Antibacterial triterpenoids from the leaves of Ilex hainanensis Merr.

One new triterpenoid (1) and seven known analogues (2–8) were isolated from the leaves of Ilex hainanensis Merr.. Their structures were established by analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and comparison with those in the literature. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1–8 were evaluated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration using twofold microdilution broth method against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 (Gram-positive) and Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 (Gram-negative). Compounds 3 and 5 showed significant antibacterial activity against S. mutans in concentration of 9.7 μg/mL, while showed little antibacterial activity against F. nucleatum. On the contrary, the inhibitory activity of compounds 1, 2 and 6 against F. nucleatum were higher than them against S. mutans.     

Co3O4/ZnO修饰针灸针的制备及其在葡萄糖检测领域的应用

将Co₃O₄/ZnO针状纳米棒材料修饰到针灸针表面用于检测葡萄糖浓度的变化。首先采用水热法在针灸针表面得到 Co（CO₃）_0.5（OH）·0.11H₂O针状纳米棒前驱体,然后在500 ℃条件下退火3 h得到Co₃O₄针状纳米棒阵列。再采用浸渍法将预制备好的ZnO量子点修饰到Co₃O₄针状纳米棒表面,得到Co₃O₄/ZnO复合修饰的针灸针。研究发现此针灸针对葡萄糖具有较好的电流响应（2 264.27 μA·L·mmol^-1·cm^-2）、较快的响应速度（<4 s）及较低的检测极限（0.311 μmol·L^-1（S/N=3））。且该针灸针在用于检测人体模拟细胞液中葡萄糖浓度时,对抗坏血酸和尿素等表现出较强的抗干扰性。     

Identification and quantitation of major phenolic compounds from penthorum chinense pursh. by HPLC with tandem mass spectrometry and HPLC with diode array detection

Penthorum chinense Pursh. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of various ailments specially related to liver. Gansu Granule, the medicine made from the extract of P. chinense, has been widely used in the clinical setting. But the information about its active ingredients is lacking. In this paper, the extract of P. chinense was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Among the 27 compounds that were identified based on their mass spectrometry data, ten were reported for the first time from P. chinense. Chromatographic fingerprints generated by high‐performance liquid chromatography by analyzing 21 batches of P. chinense, displayed six common peaks. Finally, four major compounds were identified namely; gallic acid, brevifolin carboxylic acid, 2,6‐dihydroxyacetophenone‐4‐O‐β‐d‐ glucoside, and pinocembrin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐ glucoside. The average content of each compound was 24.58, 109.6, 15.52, and 18.81 mg/g, respectively. In addition, this study also suggests that the qualitative liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and the quantitative high‐performance liquid chromatography analytical methods using monolithic columns are simple, rapid, accurate, and reproducible and have the potential to be used for the comprehensive quality control of P. chinense.     

Multi-component pharmacokinetics assessment of Artemisia annua L. in rats based on LC-ESI-MS/MS quantification combined with molecular docking

Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) has been used as herbal medicine in China for thousands of years for clearing deficiency heat, treating malaria and removing jaundice. A rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) method was developed, validated, and successfully used for simultaneous quantification of the active components in rat plasma after oral administration of A. annua extract. Molecular docking of each component with drug metabolizing enzymes was carried out to explore the effect of each component on CYP-mediated drug metabolism. Two coumarins (scopolin (SPL) and scopoletin (SPLT)), three flavonoids (rutin (RUT), chrysosplenol D (CHD), casticin (CAS)) and three sesquiterpenes (arteannuin B (ARN), dihydroartemisinic acid (DARM) and artemisinic acid (ARM)) were detected in rat plasma after oral administration. CHD and CAS were rapidly absorbed into rat blood with the T_max values of 0.11 ± 0.04 h and 0.13 ± 0.05 h, respectively. Their half-lives (t_1/2 2.68 ± 3.62 h and 0.33 ± 0.07 h) were shorter. SPLT were also rapidly absorbed into the blood (T_max 0.15 ± 0.03 h), but exhibited a longer half-life (t_1/2 6.53 ± 1.84 h), indicating that it could be effective in vivo for a longer period of time. The peak time of SPL, RUT, DARM and ARM ranged from 1 ～ 4 h, demonstrating that they could maintain considerable concentrations for a longer time. ARN showed strong enterohepatic circulation in rats, leading to slower onset time and longer effect. A few components including SPLT, CHD, CAS and ARN could be metabolized into their corresponding II phase metabolites combining with glucuronic acid or sulfuric acid. RUT could decompose its glycosyl to generate genin. The molecular docking results indicated that those flavonoids and coumarins of A. annua interacting with CYPs mainly through hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking had better CYP450 enzyme binding ability than the sesquiterpenoids, which were easier to induce drug interactions. This study presented an integrated strategy for investigating the pharmacokinetic behaviors of eight components in A. annua and laid the foundation for revealing the mechanism of action of A. annua in the organism.     

Two New Triterpenoid Saponins from Stauntonia obovatifoliola Hayata ssp. intermedia

Two new hederagenin‐type saponins, staunoside G ( 1 ) and staunoside H ( 2 ), along with twelve known triterpenoid saponins, were isolated from stems of Stauntonia obovatifoliola Hayata ssp. intermedia. Their structures were determined by analysis of HR‐EI‐MS, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR data, and comparison with those in literature. The two new compounds showed moderate cytotoxicities against three tumor cells, i.e., A549 (lung carcinoma), 4T1 (mammary carcinoma), and HeLa (cervical carcinoma).     

Co3O4/ZnO修饰针灸针的制备及其在葡萄糖检测领域的应用

将Co₃O₄/ZnO针状纳米棒材料修饰到针灸针表面用于检测葡萄糖浓度的变化。首先采用水热法在针灸针表面得到Co（CO₃）_0.5（OH）·0.11H₂O针状纳米棒前驱体,然后在500 ℃条件下退火3 h得到Co₃O₄针状纳米棒阵列。再采用浸渍法将预制备好的ZnO量子点修饰到Co₃O₄针状纳米棒表面,得到Co₃O₄/ZnO复合修饰的针灸针。研究发现此针灸针对葡萄糖具有较好的电流响应（2 264.27 μA·L·mmol^-1·cm^-2）、较快的响应速度（<4 s）及较低的检测极限（0.311 μmol·L^-1（S/N=3））。且该针灸针在用于检测人体模拟细胞液中葡萄糖浓度时,对抗坏血酸和尿素等表现出较强的抗干扰性。     

Improved Stability of a Stable Crystal Form C of 6S-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium Salt,Method Development and Validation of an LC–MS/MS Method for Rat Pharmacokinetic Comparison

Folate is a vitamin beneficial for humans that plays an important role in metabolism, but it cannot be well supplemented by food; it is necessary to supplement it in other ways. Based on this consideration, a novel crystal form C of 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt (MTHF CAC) was obtained. To explore the difference between MTHF CAC and the crystal form Ⅰ of 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt (MTHF CA) as well as an amorphous product of 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (MTHF GA), their stability and pharmacokinetic behaviours were compared. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection analysis indicated that MTHF CAC showed a better stability than MTHF CA and MTHF GA. After oral administration of MTHF CAC, MTHF CA, and MTHF GA to male rats, the MTHF concentrations were analysed using a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared. The mean residence times (0–t) of MTHF CAC, MTHF CA, and MTHF GA were 3.7 ± 1.9 h, 1.0 ± 0.2 h (p < 0.01), and 1.5 ± 0.3 h (p < 0.05), respectively. The relative bioavailability of MTHF CAC was calculated to be 351% and 218% compared with MTHF CA and MTHF GA, respectively, which suggests that MTHF CAC can be better absorbed and utilized for a longer period of time.