[Obbectives] To study the optimal conditions for extracting procyanidins from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. with sub-critical fluid R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) in 1 L extraction kettle. [Methods] Taking the extraction rate of procyanidins as an indicator, the influence of preesure, temperature, and extraction time on extraction rate of procyanidins from L. Ruthenicum Murr. was studied by single factor experimental methods and orthogonal array design. [Results] The order of factors affecting extraction rate of procyanidins was extraction temperature k extraction preesure k extraction time. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows % the extraction rate of procyanidins from L. ruthenicum Murr. was the highest with extraction preesure of 1.2 MPa, extraction temperature of 5 0 j and extraction time of 90 min. The content of procyanidins in L. ruthenicum Murr. from different producing areas was determined by vaniilin-HCl method under the optima conditions. [Conclusions] The method has the advantages of easy operation, good selectivity, low extraction temperature and high extraction efficiency, which is suitable for extraction of procyanidins in L. ruthenicum Murr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Clematis tangutica led to the isolation of two new antifungal triterpene saponins. Their structures were determined to be 3- O-alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28- O-alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl ester ( 1) and 3- O-beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 4)-alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28- O-alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl ester ( 2) on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidence. Inhibitory activities of the two saponins against seven fungal strains were evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2 showed evident antifungal activity (MIA approximately 2.5 micrograms/disc) against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, similar to the positive control amphotericin B and ordinary activities (MIA approximately 10 micrograms/disc) against Penicillium avellaneum UC-4376, Candida glabrata, Trichosporon beigelii and Pyricularia oryzae. Compound 2 is a better antifungal agent than compound 1 against most of the fungal strains that were tested.;
AbstractâGentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma (Gentianaceae) is an important species in Tibetan folk medicine commonly used to clear away the "heat evils" and toxic materials. A survey of market samples revealed that nine adulterant species, Gentianopsis barbata, G. contorta, G. grandis, Halenia elliptica, Lomatogonium macranthum, L. rotatum, Swertia angustifolia, S. bifolia and S. erythrosticta, are often marketed as G. paludosa. Methods to distinguish G. paludosa from its adulterants are limited by current morphological and chemical methods. DNA sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was used in the differentiation of G. paludosa from the adulterant species. The data showed that the internal transcribed spacer regions differ significantly between G. paludosa and all nine adulterant species, so that they could be easily distinguished at the DNA level.
AIMS OF THE STUDY: Meconopsis quintuplinervia, a medicinal herb endemic to the Tibetan region, is used to treat hepatitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of this herb using different assays.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant capacity of Meconopsis quintuplinervia was investigated using various established in vitro systems. An in vivo study of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced antioxidant activity in mice was also conducted by examining the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH).
RESULTS: The extract showed strong in vitro antioxidant ability. In the in vivo study, CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress caused significant decreases in the SOD, CAT, and GSH levels and a significant increase in the MDA level, most of which were significantly reversed (except for SOD in the liver.) by treatment with the extract and standard Vitamin E.
CONCLUSION: This study clearly indicates that the ethanolic extract of Meconopsis quintuplinervia is a valuable source of natural antioxidants. These findings provide scientific support for the traditional use of this herb as a Tibetan medicine for liver diseases.
The leaves and twigs of Juniperus pingii var. wilsonii (Cupressaceae) smell aromatic and are traditionally used as the Tibetan medicine Xuba. Their essential oil obtained by ultrasonic-assisted hydrodistillation and volatiles collected by GC headspace technique were analyzed and compared by GC-MS. The analyses revealed the presence of thirty-nine components in the essential oil, representing 95.8% in content of the total oil, mainly including sabinene (22.6%), elemol (15.5%) and (-)-terpinen-4-ol (9.6%). Thirty-eight components accounting for 99.4% of the headspace volatiles were identified, mainly including sabinene (32.5%), β-pinene (21.9%) and α-thujene (10.3%). The compositions of the oil and headspace volatiles were quite similar, and twenty-five compounds identified were in common, which was 91.3% of the oil and 96.0% of the headspace volatiles in content. The essential oil could obviously inhibit Nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with no significant effect on cell viability, indicating its good anti-inflammatory activity.
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