Feasibility of sterilizing traditional Chinese medicines by gamma-irradiation

The feasibility of sterilizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCMs) by γ-irradiation has been systematically evaluated by the biological, toxicological and physicochemical tests on irradiated hundreds of TCMs. Those TCMs investigated in general show no significant biological or toxicological changes after irradiation, yet physicochemical changes are detectable in some irradiated TCMs, and water in TCMs enhances the effects. Those results obtained from radiolysis of some major effective components of TCMs in aqueous or ethanolic solutions reveal that the site selection of radiolytically generated radicals follows the example of simple compounds with same function groups. Wholesomeness and chemical clearance present a bright future to sterilizing TCMs by γ irradiation, however, some important measures and steps should be adopted: (1) The producers must strictly execute manufacturing procedure to reduce microbiological contamination thus lower the applied dose for sterilization which is recommended to be controlled under 5, 7 or 10 kGy, 10 kGy for dry herb, 7 kGy for herbal medicine and 5 kGy for some special herbal medicine; (2) Herb to be sterilized by γ-irradiation should exist in possible dry state; (3) Powder TCMs is recommended to mix with honey forming bolus, which can minimize the decomposition of herb.     

色谱指纹图谱与中药质量控制

本文综述了近年来色谱指纹图谱研究中多种色谱技术、相关化学计量学方法的发展及其在中药质量控制中的应用,并对中药质量稳定性和有效性的全面评价方法和可行性进行了初步探讨。提出以色谱指纹图谱为核心,依托现代色谱技术、化学计量学和系统生物学方法,建立中药化学成分信息与药效(毒性)信息相关关系的中药质量控制研究策略,深层次揭示中药的内在作用机理,期望真正实现中药质量的可控、安全和有效。     

Quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines based on fingerprinting

The usage of traditional Chinese medicines has expanded globally, but the data about authentication, efficacy, and safety is far from sufficient to meet the criteria supporting their use worldwide due to complexity in the composition. Fingerprinting describes integral characterization and reflects interactive aspects of complex components; therefore, it can offer the possibility of evaluating quality of traditional Chinese medicines following the overall principle. Chemometric techniques introduce multivariate analytical methods into fingerprinting to obtain more information that is useful, which is consistent with the holistic thought and plays an important role in research on the substantial basis. In this review, we will start with three aspects to expound the quality evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines based on fingerprints. The analytical techniques used in developing fingerprints including chromatographic methods, spectroscopic methods, and capillary electrophoresis are introduced. Strategies for fingerprints analysis usually based on chemometric methods including unsupervised and supervised pattern recognition are described. Applications of fingerprints for multi‐component quantification, quality control, screening of bioactive components, and fingerprint‐efficacy relationship study are also outlined. Finally, we propose challenges and future perspectives of fingerprints in quality evaluation to promote the development of modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicines.     

有机化学分析与中药现代化

从中药活性物质的阐明、质检方法的建立以及生产工艺的改进等几个方面讨论了有机化学分析在中药现代化研究进程中的作用.     

中药指纹图谱研究的某些进展与展望

在中药现代化的过程中,中药的质量控制标准直接影响到中药的国际化问题。近年来,国内很多学者对中药指纹图谱用于质量控制的问题进行了深入的研究,取得了很多成果。本文着重就近几年来中药指纹图谱的某些进展进行了综述,内容包括气相色谱指纹图谱、液相色谱指纹图谱以及其他指纹图谱。最后就指纹图谱研究的发展提出了几点看法。共引用文献161篇。     

The synergistic activity of antibiotics combined with eight traditional Chinese medicines against two different strains of Staphylococcus aureus

The ethanolic extracts of eight traditional Chinese medicines and four antibiotics were investigated for their combined effects on the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in vitro. Methicillin resistant S. aureus, which was isolated from patient and a standard strain, were used. Our results showed that there are differences in the effects of many combinations used on the standard strain and resistant strain of S. aureus. The ethanolic extracts of Isatis tinctoria, Scutellaria baicalensis and Rheum palmatum can improve the antimicrobial activity of four antibiotics we used.     

基于定量指纹图谱技术的中药质量控制

定量指纹图谱技术是中药指纹图谱技术与多指标成分定量分析相结合的中药质量控制模式。定量指纹图谱技术的发展包括定量组分的制备、过程控制的指纹图谱技术和产品含量测定3个主要部分。本文以丹参为例,通过水提、醇沉、过膜、大孔树脂分离和工业色谱分离5个工艺流程制备了丹参定量组分,对各个工艺步骤以指纹图谱技术考察其稳定性和重复性。对丹参定量组分中的原儿茶醛、迷迭香酸、丹酚酸B 3个成分进行含量测定。3个成分的含量总和大于50%。定量组分的制备以现有的活性成分为目标,经过去粗存精的工艺过程,其质量标准得到了有效的提高。     

Identification and screening of chemical constituents with hepatoprotective effects from three traditional Chinese medicines for treating jaundice

The constituents with hepatoprotective activity were investigated in three traditional Chinese medicine formulae for treating jaundice, namely, Zhi‐Zi‐Da‐Huang‐Tang, Yin‐Chen‐Hao‐Tang, and Da‐Huang‐Xiao‐Shi‐Tang. By using liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry, 79 chemical constituents were identified unambiguously or tentatively in three formulae based on the accurate molecular weight, mass spectrometric fragmentation behavior, and comparison with reference standards. Then the hepatoprotective activities of 27 constituents were evaluated on tert‐butylhydroperoxide‐injured BRL‐3A cells. The results indicated that 11 constituents, including protocatechic acid ( 19 ), epijasminoside A ( 56 ), rutin ( 71 ), tetrahydropalmatine ( 76 ), rhaponticin ( 80 ), 3,4‐dicaffeoylquinic acid ( 82 ), 3,5‐dicaffeoylquinic acid ( 85 ), diosmetin‐7‐O‐glucoside ( 90 ), jatrorrhizine ( 93 ), berberine ( 100 ), and daidzein ( 101 ) exerted hepatoprotective activities. Interestingly, most of the crude drugs in three formulae contained hepatoprotective active constituents, and the combinations of constituents from different crude drugs exhibited greater effects. This result provided evidence to the traditional Chinese medicine theory of combining several drugs together to exert synergistic efficacy.     

Multivariate statistical treatment of PIXE analysis of some traditional Chinese medicines

Elements in two kinds of 30 traditional Chinese medicines were analyzed by PIXE method, and the data were treated by multivariate statistical methods. The results show that these two kinds of traditional Chinese medicines are almost separable according to their elemental contents. The results are congruous with the traditional Chinese medicine practice.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines

Separation techniques with high efficiency and sensitive detection have been widely used for quality control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). High-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis are commonly used to separate various components in TCMs. Ultraviolet detection, fluorescence detection, evaporative light-scattering detection, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance can be applied to separation techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis of TCMs. The development of quality control for TCMs based on quantitative and qualitative analysis from 2000 to 2007 are reviewed; the fingerprint technique is also discussed due to its broad application in the quality control of TCMs. Prospects for further research based on our primary results are also discussed.     

Tyrosinase inhibitor screening in traditional Chinese medicines by electrophoretically mediated microanalysis

A capillary‐electrophoresis‐based method for the screening of tyrosinase inhibitors in traditional Chinese medicines was developed. The method integrated electrophoretically mediated microanalysis with sandwich mode injection, partial filling, and rapid polarity switching techniques, and carried out on‐column enzyme reaction and the separation of substrate and product. The conditions were optimized including the background electrolyte, mixing voltage, and the incubation time. Finally, the screening of nine standard natural compounds of traditional Chinese medicines was carried out. The inhibitors can be directly identified from the reduced peak area of the product compared to that obtained without any inhibitor. Chlorogenic acid (100 μM) showed inhibitory activity with the inhibitory percentage of 19.8%, while the other compounds showed no inhibitory activity. This method has great application potential in drug discovery from traditional Chinese medicines.     

在线二维液相色谱技术在中药研究中的应用进展

中药的组成复杂,其化学成分的表征和识别一直是中药研究的基础和关键。在线二维液相色谱是基于两种分离模式构建的色谱分析技术,主要包括中心切割二维液相色谱和全二维液相色谱两种模式,因二者具有更高的峰容量而在中药研究中备受青睐。该文对在线二维液相色谱技术的概念和特点进行了讨论,并对二维液相色谱在中药研究中的应用进行了综述,以期为该技术在中药质量控制、物质基础表征、活性成分筛选等研究方面提供一定参考。     

Molecularly imprinted polymer for solid-phase extraction of rutin in complicated traditional Chinese medicines

In the present work, an improved and direct approach for the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was proposed. The MIPs were prepared based on bulk polymerization by water-bath heating and ultrasonic elution of the template, using rutin as the template, acrylamide (AM) as the functional monomer and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the cross linker. Molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by other elution methods, including microwave-assisted extraction and conventional Soxhlet extraction, were used for comparison and the results showed that the ultrasonic elution method is the best. The synthesized MIPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to evaluate the adsorption properties and recognition mechanism of the MIPs. Structurally similar compounds including quercetin and genistein were utilized for verifying the molecular selectivity and characterizing the recognition capability of the MIPs. The MIPs were used as a sorbent for the solid phase extraction of rutin, and the resultant cartridge showed a good extraction performance. Thus, a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) procedure for selective pre-concentration of rutin from complicated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) samples was proposed. Various elution parameters that affect the adsorption capacity of the polymer were evaluated to optimize the selective pre-concentration of rutin. The characteristics of the MISPE method were validated by HPLC. The recoveries ranged from 85% to 91% for TCMs, which demonstrated that this MISPE-HPLC method could be applied to pre-concentrate and determinate rutin directly from complicated TCM samples in the presence of other interfering substances.     

Recent developments in sample preparation techniques for chromatography analysis of traditional Chinese medicines

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have a long history dating back thousands of years. Recently, there has been increasing interest worldwide in the use of TCMs for the prevention and treatment of various illnesses. In China, a large number of analytical tools, especially chromatographic techniques have been used to analyze the constituents of TCMs in order to control their quality and discover new bioactive compounds. In this paper, recent developments in sample preparation techniques for the extraction, clean-up, and concentration of analytes from TCMs are compared. These techniques include headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), headspace liquid-phase microextraction (HS-LPME), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized-liquid extraction (PLE), and microwave distillation (MD).     

聚类分析辅助中药寡糖电泳分析鉴定中药

基于中药多糖结构的复杂性和特征性,针对多糖部分降解后的寡糖片段,建立了一种采用毛细管区带电泳法(CZE)分离分析中药寡糖,并利用其特征性电泳谱图信息,结合聚类分析(CA)进行中药鉴定的方法。该方法以1-苯基-3-甲基-5-吡唑啉酮(PMP)为寡糖柱前衍生化试剂,对3个科属的6种中药如黄精、玉竹等同时进行鉴定。采用的电泳条件:未涂层熔融石英毛细管柱(49 cm(有效长度40 cm)×50 μm),以50 mmol/L磷酸盐缓冲液(pH 2.5)为运行缓冲液,检测波长为245 nm,运行电压为15 kV,虹吸进样10 cm×4 s,柱温为室温。结果表明聚类分析辅助中药寡糖电泳分析法可有效用于3个科属6种中药的鉴定。本方法结果可靠,重现性好,可以作为中药鉴定的一种有效手段。     

Chromatographic fingerprinting and related chemometric techniques for quality control of traditional Chinese medicines

Development of chromatographic fingerprint (CF) and related chemometric methods and their applications to quality control of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) were discussed. CF is essentially a kind of quality control method for TCMs (or Chinese herbal medicines). Also, it is a quality‐relevant‐data high‐throughput and integral tool to explore chemically the complexity of TCMs. With the help of chemometrics, some difficulties in evaluation and analysis of CFs, such as calculation of information content, peak alignment, pattern analysis, deconvolution of overlapping peaks, etc. could be well solved. To further explore TCMs synergic quality, intensive study of CF coupled with chemometrics will create the possibility to achieve the aim to reveal the working mechanisms of TCMs and to further control and strengthen TCMs' intrinsic quality in a comprehensive manner.     

离子淌度质谱技术在中药化学成分分析中的研究进展

离子淌度质谱(IM-MS)是一种将离子淌度分离与质谱分析相结合的新型分析技术。IM-MS的主要优势不仅是在质谱检测前提供了基于气相离子形状、大小、电荷数等因素的多一维分离,而且能够提供碰撞截面积、漂移时间等质谱信息进而辅助化合物鉴定。近年来,随着IM-MS技术的不断发展,该技术在中药化学成分分析中受到越来越多的关注。首先,IM-MS已成功应用于改善中药复杂成分尤其是同分异构体或等量异位素等成分的分离;其次,IM-MS可通过多重碎裂模式辅助高质量中药小分子质谱信息的获取;此外,IM-MS提供的高维质谱数据信息还可促进中药复杂体系多成分的整合分析。该文在对IM-MS分类和基本原理进行概述的基础上,从分离能力及分离策略、多重碎裂模式、多维质谱数据处理策略3个方面,重点综述了IM-MS在中药化学成分分析中的应用,以期为IM-MS在中药化学成分研究提供参考。     

Recent developments and contributions from Chinese scientists in multidimensional separations for proteomics and traditional Chinese medicines

The most basic task in proteomics remains the detection and identification of proteins from a biological sample, and the most traditional way to achieve this goal consists in protein separations performed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). Yet the 2-D PAGE-mass spectrometry (MS) approach has its drawbacks with regard to automation, sensitivity, and throughput. Consequently, considerable effort has been devoted to the development of non-gel-based proteome separation technologies in an effort to alleviate the shortcomings of 2-D PAGE. In addition, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), due to their long period of clinical testing and reliable therapeutic efficacy, are attracting increased global attention. However, hundreds or even thousands of components are usually present in TCMs, which results in great difficulties of separation. As a mainstream separation tool, multidimensional liquid separation systems have shown powerful separation ability, high peak capacity, and excellent detectability in the analysis of complex samples including biological samples and TCMs, etc. Therefore, this review emphasizes the most recent advances in multidimensional liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis-based separation techniques, and the corresponding applications in proteomics and TCMs. In view of the significant contributions from Chinese scientists, this review focuses mainly on the work of Chinese scientists in the above fields.     

Speciation analysis of arsenic in traditional Chinese medicines by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

A method has been described for the determination of arsenic species (arsenite and arsenate) by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). The experimental conditions that influence the fluorescence intensity and the reduction of arsenic were investigated and optimized, and the influences from foreign ions and their elimination were studied. The detection limit was found to be 79.7 ng L(-1). The proposed method was applied to the determination of arsenic species in water leachate of traditional Chinese medicines with a recovery range of 91.1-109.5%.     

硼酸亲和整体柱在富集中药活性物质中的应用

以4-乙烯基苯硼酸(VPBA)为功能单体,季戊四醇三丙烯酸酯(PETA)为交联剂,乙二醇和二甘醇为二元致孔剂,通过热引发自由基聚合反应,在毛细管内原位聚合制备得到一种poly(VPBA-co-PETA)毛细管整体柱。所制备的整体柱具有典型的硼酸亲和特性,可以特异性地捕获含有顺二羟基的化合物。在前期实验的基础上,将其用于两种中草药 蒲公英和刺果卫矛中含顺二羟基的小分子活性物质的富集。这两种中药提取物直接用高效液相色谱进行检测时,其活性成分绿原酸等因含量太低而使检测困难或无法检测;经过硼酸亲和整体柱富集后收集洗脱液进行检测,色谱峰响应则显著提高。该结果表明所制备的poly(VPBA-co-PETA)整体柱可以作为富集中药提取物中含顺二羟基活性物质的有效手段。