute liver injury model induced hy CCl4 was used to evaluate in vivo activity of fraxinellone with or without HP-beta-CD. The result shows that the hepatoprotective activity of fraxinellone in 20% HP-beta-CD solution has been significantly improved compared with that of fraxinellone solution without HP-beta-CD: the former inhibited 59 percent the increase of enzyme activity of ALT in liver, while the latter only inhibited 20 percent. A LC-MS/MS method was also developed to determine the oral bioavailability of fraxinellone. Fraxinellone solution with or without HP-betaCD were administered intra-gastrically to rats, and it was found that the bioavailahility of fraxinellone with HP-beta-CD was 23%, while only 5% without HP-beta-CD. The result showed that HP-beta-CD can significantly increase the solubility and permeability of fraxinellone, and improve bioavailability 3. 5 fold in vivo acute liver injury model as well as administration.

Relationship between components changes and efficacy of Shengmaisan VII. Chemical dynamic change of schisandrin in Shengmaisan / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the change of schisandrin in Shengmaisan (SMS) and decomposed group.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The HPLC-UV was used to determine schisandrin in SMS and decomposed group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>To extract Schisandra chinensis with ginseng, ophiopogon, general ginsenoside or ginsenoside Rg1 could promote the content of schisandrin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Saponin is propitious to extracting the schisandrin.</p>

Studies on the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Breynia fruticosa / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Breynia fruticosa.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Various chromatographic techniques were employed for isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated by chemical evidence and spectral methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven compounds were obtained and identified by spectroscopic methods and compared with authentic samples as aviculin [(+)-isolariciresinol-9'-rhamno-pyranoside], friedelan-3beta-ol, friedelin, arborinone, isoarborinol, 5-hydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxy flavone, 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-acetophenone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All compounds were firstly isolated from B. genus, furthermore, aviculin was isolated from Euphorbiaceae for the first time.</p>