Quantitative Determination of 14 Major Constituents in the Herbal Preparation Luan-Pao-Prescription Using HPLC Coupled with Photodiode Array Detection

Study of Luan-Pao-Prescription on ovarian dysfunction in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Luan-Pao-Prescription (LPP) has been clinically proven to be effective on infertility. In the present study we explored the improvement and underlying mechanism of LPP on ovarian dysfunction in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

13 month old female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the Saline group, the LPP groups treated by low (1.67 g/kg), and high-dose (5 g/kg) LPP respectively, and the hormone group treated by pregnant mare gonadotrophin serum and chorionic gonadotrophin (PMSG/hCG). The estrous cycle was determined by daily observation of vaginal smears; serum estradiol and testosterone were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ovarian morphology, ovary volume and fertility of female rats were all detected during the study.

RESULTS

During 21 days of LPP treatment, about 20% increase of rats with regular estrous cycle of 4-6 days was found, but no change was detected on serum estradiol and testosterone at the dose of 1.67 g/kg and 5 g/kg LPP. Both ovary index and uterus index were up-regulated significantly at the dose of 5 g/kg LPP, but no regulation on oviduct index, adrenal gland index, pancreatic gland index and spleen index was observed at the two LPP groups. 5 g/kg LPP increased total number of pregnant mothers and the offspring; however there are no offspring in PMSG/hCG group. The offspring exhibited similar body weight in each treatment, and no apparent malformation was found for the cubs. While PMSG/hCG treatment increased the ovary index, serum estradiol and testosterone concentration considerably, but no improvement was found on estrous cycle, oviduct index, uterus index, and reproduction.

CONCLUSION

Administration of LPP may have comparable benefits for ovarian dysfunction, but with fewer side effects. Oral LPP have a better overall influence on rats than PSMG/hCG; it may be more effective in improvement of estrous cycle, ovary function and reproduction.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines

Separation techniques with high efficiency and sensitive detection have been widely used for quality control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis are commonly used to separate various components in TCMs. Ultraviolet detection, fluorescence detection, evaporative light-scattering detection, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance can be applied to separation techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis of TCMs. The development of quality control for TCMs based on quantitative and qualitative analysis from 2000 to 2007 are reviewed; the fingerprint technique is also discussed due to its broad application in the quality control of TCMs. Prospects for further research based on our primary results are also discussed.

Analysis of Major Chemical Constituents in Luan-Pao-Prescription Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Luan-Pao-Prescription is a famous Chinese herbal formula, which is commonly used for the treatment of female sterility in clinical practice in China. In the present paper, a reliable method based on liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in both positive and negative ion modes has been established for the analysis of major chemical constituents in Luan-Pao-Prescription. A total of 34 compounds were either identified or tentatively characterized. These compounds include flavonoids, anthraquinones, iridoids, xanthones and organic acids. Flavonoids were the major constituents of the formula. The results profiled the chemical composition of Luan-Pao-Prescription comprehensively for the first time.