Microbial Biotransformation of Iridoid Glycosides from Gentiana Rigescens by Penicillium Brasilianum

This study aimed to investigate the metabolic effects of endophytic fungi in Gentiana rigescens. From the 100 selected morphospecies, strain 7-2 (Penicillium brasilianum) showed a remarkable biocatalytic activity for gentiopicroside and swertiamarin, yielding seven products, including one new compound, 5-ethylidene-8-hydroxy-4,5,6,8-tetrahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1-one (M04), alongside six known compounds. Gentianine (M01) was the only metabolite of swertiamarin in this study, while the remaining ones were all gentiopicroside metabolites. Among these, five compounds: gentianine (M01), (5S,6S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-5,6-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1-one (M02), (5R,6S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-5,6-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1-one (M03), 2-(3-formyl-2-oxo-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)but-3-enoic acid (M06), and 2-oxo-4-(1-oxobut-3-en-2-yl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-3-carboxylic acid (M07) were similar to gentiopicroside metabolites in humans. Screening the metabolic potential of endophytic fungi in Gentiana rigescens provides an outstanding source for assessing the bioactive metabolites of iridoid glycosides. The above findings suggested that the endophytic fungi of G. rigescens possess multi-enzyme systems that mimic metabolic reactions in mammalian organisms.

Structures and biological evaluation of phenylpropanoid derivatives from Dendrobium Sonia

Two new phenylpropanoid derivatives (1-2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium sonia. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR experiments. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities. The results of bioactive screening showed that compounds 2, 8, 9 and 10 exerted inhibitory effects on NO production with IC₅₀ values in the range of 26.3 to 31.6 μM. Compound 8 and 9 exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activities with IC₅₀ values 26.3 and 27.7 μM, comparable to that of the positive control.

Regulation of the intestinal microbiota: An emerging therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

The rapid development of metagenomics, metabolomics, and metatranscriptomics provides novel insights into the intestinal microbiota factors linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Multiple microorganisms play a role in intestinal health; these include bacteria, fungi, and viruses that exist in a dynamic balance to maintain mucosal homeostasis. Perturbations in the intestinal microbiota disrupt mucosal homeostasis and are closely related to IBD in humans and colitis in mice. Therefore, preventing or correcting the imbalance of microbiota may serve as a novel prevention or treatment strategy for IBD. We review the most recent evidence for direct or indirect interventions targeting intestinal microbiota for treatment of IBD in order to overcome the current limitations of IBD therapies and shed light on personalized treatment options.

Antioxidative 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in Chinese eaglewood from Aquilaria sinensis

Two new compounds 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (1) and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]chromone (2), together with ten known 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones (3-12) were isolated from the resinous wood of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Their structures were elucidated by detailed IR, MS, NMR spectroscopic analyses, and comparison with reported. The absolute configuration of 3 was confirmed by Cu Kα X-ray crystallographic experiment, and the X-ray crystallographic data of 3 were firstly reported. Compounds 2, 8, 10, and 11 exhibited strong ABTS^•+ radical scavenging activity, with IC₅₀ values of 12.3, 16.5, 12.1, and 34.7 μM, respectively.[Formula: see text].

[Fingerprinting analysis of non-saponins from water-soluble part and determination of dencichine from Panax notoginseng, P. ginseng and P. quinquefolium based on liquid chromatography coupled with charged aerosol detection]

This work describes the holistic fingerprinting method based on liquid chromatography coupled with charged aerosol detection(CAD) to profile non-saponin from water-soluble parts and determination of dencichine in Panax ginseng(PG), P. quinquefolium(PQ) and P. notoginseng(PNG). Sample extraction was carried out by water with ultra sonication for 30 min, which was eluted by Retain PEP for further analysis. The analysis was performed on a Hypercarb of porous graphitized carbon(3.0 mm×150 mm, 3 μm) column with acetonitrile and 0.1% perfluoropentanoic acid as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1). Temperature of evaporator and nitrogen pressure for CAD were set at 50 ℃and 60.1 psi(1 psi≈6.895 kPa), respectively. As a result, dencichine and other polar components had a good performance on resolution and retention. The correlation coefficient(R~2) of dencichine was 0.998 2 in the concentration from 0.019 2 to 0.48 μg·mL~(-1). Limit of quantitation calculated by signal to noise of 10 was 7.4 ng·mL~(-1), and the recovery ranged from 95.52% to 102.7%. Chemical profile of the water-soluble part from PG, PQ and PNG was similar holistically, while the relative content for dencichine and other partial components varied significantly. The proposed method was used for characteristic of chemical profiling for non-saponin from water-soluble part, and determination of dencichine in PG, PQ and PNG.

[Simultaneous determination of four anthraquinones in Polygonum multiflorum by QAMS]

A simple, specific and selective quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS) method for simultaneous determination of anthraquinones and anthraquinone glycosides in Polygonum multiflorum was developed. Four main anthraquinones and its glycosides, emodin, emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside, physcion and physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside were selected as analytes to evaluate the quality of P. multiflorum. Emodin was used as the internal standard, and the relative correction factors(RCFs) between emodin and the other three anthraquinones were calculated. Comparison of the contents of the four components in 30 batches of P. multiflorum from different regions and 12 batches decoction pieces from different manufacturers by QAMS and external standard method(ESM) showed that there was no significant difference between QAMS and ESM for quantification of the four main components by using relative error results, and the QAMS method was accurate and reliable, and had a good repeatability. In addition, compared with the results calculated by the difference method between total anthraquinone and free anthraquinone in the content determination of P. multiflorum in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the results of direct determination combined anthraquinone by QAMS were very close to that by measured the external standard method. Therefore, simultaneous quantification of four main anthraquinones by using QAMS is suitable to evaluate the quality of P. multiflorum. Then the optimized assay method of the combined anthraquinone contents showed simple and feasible, which could be replaced and improved the quantification method of the combined anthraquinone in the current Chinese Pharmacopeia.

[Quantification of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid adonifoline in traditional Chinese medicine preparations containing Senecionis Scandentis Herba]

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids(PAs) are a kind of natural toxins, which can cause severe hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, embryotoxicity and even death. Therefore, international organizations and countries such as World Health Organization have paid great attention to herbal medicines and preparations containing PAs. PAs are widely distributed in Chinese herb medicines and contained in hundreds of traditional Chinese medicine preparations. The content of adonifoline, the main PAs in Senecionis Scandentis Herba, shall be less than 0.004% in herbal medicines as described in Chinese pharmacopeia. However, there is no guidance in preparations which contain Senecionis Scandentis Herba. In this study, 14 preparations were analyzed by an UPLC-MS method. Among them, 8 preparations were found to contain adonifoline much higher than the content limits of such countries as Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand. And the highest contents of adonifoline were found in Qianbai Biyan Tablets and Qianbai Biyan Capsules, which are officially recorded in Chinese Pharmacopeia. The contents of adonifoline varied in different batches of the same preparations. The highest content was 156.10 μg·g~(-1) Qianbai Biyan Tablets, whose daily intake of adonifoline was up to 1 030.26 μg according to the recommended dosage of the preparation. Our results showed the potential risk of these preparations, and the content limit of adonifoline shall be inspected Chinese medicine preparations containing Senecionis Scandentis Herba.

Determination of Ginsenosides (Ginseng Saponins) in Dry Root Powder from Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and Selected Commercial Products by Liquid Chromatography: Interlaboratory Study

Twelve collaborating laboratories assayed 4 products, namely, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and 2 ginseng products, for 6 ginsenosides: Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, andRg1. Collaborators also received a negative control for the recovery study. Pure ginsenosides were provided as reference standards for the liquid chromatography (LC) analysis and the system suitability tests. The LC analyses were performed on the methanol extract using UV detection at 203 nm. For P. ginseng, individual ginsenosides were consistent in their means; repeatability standard deviations (RSDr)rangedfrom4.17to5.09% and reproducibility standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 7.27 to 11.3%. For P. quinquefolius, the Rb1 and Rb2 ginsenosides were higher and lower in concentration than P. ginseng, with RSDr values of 3.44 and 6.60% and RSDR values of 5.91 and 12.6% respectively, and other analytes at intermediate precisions. For ginseng commercial products, RSDr values ranged from 3.39 to 8.12%, andRSDR values ranged from 7.65 to 16.5%. A recovery study was also conducted for 3 ginsenosides: Rg1, Re, andRb1. The average recoveries were 99.9, 96.2, and 92.3%, respectively. The method is not applicable for the determination of Rg1 and Re in ginseng product at levels <300 mg/kg.

[Systematical analysis of multiple components in drainage bear bile powder from different sources]

Bear Bile Powder contains bile acids, protein, amino acids, bilirubin and microelements and other compounds. Among them, the bile acids are the most active components. Currently, there are many studies on bile acids, but few reports on other components. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to carry out a systematical analysis of multiple components in drainage Bear Bile Powder from different sources. Bilirubin and protein were quantified by microplate spectrophotometer. The contents of bile acids and amino acids were determined by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The contents of microelements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) The result indicated that among 20 batches of bear bile powder from different sources there is high similarity (0.922-0.977). Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA) were the two most abundant components. The total contents of them were 41%-59% and met the current standard for quality control of bear bile powder. However, significant differences were found in their contents among samples from different sources. Besides, bilirubin, protein, amino acids and microelements also contributed to the differentiation of samples from different sources. The main components of bear bile powder from the different sources were with satisfactory similarity. But bile acids, bilirubin, protein, amino acids and microelements all contributed to the different among samples. Our present study provided a systematical approach for the better quality control and evaluation of bear bile powder.

Dammarane-type triterpene oligoglycosides from the leaves and stems of Panax notoginseng and their antiinflammatory activities

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is widespread in the clinical pathology and closely associated to the progress of many diseases. Triterpenoid saponins as a key group of active ingredients in Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen were demonstrated to show antiinflammatory effects. However, the chemical structures of saponins in the leaves and stems of Panax notoginseng (PNLS) are still not fully clear. Herein, the isolation, purification and further evaluation of the antiinflammatory activity of dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins from PNLS were conducted.

METHODS

Silica gel and reversed-phase C8 column chromatography were used. Furthermore, preparative HPLC was used as a final purification technique to obtain minor saponins with high purities. MS, NMR experiments, and chemical methods were used in the structural identifications. The antiinflammatory activities of the isolated saponins were assessed by measuring the nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharides. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the gene expressions of inflammation-related gene.

RESULTS

Eight new minor dammarane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, namely notoginsenosides LK1-LK8 (1-8) were obtained from PNLS, along with seven known ones. Among the isolated saponins, gypenoside IX significantly suppressed the nitric oxide production and inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 10, interferon-inducible protein 10 and interleukin-1β.

CONCLUSION

The eight saponins may enrich and expand the chemical library of saponins in Panax genus. Moreover, it is reported for the first time that gypenoside IX showed moderate antiinflammatory activity.

A new ionone derivative from the leaves of Picrasma quassioides

Nigakialcohol A (1), as unusual cyclization ionone derivative, together with eight known ones (2-9), were isolated from the leaves of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn (Simaroubaceae). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. Compound 2 showed a weak inhibitory effect on NO production at non-cytotoxic concentration (100 μM) with inhibitory rate of 59%, and thus it should be regarded as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

[Chemical constituents from hypoglycemic active part of Plantaginis Semen]

The chemical constituents of Plantaginis Semen with hypoglycemic effect was investigated in this paper. The previous results of the in vivo hypoglycemic effect showed that 60% ethanol extract of Plantaginis Semen decreased the levels of FBG and improved the glucose tolerance in high fat diet(HFD)-induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice. Then, in the present study, the above potential bioactive extract was separated and purified by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, medium pressure liquid chromatography(MPLC)and preparative HPLC. The structures of isolated compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analyses. Eight compounds were obtained and identified as 4, 4a, 5, 7a-tetrahydro-7-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopenta[c]pyran-3(1H)-one(1), iridolactone(2), pedicularislacton(3), rehmaglutin C(4), geniposidic acid(5), p-hydroxylphenylglycerol(6), 1, 2-benzenediol-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)(7), and 3-buten-2-one-4-[3-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-hydroxyphenyl](8). Among them, compounds 1-5 were iridoids, and 6-8 were phenolic acids. Compound 1 was a new natural product, and compounds 2-4, 6 and 8 were isolated from the Plantaginaceae family for the first time.

Extract of Plantago asiatica L. Seeds Ameliorates Hypertension in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Inhibition of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

Plantago asiatica L. seeds is a common folk medicine with a long history of medical use in China because of its antipyretic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. It has been applied to treat hypertension clinically due to its diuresis, however, its efficacy and mechanisms on anti-hypertension has not been reported yet to our knowledge. In this study, we investigated the antihypertensive effect and underlying mechanisms of P. asiatica L. seeds extract (PASE) in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Male SHRs were treated with 2.5 mg/kg of fosinopril (FOS) and 400 mg/kg of PASE orally per day for once or 12 weeks. SHR or Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) receiving vehicle (distilled water) was used as control. The results demonstrated systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (SBP, DBP, and MBP) were significantly lowered after single and long-term intragastric administration of PASE. The cardiac and aortic index and collagen accumulation were improved in the PASE group compared with the SHRs group. Meanwhile, PASE treatment remarkably reduced urine total protein, the ratio of serum urea nitrogen to serum creatinine, and increased serum potassium. The levels of serum angiotensin I (Ang I), angiotensin II (Ang II), the ratio of Ang II to Ang I, and aldosterone (ALD) were lowered after treatment of PASE. Besides, PASE and its major active constituents of phenylethanoid glycosides, including isoacteoside, plantamajoside and acteoside, were found to effectively inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activation in vitro. These findings suggest that PASE has the antihypertensive effect that may involve a mechanism of ACE inhibition and simultaneously protect organ damage against hypertension.

[Giant angioleiomyoma of the neck: a rare tumor case and literature review]

Summary The patient was admitted of the chief complain "progressive snoring for two years, gradual enlargement of the neck neoplasm for six months". Specific examination indicated that bilateral cervical-mandibular margin to cervical root diffuse apophysis, most notably in the right thyroid plane.Posterior pharyngeal wall underwent an apophysis while no related vein engorgement was noticed. Ultrasound examination indicated that multiple hypoechoic nodules with calcification from posterior thyroid to submandibular. MRI examination indicated bilateral posterior pharyngeal plexus malformation. The patient was first treated with angiography and embolization in the department of interventional and followed by "cervical mass resection" in the department of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery. The tumor size was 11 cm×8 cm×3 cm. Histology of the tumor was angioleiomyoma with immunohistochemical results Desmin（+），SMA（+），CD31（-），CD34（+），Ki67（+，1%），Vimentin（+），D-240（-），p53（-）.

Abietane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Clerodendrum trichotomum and Their Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities

Twelve new abietane diterpenoids (1-12) and 31 known analogues (13-43) were isolated from a medicinal Chinese herb, Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunberg. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were established on the basis of ECD and X-ray crystallography data, whereas that of 4 was elucidated by comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. Eight diterpenoids, 15,16-dehydroteuvincenone G (1), trichotomin A (4), 2α-hydrocaryopincaolide F (7), villosin C (20), 15-dehydro-17-hydroxycyrtophyllone A (22), demethylcryptojaponol (38), 6β-hydroxydemethylcryptojaponol (39), and trichotomone (43), exerted inhibitory effects against NO production with IC₅₀ values of 5.6-16.1 μM. The structure-activity relationships of the isolated diterpenoids are also estimated.

Lactulose attenuates METH-induced neurotoxicity by alleviating the impaired autophagy, stabilizing the perturbed antioxidant system and suppressing apoptosis in rat striatum

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychostimulant. Lactulose is a non-absorbable sugar, which effectively decreases METH-induced neurotoxicity in rat. However, the exact mechanisms need further investigation. In this study, 5-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats received METH (15 mg/kg, 8 intraperitoneal injections, 12-h interval) or saline and received lactulose (5.3 g/kg, oral gavage, 12-h interval) or vehicle 2 days prior to the METH administration. Compared to the control group, in the METH alone group, cytoplasmic vacuolar degeneration in hepatocytes, higher levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and ammonia, overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase of superoxide dismutase activity in the blood were observed. Moreover, in rat striatum, expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-relatted factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 were suppressed in the nucleus, although over-expression of Nrf2 were observed in cytoplasm. Over-expressions of BECN1 and LC3-II indicated initiation of autophagy, while overproduction of p62 might suggest deficient autophagic vesicle turnover and impaired autophagy. Furthermore, accumulation of p62 cloud interact with Keap1 and then aggravate cytoplasmic accumulation of Nrf2. Consistently, over-expressions of cleaved caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 suggested the activation of apoptosis. The pretreatment with lactulose significantly decreased rat hepatic injury, suppressed hyperammonemia and ROS generation, alleviated the impaired autophagy in striatum, rescued the antioxidant system and repressed apoptosis. Taken together, with decreased blood ammonia, lactulose pretreatment reduced METH-induced neurotoxicity through alleviating the impaired autophagy, stabilizing the perturbed antioxidant system and suppressing apoptosis in rat striatum.

PCB28 and PCB52 induce hepatotoxicity by impairing the autophagic flux and stimulating cell apoptosis in vitro

Hepatotoxicity is one of the adverse health effects induced by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Recently, autophagy was revealed to play an important role in PCBs-induced toxicology, however, its precise role in PCBs-induced hepatotoxicity is as yet unknown. In this study, treatment of PCB28/PCB52 for 48 h dose-dependently induced hepatotoxicity at doses of 10, 20, 40 and 80 μM in homo and rattus hepatocytes. Expressions of proteins of BECN1, LC3-II and ULK1 significantly increased in PCB28/PCB52-treated cells at a dose of 40 μM, implying initiation of autophagy. Over-expression of p62 suggested deficient clearance of autophagosome. Consistently, accumulation of autophagosome was observed by transmission-electron microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy using adenovirus expressing mRFP-GFP-LC3, which may initiate apoptosis. Furthermore, increased reactive oxygen species levels might also induce autophagy and apoptosis. Consistently, cell apoptosis was evoked by the treatment of PCB28/PCB52 compared to the respective controls, which coincided with obvious hepatotoxicity. Subsequently, an inhibitor (3-methlyadenine) and an initiator (rapamycin) of autophagy were used. Compared to PCB28/PCB52 alone-treated cells, initiation of autophagy, blocked autophagic flux, cell apoptosis and hepatotoxicity were alleviated by 3-methlyadenine and aggravated by rapamycin, respectively. Taken together, PCB28 and PCB52 induced hepatotoxicity by impairing autophagic flux and stimulating cell apoptosis in vitro.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol enhances angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF secretion by activating p70S6 kinase and benefits wound healing in genetically diabetic mice

Impaired angiogenesis is one of the crucial factors that impede the wound healing process in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). In this study, we found that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), an aglycone of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng, stimulated angiogenesis and benefited wound healing in genetically diabetic mice. In HUVECs, PPD promoted cell proliferation, tube formation and VEGF secretion accompanied by increased nuclear translocalization of HIF-1α, which led to elevated VEGF mRNA expression. PPD activated both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in HUVECs, which were abrogated by LY294002 and PD98059. Furthermore, these two pathways had crosstalk through p70S6K, as LY294002, PD98059 and p70S6K siRNA abolished the angiogenic responses of PPD. In the excisional wound splinting model established in db/db diabetic mice, PPD (0.6, 6 and 60 mg ml⁻¹) accelerated wound closure, which was reflected by a significantly reduced wound area and epithelial gaps, as well as elevated VEGF expression and capillary formation. In addition, PPD activated PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling pathways, as well as enhanced p70S6K activity and HIF-1α synthesis in the wounds. Overall, our results revealed that PPD stimulated angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF expression by activating p70S6K through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascades, which suggests that the compound has potential use in wound healing therapy in patients suffering from DFUs.

Chicken bile powder protects against α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic liver injury in mice

This study explored the effects of chicken bile powder (CBP), a 2000-year-old Chinese medicine, on α-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in mice. CBP treatment for 14 days significantly ameliorated ANIT-induced changes in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bile acids, bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and liver tissue morphology. Serum metabolomics showed changes in 24 metabolites in ANIT-exposed mice; 16 of these metabolites were reversed by CBP treatment via two main pathways (bile acid biosynthesis and arachidonic acid metabolism). Additionally, CBP administration markedly increased fecal and biliary bile acid excretion, and reduced total and hydrophobic bile acid levels in the livers of cholestatic mice. Moreover, CBP increased liver expression of bile acid efflux transporters and metabolic enzymes. It also attenuated ANIT-induced increases in hepatic nuclear factor-κB-mediated inflammatory signaling, and increased liver expression of the nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in cholestatic mice. CBP also activated FXR in vitro in HEK293T cells expressing mouse Na⁺-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide. It did not ameliorate the ANIT-induced liver injuries in FXR-knockout mice. These results suggested that CBP provided protection from cholestatic liver injury by restoring bile acid homeostasis and reducing inflammation in a FXR-dependent manner.

Chemical Differentiation of Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium devonianum by Using HPLC Fingerprints, HPLC-ESI-MS, and HPTLC Analyses

The stems of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis) have a high medicinal value as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Because of the limited supply, D. officinale is a high priced TCM, and therefore adulterants are commonly found in the herbal market. The dried stems of a closely related Dendrobium species, Dendrobium devonianum Paxt., are commonly used as the substitute; however, there is no effective method to distinguish the two Dendrobium species. Here, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was successfully developed and applied to differentiate D. officinale and D. devonianum by comparing the chromatograms according to the characteristic peaks. A HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) method was further applied for structural elucidation of 15 flavonoids, 5 phenolic acids, and 1 lignan in D. officinale. Among these flavonoids, 4 flavonoid C-glycosides were firstly reported in D. officinale, and violanthin and isoviolanthin were identified to be specific for D. officinale compared with D. devonianum. Then, two representative components were used as chemical markers. A rapid and reliable high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was applied in distinguishing D. officinale from D. devonianum. The results of this work have demonstrated that these developed analytical methods can be used to discriminate D. officinale and D. devonianum effectively and conveniently.

Seventeen steroids from the pith of Tetrapanax papyriferus

Two new steroidal ketones (1, 2), together with 10 known steroids (3-12) and five known steroidal saponins (13-17), have been obtained from the pitch of Tetrapanax papyrierus. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated as 3β-hydroxystigmast-8, 22-diene-7,11-dione and 3β-hydroxystigmast-8-ene-7,11-dione by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Except for 4, 14, 15, 16, 13 compounds reported in this paper were isolated from Tetrapanax papyriferus for the first time.

Huangqi decoction alleviates dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis: An analysis of bile acids metabolic mechanism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used to treating liver injury in China. The aim of the study is to investigate mechanisms of HQD against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis underlying metabolic profiles of bile acids.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DMN-induced liver fibrosis rats were administrated HQD and its compounds, astragalosides (AS), glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and their combination. The anti-fibrosis effects were evaluated and targeted metabolomics by UPLC-MS was used to examine whether HQD had an influence on bile acid metabolism. The levels of mRNAs associated with bile acid metabolism were expressed by RT-PCR. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) proliferation and activation were examined using MTS assay and Western blot.

RESULTS

Histopathological changes and serum liver function in HQD group had significant improvements (P<0.01). Concentrations of free bile acids and taurine conjugates were significantly increased in DMN group (P<0.05). HQD and its compounds restored the increased bile acids to normal levels, and HQD was more effected on parts of bile acids. Furthermore, the levels of mRNAs related bile acid synthesis and reabsorption such as CYP7A1, CYP8B1, CYP27A1, OATP2, OATP3, OATP4 and NTCP were significantly down-regulated in DMN group (P<0.05), mRNAs related excretion such as MRP3 and BESP were up-regulated (P<0.01), and CYP7A1, CYP8B1, OATP3, OATP4, NTCP and MRP3 restored to normal levels by HQD treatment. Moreover, CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation were weaken by HQD (P<0.05) with down-regulated α-SMA, TGF-β1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 expressions.

CONCLUSIONS

HQD alleviated DMN-induced liver fibrosis with a better effect than its compounds, which may be involved in the regulation of bile acid metabolism enzyme. Moreover, HQD may inhibit CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation.