Controlled acetylation of water-soluble glucomannan from Bletilla striata.

Glucomannans from Bletilla striata (bletillan) were used as excipient for controlled deliveries of drugs, genes and tissue engineering. In the present study, a controlled acetylation method was developed to improve water solubility of bletillan 70 (BT) firstly, by reacting with acetic anhydride (AA) in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent. The preparation parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time and molar ratio of BT/AA, were optimized based on degrees of acetyl group in addition.

New triterpenoid saponins from Patrinia scabiosifolia.

Phytochemical investigation of methanol extract from the whole plants of Patrinia scabiosifolia Fisch. resulted in the isolation of three new triterpenoid saponins (1-3) along with twelve known triterpenoids (4-15). The structures of the new compounds were established as 11α, 12α-epoxy-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-olean-28, 13β-olide (1), 11α, 12α-epoxy-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-olean-28, 13β-olide (2), and 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses (including different 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) and chemical evidences.

New triterpenoid saponins from Patrinia scabiosaefolia.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract from the whole plants of Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. resulted in the isolation of four new triterpenoid saponins (1-4) along with six known compounds (5-10). On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of the new compounds were established as 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-12β,30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (1), 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-12β,30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (2), 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-12β, 30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (3), and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), respectively.

Preparation, characterization, and bioavailability of ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex in vivo.

The aim of this study was to prepare ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) to enhance oral bioavailability of UDCA, and the physicochemical properties of the complex were studied. Compared with those of UDCA tablet after oral administration in rats, the main pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of UDCA-PLC orally administered were evaluated. Tetrahydrofuran was used as a reaction medium, UDCA and phospholipids were resolved into the medium, and UDCA-PLC was formed after the organic solvent was evaporated off under vacuum condition.

Process optimization, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation in rats of ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex.

The purpose of this research was to study whether the bioavailability of ursodeoxycholic acid could be improved by administering ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) orally to rats. A central composite design approach was used for process optimization in order to obtain the acceptable UDCA-PLC. The physicochemical properties of the complex obtained by optimal parameters were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.