[Enrichment of saponins in Radix et Rhizoma Cynanchi Atrati with macroporous resin].

Objective: To develop an approach to the determination of saponins in Radix Cynanchi Atrati, and to optimize the parameters for purified the preparation of total saponins by macroporous resin column chromatography.

Method: Using cynanversicoside A as a reference, the determination of saponins was performed; according to the elution rate and the purity of the products, the preparation performance of total saponins by macroporous resin was investigated, and its parameters were optimized.

Result: The saponins in Radix Cynanchi Atrati were successfully determined at 518 nm by vanillin-perchloric acid as spray reagent.

[Chemical constituents in root of Zanthoxylum nitidum].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Zanthoxylum nitidum.

Method: Column chromatography on Silica gel and Sephadex LH - 20, and recrystallization were applied for the isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, chemical evidences and by comparison with the data reported in literature.

Benzophenanthridine alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC, and their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Seven benzophenanthridine alkaloids, 1-7, were isolated from the roots of Zanthoxylum nitidum. Among them, two novel alkaloids, named (R)-8-[(R)-1-hydroxyethyl]dihydrochelerythrine (1) and 8-methoxynorchelerythrine (2), were structurally identified as new compounds on the basis of the spectroscopic analysis. Bioactivity evaluation showed that nitidine (3), dihydrochelerythrine (4), oxyavicine (5), 8-methoxychelerythrine (6), and 8-hydroxydihydrochelerythrine (7) exhibit comparable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects as hydrocortisone.

Quantitative determination of the anticancer agent tubeimoside I in rat plasma by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Tubeimoside I is an important component isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum. Tubeimoside I has been demonstrated to possess many pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antitumor-promoting effects. The purpose of the present study was to examine in vivo pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of tubeimoside I in rats by using a liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry quantitative detection method (LC/MS).

Inhibitory effects of ligustilide and butylidenephthalide on bFGF-stimulated proliferation of rat smooth muscle cells.

Aim: To investigate the bio-affinities of ligustilide and butylidenephthalide to rat aortic smooth muscle cells and the inhibitory effects of them on bFGF-stimulated proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC).

Methods: VSMCs were cultured from rat aorta pectoralis and identified by an immunohistochemical method. The bio-affinities between solute (ligustilide or butylidenephthalide) and cell membrane were measured by rat aortic cell membrane chromatography (CMC).

Screening, analysis and in vitro vasodilatation of effective components from Ligusticum Chuanxiong.

Effective components, ligustilide and butylidenephthalide, from Ligusticum Chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii Franchat, Umbelliferae) were screened and identified by using a cell membrane chromatography (CMC) and a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The components showed the effects of inhibiting vasoconstriction in vitro on rat abdominal aorta segments. The screening procedure was performed in a rat artery CMC column (50 mm x 2.