LC-MS-based multivariate statistical analysis for the screening of potential thrombin/factor Xa inhibitors from Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza.

Background: The dry root and rhizome of Bunge, or Danshen, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine with anticoagulant activity. Taking into account that thrombin (THR) and factor Xa (FXa) play crucial roles in the coagulation cascade, it is reasonable and meaningful to screening THR and/or FXa inhibitors from Danshen.

Methods: Four extracts [butanol (BA), ethyl acetate (EA) and remained extract (RE) from 75% ethanol extract, and water extract (WE)] of Danshen were prepared, and their THR/FXa inhibitory activities were assessed in vitro.

A combination of Pueraria lobata and Silybum marianum protects against alcoholic liver disease in mice.

Background: Excess alcohol exposure leads to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Pueraria lobata (PUE) and Silybum marianum (SIL) are two well-known hepatoprotective herbal remedies with various activities. The possible effect of combination of PUE and SIL on ALD has not been elucidated yet.

Preparative separation of minor saponins from leaves using biotransformation, macroporous resins, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography.

Background: Ginsenosides with less sugar moieties may exhibit the better adsorptive capacity and more pharmacological activities.

Methods: An efficient method for the separation of four minor saponins, including gypenoside XVII, notoginsenoside Fe, ginsenoside Rd2, and notoginsenoside Fd, from leaves (PNL) was established using biotransformation, macroporous resins, and subsequent preparative high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results: The dried PNL powder was immersed in the distilled water at 50°C for 30 min for converting the major saponins, ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rb3, to minor saponins, gypenoside XVII, notoginsenoside Fe, ginsenoside Rd2, and notoginsenoside Fd, respectively, by the enzymes present in PNL.

[A new cyclic diarylheptanoid from the bark of Myrica rubra].

To study the chemical constituents from the bark of Myrica rubra, fourteen compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract using various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of chemical properties and spectroscopic data, as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol (1), myricanol (2), myricanone (3), myricanol 11-sulfate (4), myricitrin (5), quercetin (6), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (7), tamarixol (8), uvaol (9), ursolic acid (10), taraxerol (11), myricadiol (12), β-sitosterol (13) and β-daucosterol (14). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, named as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol, compounds 8, 9 were isolated from the genus Myrica for the first time.