Xiao Xiaohe

Development and validation of UPLC method for quality control of Curcuma longa Linn.: fast simultaneous quantitation of three curcuminoids.

A new reversed phase ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method was developed for the rapid quantification of three curcuminoids (curcumin (C), desmethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdesmethoxycurcumin (BDMC)) in Curcuma longa Linn. (C. longa) using a Waters BEH Shield RP C(18), 2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm column. The runtime was 2 min. The influence of column temperature and mobile phase on resolution was investigated. The method was validated according to the ICH guideline for validation of analytical procedures with respect to precision, accuracy, and linearity. The limits of detection were 40.66, 49.38 and 29.28 pg for C, DMC and BDMC, respectively. Limits of quantitation for C, DMC and BDMC, were 134.18, 164.44 and 97.50 pg, respectively. Linear range was from 3.28 to 46.08 microg/ml. The mean+/-SD percent recoveries of curcuminoids were 99.47+/-1.66, 99.50+/-1.99 and 97.77+/-2.37 of C, DMC and BDMC, respectively. Comparison of system performance with conventional HPLC was made with respect to analysis time, efficiency and sensitivity. The proposed method was found to be reproducible and convenient for quantitative analysis of three curcuminoids in C. longa. This work provided some references for quality control of C. longa.

Investigation of anti-microbial activity of catechin on Escherichia coli growth by microcalorimetry.

Catechin is a major monomer of Chinese Rhubarb. Chinese Rhubarb has been claimed to have a therapeutic value as a bacteriostatic drug. It is also known that total rhubarb anthraquinone mixture and its individual components such as emodin are the effective components. However, the catechins component in Chinese Rhubarb such as catechin has not been characterized. In the present study, the power-time curves of Escherichia coli growth were obtained and the action on them by addition of catechin in different concentrations in vitro were studied by microcalorimetry. The results suggest E. coli growth is inhibited by catechin in a dose-dependent manner starting from the concentration of 0.05 to 1.6mgmL(-1). The correspondence analysis reveals k(2) and P(2) are the significant parameters to evaluate the anti-microbial effect. Microcalorimetry is a useful tool to evaluate the anti-microbial effect with its sensitive and significant quantitative information.

Integrated evidence chain-based identificationof Chinese herbal medicine-induced hepatotoxicity and rational usage:Exemplification by Polygonum Multiflorum (He shouwu)

Toxicity and adverse drug reactions (events) related to Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been reported increasingly and stirred discussion within the public, media, government and academia, of which hepatotoxicity has become prominent problems in recent years, especially for those CHMs not conventionally considered of toxicity, for instance, Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. (He shou wu in Chinese). Nowadays, clinical diagnosis for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) mainly adopts the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) and the structured expert opinion process (SEOP). However, the accurate diagnosis of DILI is still the international challenge due to a lack of specific diagnosis indicators. Herb-induced liver injury (HILI), nevertheless, is more difficult to diagnosis and sometimes exists misdiagnosis, by reason of the complexity of both the composition of CHMs and combinational prescription of CHMs and western medicines in clinic.

An experiment on standardized cell culture assay in assessing the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablets against hepatitis B virus replicationin vitro

Objective: To explore the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablet (CACT) against hepatitis B virus replicationin vitro.Methods: By means of radioimmunoassay (RIA), Dot blot and Southern blot, the surface and e antigen production of 2.2.15 cells, HBV DNA in 2.2.15 cell culture medium and that in 2.2.15 cells were examined respectively.Results: HBsAg, HBeAg values of 2.2.15 cells treated by CACT were lower than those of the control, the HBV DNA quantities in culture medium and in 2.2. 15 cells decreased as compared with those cells with no treatment by CACT given to them.Conclusion: CACT could inhibit HBV DNA replication, showing its potential antiviral activity in hepatitis B treatment.

Thermodynamic study on antibacterial effect of different extracts from Radix Isatis.

Objective: To study and analyze the antibacterial effects of different extracts from Radix Isatis.Methods: Staphylococcus aureus was used as the studied object in the experiment. Antibacterial effects of extracts from Radix Isatis were observed by thermocalrimetry on Staphylococcus aureus, together with common pharmacological experiments.Results: The total extract, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract,n-butylalcohol (nBuOH) extract, chloroform (CHCl3) extract and petroleum (P.E.) extract had antiviral effects to some extent while the residue after extracting had no antibacterial activity. The potency of antiviral activity among them was as follows: nBuOH extract > EtOAc extract > CHCl3 extract> total extract >P. E. extract.Conclusion: The antibacteriall effects of Radix Isatis were not limited to any active portion, showing that Radix Isatis exerts its antibacterial effects by cooperation of different active fractions in varied ways.

Research Status and Methods of Rationality of Daily Oral Administration Times of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations

Abstract The rationality of daily oral administration times of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a key scientific problem on its safety and efficacy in clinical application. In this article, the current research situation and essentiality of daily oral administration times of TCM were stated. One evaluation pattern was put forward on the basis of pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic (PD-PK) and mainly on the basis of pharmacodynamic biomarkers (PD-Markers).

PPAR- γ 依赖的何首乌免疫性特异质肝损伤机制研究

基于脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide，LPS）复制的免疫性特异质肝损伤模型，考察过氧化物酶体增殖物活化受体-γ（peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ，PPAR-γ）对何首乌肝损伤的影响及机制。将70只Sprague-Dawley（SD）大鼠随机均分为对照组、LPS组（2.8 mg·kg-1）、何首乌组（生药2.16 g·kg-1）、PPAR-γ激动剂组（0.5 mg·kg-1）、PPAR-γ激动剂+LPS组（0.5 mg·kg-1、2.8 mg·kg-1）、何首乌+LPS组（生药2.16 g·kg-1、2.8 mg·kg-1）及何首乌+LPS+PPAR-γ激动剂组（生药2.16 g·kg-1、2.8 mg·kg-1、0.5 mg·kg-1）。按组别分别灌胃给予PPAR-γ激动剂，每日1次，连续给药2天，第3天除对照组灌胃等量蒸馏水外，按组别分别灌胃何首乌，3 h后按组别尾静脉注射LPS，7 h后采用戊巴比妥钠将大鼠麻醉，下腔静脉取血并采集肝组织标本，检测血浆丙氨酸转氨酶（alanine transaminase，ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（aspartate aminotransferase，AST），检测血浆肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor，TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1β）、白细胞介素-6（interleukin-6）和干扰素-γ（interferon-γ），肝组织切片检查病理学改变和肝细胞凋亡，免疫组化染色观察肝组织切片PPAR-γ和核因子-κB（nuclear factor-κB，NF-κB）p65的表达。结果显示，肝组织PPAR-γ表达量与何首乌免疫性特异质肝损伤呈负相关，给予PPAR-γ激动剂可显著降低何首乌特异质肝损伤大鼠血浆中ALT和AST水平（均P < 0.05），减轻肝组织病理损伤和肝细胞凋亡，显著促进肝组织PPAR-γ的表达并抑制NF-κB p65的表达（均P < 0.05），同时显著降低血浆中TNF-α等炎症因子含量（均P < 0.05）。研究结果提示，何首乌免疫性特异质肝损伤的发生与PPAR-γ通路异常抑制和相关炎症因子过表达有关，PPAR-γ激动剂可逆转何首乌特异质肝损伤，为阐释何首乌特异质肝损伤机制和寻找配伍减毒药物提供了参考依据。

Rhubarb-based Chinese herbal formulae for hepatic encephalopathy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rhubarb-based Chinese herbal formulae (RCHF), which are widely used to treat hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in China. METHODS Nine online databases were searched from inception to November 22, 2016. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment for adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with HE. Outcomes such as mortality rate, clinical response rate, blood ammonia level, and alanine aminotransferase were evaluated between TCM group and control group. RESULTS Thirty studies involving 2661 HE patients were analyzed. Most studies used RCHF treatment. Compared with conventional treatment as usual, lactulose, and vinegar, RCHF were associated with significant improvement in clinical response rate [risk ratio (RR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25, 1.43, I 2 = 0%; RR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.14, 1.38, I 2 = 22%; and RR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.33, I 2 = 0%, respectively] and significant reductions in levels of blood ammonia and alanine aminotransferase. Only minor RCHF-associated adverse events, such as abdominal pain (0.3%), anal tenesmus (0.3%), and diarrhea (2.3%), were reported, and there were no significant differences in these events between the treatment group and the three types of control group. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that RCHF may be an alternative treatment option for HE patients. More rigorous multicenter studies with larger samples and longer observational periods are needed to confirm these findings.

Clinical characteristics of 96 patients with drug-induced acute liver failure: a comparison between Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

OBJECTIVE To compare the causes, clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, and prognosis in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) induced by traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and by Western Medicines (WM). METHODS The medical histories of patients who were diagnosed with drug-induced ALF (DALF) (n = 96) after hospitalization in the 302 Military Hospital between January 2010 and December 2015 were retrospectively examined. RESULTS Fifty-eight of the 96 DALF patients (60.4%) had a hepatocellular pattern of DALF, 16 patients (16.7%) had a cholestatic pattern, and 22 patients (22.9%) had a mixed pattern. DALF resolved in 24 patients (25.0%). Twenty-five patients (26.0%) developed chronic liver injury, 43 patients (44.8%) died, and 4 patients (4.2%) underwent liver transplantation. There were 42 ALF patients (43.8%) who received WM, and 32 ALF patients (33.3%) who received TCM. TCM-induced ALF patients had a higher average age [42.4 ± 18.4) vs (33.5 ± 17.9) years, P = 0.04] and higher creatinine and urine nitrogen levels [(155.2 ± 108.8) vs (97.5 ± 130.4) mmol/L, P = 0.047; (9.1 ± 7.7) vs (4.3 ± 5.0) mmol/L, P = 0.002, respectively]. Patients with TCM-induced ALF exhibited an increased risk of renal injury [odds ratio (OR), 3.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.330-10.577]. The 14 patients with TCM-induced ALF who died exhibited higher creatinine levels than the 18 patients with TCM-induced ALF patients who survived [(218.7 ± 111.6) vs (105.8 ± 78.4) mmol/L, P = 0.002]. They were also more likely to exhibit ascites (85.7% vs 44.4%, P = 0.017) and hepatorenal syndrome (78.6% vs 22.2%, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION TCM-induced ALF was more likely to be accompanied by renal injury than was WM-induced ALF, especially in TCM-induced ALF patients who died.

Microcalorimetric Investigation of Effect of Toad Bufanolide Diene on Tetrahymena Thermophila BF5 Growth

The effects of various concentrations of toad bufanolide diene(BD) on the growth of Tetrahymena thermophila BF5 were investigated by means of a thermal activity monitor(TAM) system.The extent and duration of toxic effects on metabolism were evaluated by studying the growth rate constant(k),maximum heat-output power(Pmax) and half inhibitory concentration(IC50).Experimental results showed that the values of k and Pmax decreased as the concentrations of BD increased.Furthermore,the growth rate constant(k) was linked to the concentration of BD:rcinobufagin= 0.9910(IC50=119.2 μg·mL-1);rbufalin=0.9923(IC50=106.14 μg·mL-1);rbufotalin=0.9977(IC50=73.80 μg·mL-1);rgamabufotalin=0.9923(IC50=54.75 μg·mL-1).The sequence of toxicity for the four BDs was:gamabufotalinbufotalinbufalincinobufagin.The α-hydroxy group at C11,β-hydroxy group at C14,β-acetoxy at C16 and the non-dehydrolysis between C14 and C15 can possibly improve the toxicity of BD towards Tetrahymena thermophila BF5.