Study on the antidepressive effects and mechanism of raw and fried Ziziphi Spinosae Semen via metabolomics and gut microbiota analysis.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) and fried ZSS (FZSS) have been used for treating insomnia and depression in China. However, the potential influence of chemical variations on their efficacy remains unclear. This study demonstrated that compared with ZSS, FZSS exhibited an increase in the content of seven compounds, while the fatty oil content decreased.

[Processing of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen: evolution and research progress].

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(ZSS), a precious bulk Chinese medicinal, has long been used for nourishing heart and tonifying liver, calming the heart and tranquilizing the mind. Based on materia medica records, medical classics, and relevant literature, this study summarized the evolution and development of the processing methods of ZSS, verified the purposes of ancient processing and efficacy of ZSS, checked whether the decoction pieces of ZSS had been included in national and provincial standards, and concluded the research progress on processing mechanism of ZSS. A total of 9 processing methods have been recorded, such as plain stir-frying and stir-frying with adjuvants.

[Study on mechanism of enhancing antioxidant activity in fermented Ziziphi Spinosae Semen with Poria cocos].

In this study, the antioxidant property changes in fermented Ziziphi Spinosae Semen(FZSS) with Poria cocos were analyzed by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Then the content determination of active ingredients and ~1H nuclear magnetic resonance(~1H-NMR) spectroscopy were also used to investigate the mechanism of FZSS with P. cocos in enhancing the antioxidant activity.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of six major compounds in normal and insomnia rats after oral administration of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen aqueous extract.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used in clinics for the treatment of insomnia in China and other Asian countries. Herein, we described for the first time a comparative pharmacokinetics study of the six major compounds of ZSS in normal control (NC) and -chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia model (IM) rats that were orally administered the aqueous extract of ZSS. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole orbitrap mass (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of coclaurine, magnoflorine, spinosin, 6-feruloylspinosin, jujuboside A (JuA), and jujuboside B (JuB) in ZSS in rat plasma.

Determination of five neurotransmitters in the rat brain for the study of the hypnotic effects of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen aqueous extract on insomnia rat model by UPLC-MS/MS.

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) has been used for treatment of insomnia in China for centuries. To reveal the influence of insomnia on the levels of the neurotransmitters including serotonin (5-HT), glutamic acid (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA), and to study the role of ZSS aqueous extract in the treatment of insomnia, an UPLC-ESI- MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of five neurotransmitters in the rat brain. The brain samples were pretreated by one-step direct protein precipitation with acetonitrile.

[Studies on chemical structure of complexes compounds formed by acid and alkaline components of pair medicines in decoction].

Objective: To study the chemical structures of macromolecular complexes formed by aconitine and glycyrrhizic acid, aconitine and rhein, berberine and rhein, ephedrine and glycyrrhizic acid in decoctions.

Method: The binding energy of reactants and products was determined by X-ray spectrography, the ground level charge distribution of products was caculated by density function theory of quantum chemistry.

Result: The binding energy of aconitine and glycyrrhizic acid, aconitine and rhein, berberine and rhein were changed after reaction.

[Compatability chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicine of Ephedra sinica and Glycyrrhiza uralencis in Maxing Shigan decoction].

Objective: To investigate the change regularity of ephedrine and glyrihhzine acid in Ephedra sinila and Glycyrrhiza uralencis pair medicines and in Maxing Shigan decoction.

Method: The contents of ephedrine and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC in samples of E. sinica extracts, G.

[Compatibility chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicine of Dahuang and Huangbai in Dahuang Xiaoshi decoction].

Objective: To determine the change pattern of alkaline and acid components of Dahuang and Huangbai amoung different combinations in Dahuang Xiaoshi decotion.

Method: The contents of anthraquinones and berberine were determined by HPLC in samples of Dahuang extracts, Huangbai extracts, Dahuang and Huangbai pair medicine extracts, and extracts of whole recipe.

Result: The contents of anthraquinones and berberine were decreased with the changes of combinations: from component medicinal material alone to pair medicines, and to whole recipe.

[Compatability chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicine of dahuang and Fuzi in Dahuang Fuzi decoction].

Objective: To determine the change pattern of alkaline and acid components of Dahuang and Fuzi in different combinations.

Method: The contents of anthraquinones and aconite alkaloids were determined by HPLC in samples of Dahuang extracts, Fuzi extracts, Dahuang and Fuzi pair medicines extracts, and extracts of whole recipe.

Result: As for Dahuang, the contents of anthraquinones were decreased with changes of combination: higher contents were in decoctions of Dahuang alone, lower contents were in decoctions of pair medicines, and the lowest contents were in decoctions of whole recipe.

[Compatability chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicine of Fuzi and Gancao in Sini decoction].

Objective: To determine the change pattern of alkaline and acid components of Fuzi and gancao amoung different combinations in Sini Decotion.

Method: The contents of aconite alkaloids and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC in samples of Fuzi extracts, gancao extracts, Fuzi and gancao pair medicines extracts, and extracts of whole recipe.

Result: As for Fuzi, monoester aconite alkaloids could be detected in water extracts, and both biester and monoester aconite alkaloids could be detected in ethanol extracts.

[Research on compatibility chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicines in formulas of traditional Chinese medicine].

Compatibility chemistry of acid-alkaline pair medicines in formulas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important research field which should merit to pay attention. The ideas and methods in prescription compatibility research on formulas containing alkaline-acid pair medicines were summarized from the aspect of chemical groups of alkaline and acid ingredients; the research results were introduced and analyzed; the research meaning was elaborated; and the expectation of the field was viewed.