[Comparison of multi-type chemical compounds in fruits of Lycium and correlations between compounds and traits].

To comprehensively reveal and utilize the plant resources of Lycium in China, this study determined and compared the content of monosaccharides, polysaccharides, proteins, carotenoids, organic acids, and phenols in the dried fruits of 8 different Lycium species. Furthermore, the traits including the hundred-fruit weight, shape index, and the ratio of seed to fruit were measured, and the correlations between the content of chemical compounds and fruit traits were assessed. The results showed that L. truncatum, L. barbarum var. auranticarpum, and L. dasystemum var. rubricaulium were the species with high content of monosaccharides. L. barbarum and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum were the species with high content of total polysaccharides, and L. barbarum was the species with high content of carotenoids. L. yunnanense and L. chinense var. potaninii had high content of soluble proteins. L. truncatum, L. dasystemum, and L. barbarum showed high content of organic acids and phenols. L. barbarum and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum demonstrated high fruit weight, while L. yunnanense and L. chinense had high ratios of seed to fruit. The multivariate statistical analysis indicated that polysaccharides, carotenoids, hundred-fruit weight, ratio of seed to fruit, scopolamine, fructose, 5-O-feruloylquinic acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, scopoletin, cryptochlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were the main differential compounds in the fruits among different species of Lycium. Moreover, the results of correlation ananysis showed strong correlations between fruit traits and compound content. Specifically, the hundred-fruit weight had positive correlations with the content of total polysaccharides and scopola-mine. The ratio of seed to fruit was negatively correlated with the content of rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, fructose, and glucose and positively correlated with the content of succinic acid, soluble proteins, and zeaxanthin. The results implied that chemical compounds presented different distribution patterns in the fruits of 8 Lycium species. This study provides a basis for the comprehensive development and utilization, targeted breeding, and value-added application of Lycium plants.

[Comparison on effects of Lycii Fructus from different origins on NaIO_3-induced retinal degenerative diseases in mice by multivariate statistical analysis].

The multivariate statistical analysis was performed to compare the therapeutic effects of Lycii Fructus from different origins on the retinal degenerative diseases(RDD) in mice. The mouse model of RDD was established by intraperitoneal injection of NaIO_3, and the visual function and retinal apoptosis were assessed by dark-light transition and TUNEL assay. Retinal thickness was measured by fundus optical coherence tomography(OCT), and the levels of antioxidant, inflammatory, and angiogenic markers in the serum and eyeball were determined. The therapeutic effects were compared by hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The results showed that the extracts of Lycii Fructus from different origins reversed NaIO_3-induced visual damage and retinal apoptosis, reduced oxidative stress, and restored the expression of inflammatory mediators and angiogenic markers in mice. The multivariate statistical analysis based on 17 pharmacodynamic indices suggested that the extract of Lycii Fructus from Ningxia demonstrated better therapeutic effects on RDD than the samples from the other four origins. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the selection of the advantageous production region of Lycii Fructus for the prevention and treatment of RDD.

[Structure-activity relationship of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides].

As a traditional Chinese herb and functional food, the fruits of Lycium barbarum has been widely used for thousands of years in China. L. barbarum polysaccharides(LBPs) are predominant active components, which have immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, anti-tumor, and prebiotic activities. The molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond, branching degree, protein content, chemical modification, and spatial structure of LBPs are closely related to their biological activity. Based on the previous studies of this research team, this paper systematically combed and integrated the research progress of structure, function, and structure-activity relationship of LBPs. At the same time, some problems restricting the clarification of the structure-activity relationship of LBPs were considered and prospected, hoping to provide references for the high value utilization of LBPs and in-depth exploration of their health value.

[Preparation of Huoluo Xiaoling gel plaster and its transdermal penetration in vitro].

Huoluo Xiaoling Dan is a classical prescription commonly used for blood circulation and pain relief in clinic with obvious effects. To make it directly treat lesion and improve the effect, this research optimized the preparation process of Huoluo Xiaoling gel paste and further evaluated its in vitro transdermal absorption performance, so as to provide a scientific basis for its development and utilization. Using primary viscosity, holding viscosity, and sensory score as evaluation indexes, the matrix amount of gel paste was determined by the single factor test and Box-Behnken response surface method. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) method was established to determine the content of eight active ingredients, including Danshensu, ferulic acid, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid A, ligustilide, tanshinone Ⅱ_A, 11-keto-ß-boswellic(KBA), and 3-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid(AKBA). A mo-dified Franz diffusion cell method was used to evaluate and compare the absorption properties of the gel paste without volatile oil and with volatile oil microemulsion. The results showed that the optimal prescription for Huoluo Xiaoling gel paste matrix was NP700(1.35 g), glycerol(7.00 g), micropowder silica gel(1.25 g), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose(0.20 g), tartaric acid(0.06 g), and glyceryl aluminum(0.04 g). The mass fractions of eight active ingredients in the paste were successively 0.48, 0.014, 0.95, 0.39, 0.57, 0.055, 0.35, and 0.97 mg·g~(-1). The results of the in vitro transdermal absorption test showed that the addition of the volatile oil or the volatile oil microemulsion promoted the transdermal absorption of the active ingredients, and the law of drug penetration conformed to the zero equation or the Higuchi equation. The gel paste prepared by the optimal prescription has good appearance and adhesion, with no residue, and has the characteristics of skeletal slow-release preparation, which is easy to reduce the number of administration, la-ying a foundation for the development of new external dosage forms of Huoluo Xiaoling Dan.

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effectsof Chrysanthemum Stem and Leaf Extract on Zebrafish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Model.

Present studies have shown that Flos Chrysanthemi has anti-inflammatory and other effects and regulates intestinal function, while the chrysanthemum stem and leaf as non-medicinal parts of chrysanthemum have similar chemical components with chrysanthemum, but the activity and mechanisms are rarely elucidated. Therefore, this study used a DSS-induced zebrafish inflammatory bowel disease model to study the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of chrysanthemum stem and leaf extracts. The results indicate that DSS induction leads to increased secretion of acidic mucin in the intestines of juvenile fish, enlargement of the intestinal lumen and the emergence of intestinal inflammation. Compared with the model group, each administration group differentially inhibited the expression of IL-1ß, IL-8 and MMP9 in DSS-induced zebrafish, while upregulating the activity of superoxide dismutase. The quantitative analysis results showed that the flavonoids (including Linarin, Diosmetin-7-glucoside, Tilianin, etc.) and phenolic acids (including Isochlorogenic acid C, Isochlorogenic acid A, 1,3-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, etc.) in the alcohol extract were closely related with both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, while the polysaccharides were also shown a certain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this study suggests that the flavonoids, phenolic acids and polysaccharides from chrysanthemum stem and leaf extracts can improve inflammatory bowel disease of zebrafish by regulating the expressions of IL-1ß, IL-8 and MMP9.

[Identification of metabolites of Yiqi Baoyuan Prescription in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces after oral administration].

This study was designed to determine the metabolites of Yiqi Baoyuan Prescription(YQBYP) in rats. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-TOF-MS) and mass defect filter(MDF) were employed to analyze the metabolites of YQBYP in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces. Chromatographic separation was conducted on Acquity UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) under gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A)-acetonitrile(B), and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Electrospray ion(ESI) source was used under positive and negative ion modes, with capillary voltage of 3.0 kV and mass scanning range of m/z 100-1 000. In this experiment, 9 prototype components and 36 metabolites were identified in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces samples. The results showed that the main metabolic pathways of YQBYP in rats involved methylation, demethylation, oxidation, and other phase Ⅰ reactions as well as glucuronidation, sulfation, and other phase Ⅱ reactions. This study provided scientific basis for clarifying the therapeutic material basis of YQBYP and product development.

[Combination characteristics of frankincense and myrrh and progress and prospect of their combination efficacy and mechanism].

Herbal pair is formed based on the experience summary of doctors' deep understanding and perception of the medicinal nature in long-term clinical practice. It gradually becomes the exquisite structural unit for preparing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions, and often plays a core bridge role in the prescription combination. Frankincense and myrrh are raw resin materials of incense abroad, which are subsequently included as Chinese medicinal herbs and endowed with rich medicinal connotation. With the functions of relaxing Zang-fu organs, activating blood and relieving pain, they have definite clinical efficacy. From the perspective of herbal description and clinical application, this study systematically analyzed the combination of frankincense and myrrh as well as their combination proportion, efficacy characterization, diseases and syndromes, effective components and action mechanism. On this basis, the focus of in-depth research of frankincense-myrrh and the application prospects were proposed, in order to further reveal the potential meditation law of this herbal pair, thus contributing to clinical practice and drug innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, and providing reference for understanding of TCM medicinal nature and research of herbal pairs.

[Determination of eight active components of Bufei Huoxue Capsules in rat plasma and their pharmacokinetics by UHPLC-MS/MS].

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS) method was established to investigate the pharmacokinetic behaviors of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in rat plasma after oral administration of Bufei Huoxue Capsules. After SD rats were administered with Bufei Huoxue Capsules suspension by gavage, blood samples were collected from the inner canthus at different time points. After protein precipitation, plasma samples were separated on ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile(A) and water(B) containing 0.1% formic acid in gradient elution. The positive and negative ions were measured simultaneously in the multi-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and fitted by DAS 3.2.8. Psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, psoralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone were detected in the rat plasma after drug administration, with AUC_(0-t) of(3 357±1 348),(3 555±1 696),(3.03±0.88),(2.21±0.33),(1 787±522),(2 295±539),(5.69±1.41) and(3.40±0.75) µg·L~(-1)·h, and T_(max) of(1.56±0.62),(1.40±0.70),(0.21±0.05),(0.25±0.12),(0.26±0.11),(0.34±0.29),(0.74±0.59), and 0.25 h. The method is proved specific and repeatable and is suitable for the determination of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, calycosin-7-glucoside, ononin, pso-ralen, isopsoralen, methylnissolin, and neobavaisoflavone in the rat plasma, which can be applied to pharmacokinetic study.

[DNA methylation diversity analysis of Lycium barbarum samples from different cultivation areas based on MSAP].

Obvious epigenetic differentiation occurred on Lycium barbarum in different cultivation areas in China. To investigate the difference and change rule of DNA methylation level and pattern of L. barbarum from different cultivation areas in China, the present study employed fluorescence-assisted methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism(MSAP) to analyze the methylation level and polymorphism of 53 genomic DNA samples from Yinchuan Plain in Ningxia, Bayannur city in Inner Mongolia, Jingyuan county and Yumen city in Gansu, Delingha city in Qinghai, and Jinghe county in Xinjiang. The MSAP technical system suitable for the methylation analysis of L. barbarum genomic DNA was established and ten pairs of selective primers were selected. Among amplified 5'-CCGG-3' methylated sites, there were 35.85% full-methylated sites and 39.88% hemi-methylated sites, showing a high degree of epigenetic differentiation. Stoichiometric analysis showed that the ecological environment was the main factor affecting the epigenetic characteristics of L. barbarum, followed by cultivated varieties. Precipitation, air temperature, and soil pH were the main ecological factors affecting DNA methylation in different areas. This study provided a theoretical basis for the analysis of the epigenetic mechanism of L. barbarum to adapt to the diffe-rent ecological environments and research ideas for the introduction, cultivation, and germplasm traceability of L. barbarum.

[Chemical constituents and pharmacological action of bile acids from animal:a review].

Bile of animal(mainly chicken, pig, snake, cow, and bear) has long been used as medicine. As the major active components of bile, bile acids mainly include cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and taurochenodeoxycholic acid. They interact with intestinal microorganisms in enterohepatic circulation, thereby playing an important part in nutrient absorption and allocation, metabolism regulation, and dynamic balance. Bile acids have pharmacological effects such as protecting liver, kidney, heart, brain, and nerves, promoting bile secretion, dissolving gallstones, anti-cancer, relieving cough and dyspnea, dispelling phlegm, treating eye diseases, and regulating intestinal function and blood glucose, which are widely used in clinical practice. This study summarized and analyzed the research on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of bile acids from medicinal animals, in a bid to provide scientific basis and reference for the further development and utilization of bile acids.