[Studies on the chemical constituents of Ficus microcarpa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the Ficus microcarpa. METHODS: Isolation and identification were carried out by using various chromatography techniques and spectral methods. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as beta-amyrone (I), lupeol (II), lupeol acetate (III), maslinic acid (IV), epifriedelinol (V), stearic acid (VI), beta-sitosterol (VI), daucosterol (VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds I, II, VI are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Four new minor taxanes from cell cultures of Taxus chinensis.

Four new minor taxanes (1-4) have been isolated from Ts-19 cell cultures of Taxus chinensis together with five known taxanes (5-9) by silica gel chromatography combined with semi-preparative HPLC chromatography. On the basis of the analyses of the chemical and spectroscopic (IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR) data, the structures of new compounds were elucidated as 5alpha-hydroxy-2alpha,10beta-diacetoxy-14beta-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-butyryl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (1), 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-(2-hydroxy-propionyl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (2), 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyryl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (3), and 2alpha-benzoxy-4alpha,9alpha,10beta,13alpha-tetraacetoxytax-11-ene (4), respectively. Compounds 1-5 were pharmacologically evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-8, Bel-7402, BGC-823, A549, and A2780) and their reversing activity towards multi-drug resistance A549/taxol tumor cell line, and the results showed that all of the tested compounds exhibited very low cytotoxicities, while compound 4 possessed twice the reversing activity as that of verapamil at 10 muM.

[The comparative study on morphology and polysaccharides content of Dendrobium loddigesii from different habits].

The morphological characters and the polysaccharides content of Dendrobiam loddigesii from different habits were studied in this paper. The results showed that there were remarkable differences in morphology from five areas, such as stem height and diameter, laminae sizes and figures, amount of lateral bud, and texture of stem. The content of polysaccharides from sample of Xingyi and Anlong, Guizhou Province, respectively 22. 62% and 20. 96% , were higher than that of other areas. It can be preferentially choosed as good materal on commareial production.

[Studies on the botanical sources and DNA molecular identification of Herba Asari based on ITS sequence].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis of using three species of Asarum as Herba Asari to determine the taxonomic positions of Asarum heterotropoides and A. siebodii; and to apply DNA molecular analysis as a tool for identification of Herba Asari. METHOD: PCR, purification, sequence analysis were prerformed. RESULT: MS sequences of the three Asarum species were obtained. 3 botanical sources of Herba Asari are closely clustered together on the topology tree; one inner branch is composed of A. heterotropoides and A. sieboldii, whereas another branch contains A. sieboldii. Their ITS sequences are different. CONCLUSION: Three plant species of Herba Asari are closely related, and there are genetic reasons that they are used as the sources of the same medicine. The classification placement of A. sieboldii is not certain. The differences of ITS sequences of the botanical sources of Herba Asari can be used as a means of identification.

[ITS sequence identification of Radix Bupleuri].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the basis of molecular authentication of Radix Bupleuri by the comparison of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of five kinds of Radix Bupleuri in common use. METHOD: Firstly, total DNA of five kinds of Radix Bupleuri was extracted. Secondly, the ITS sequence was amplified by PCR with universal primer of ITS and PCR product was directly sequenced after purification. RESULT: The length of ITS1 and ITS2 sequence was 214-220 bp and 230-231 bp respectively. There were distinct variation sites between the ITS sequences of the five kinds of Radix Bupleuri. CONCLUSION: ITS sequence may be the evidence for the molecular authentication of Radix Bupleuri.

[A study on genetic variation between wild and cultivated populations of Paeonia lactiflora Pall].

AIM: To discuss the genetic differentiation between wild and cultivated populations of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., and to find the reason for forming the genuineness of Radix Paeoniae rubra (Chishao) and Radix Paeoniae alba (Baishao). METHODS: Forty three representative samples of P. lactiflora from 11 localities were analyzed by RAPD method with 21 random primers. According to RAPD results, the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of P. lactiflora were detected by the percentage of polymorphic sites (PPB), the coefficient of gene differentiation (GST) and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). RESULTS: (1) At species level, the PPB of P. lactiflora was 85.26%, the Nei's gene diversity (Ht) was 0.166. The PPB in wild population (WP) was 77.61%, which was more than that (54.96%) in cultivated population for medicine (MP), and that (61.76%) in cultivated population for ornament (OP). (2) AMOVA showed that 29.50% of the genetic diversity resulted from differentiation among populations. Pairwise Phist distance (0.3632) between WP and MP was furthest, while that (0.0973) between MP and OP was closest, indicating population differentiation was significant (P < 0.001). (3) In general, cluster analysis revealed that the samples of P. lactiflora were divided in wild and cultivated groups (except for 39). In WP, individuals of Duolun were separated from those of other localities. In MP, the clusters of samples corresponded well with their own habitats. CONCLUSION: In addition to environmental factor, genetic differentiation should be the main cause for the genuineness of "Chishao" and "Baishao". Because of over collection and worse habitat, P. lactiflora in Duolun, whose root is the famous Chinese Geo-herbal--"Duolun Chishao", is progresively rare. So, it should become the endangered germplasm resource to protect.

[The influences of inorganic elements in soil on the geolism of Atractylodes lancea].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of inorganic elements in soil on the geolism of Atractylodes lancea. METHOD: The concentrations of 15 kinds of inorganic elements of regional A. lancea and their correspondingly soils were determined, and the data were analysed with the SPSS10.0 software. RESULT: The mean concentration of Ni in geoherbs of A. lancea was 3 times higher than that in the non-geoherbs. The accumulation of Ca is high in geoberbs. There is no relationship between the concentrations of inorganic elements in A. lancea and those in their corresponding soil. CONCLUSION: A. lancea adjusts the concentration of inorganic elements mainly by active absorption, and there are good relationship between the accumulation of Fe and Cr, Fe and Hg, Hg and Cr, As and Pb, Co and Sr.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Cuscuta chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis. METHOD: The separation was carried out by polyamide and silica gel chromatography, and the compounds were identified by means of physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated from the plant and identified as quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactoside-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (I), quercetin 3-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactoside (II), hyperoside (III), isorhamnetin (IV), kaempferol (V), quercetin (VI), d-sesamin (VII) and 9(R)-hydroxy-d-sesamin (VIII). CONCLUSION: Compounds IV and VII were isolated from Cuscuta for the first time, and I, II and VIII were characteristic constituents for this vegetable drug.

[Study on the genetiey relationship between Chinese and Korean medicinal materials of niuxi with the method of RAPD].

OBJECTIVE: To study the hereditary relationship between Chinese and Korean medicinal materials of Niuxi achyranthis root. METHOD: Ten samples of four kinds of Niuxi was studied with the method of RAPD. RESULT: Expanded product showed total record of 100 spectrum bands, which proved that the hereditary gap between Korean self-produced A. japonica and A. bidentata is smallest. CONCLUSION: Korean self-produced A. japonica is near to A. Sidentata.

[Identification of Pterocephalus hookeri].

OBJECTIVE: To study the identification method of Pterocephalus hookeri. METHOD: The microscopical, Physicochemical and TLC methods were used. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The convenient and effective identification methods for P. hookeri were established, which provide basis for its quality standard and development.