[Extraction of lobetyolin from codonopsis with supercritical CO2]

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2009 Mar; 34(5): 560-3Liu T, Li S, Min J, Bao XOBJECTIVE: To develop a green and rapid method for extraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula. METHOD: Extraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula with supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of ethanol was studied. The effects of pressure, temperature, volume of cosolvent and extraction time on efficiency and their interactive relationships were discussed, based on central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM). RESULT: The key effect factor was volume of cosolvent. The extraction yield of lobetyolin was 0.078 6 mg x g(-1) when C. pilosula (40-60 mesh) was extracted at 30 MPa, 60 degrees C and 2 L x min(-1) (as CO2 in normal pressure and temperature) for 100 minutes with supercritical CO2 and 1 mL x min(-1) ethanol as dynamic cosolvent. CONCLUSION: This result is better than that obtained from traditional method. Therefore, the optimized process is valuable for extraction of lobetyolin from C. pilosula.

[Effects of Qushi Huayu Decoction in prevention and treatment of fatty liver in rats based on adiponection-free fatty acid pathway.]

Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2009 Jun 15; 7(6): 546-551Li HS, Feng Q, Xu LL, Chen SD, Li XM, Hu YYObjective: To explore the effects of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QSHYD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats. Methods: Forty Wistar male rats were used to establish the NAFLD model by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) for 4 weeks (twice weekly) along with high-fat and low-protein diet for 2 weeks. After two-week administration, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: untreated group, high-dose QSHYD group, medium-dose QSHYD group and low-dose QSHYD group. Another six rats were used as normal control. After 2-week treatment, the following indexes were detected: (1) liver pathology; (2) contents of serum adiponectin (ADP) and liver triglyceride (TG); (3) concentrations of liver FFA, adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2), malonyl-coenzyme A (malony1-CoA), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1). Results: Compared with the normal group, there were physiological changes associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation in liver tissues in the untreated group as observed by oil red O staining and HE staining. The TG, FFA, malony1-CoA, FAS, and ACCase concentrations in liver tissues in the untreated group were elevated significantly. While the contents of ADP in serum and AdipoR2, CPT-1 and AMPK in liver tissues in the untreated group were decreased markedly. The pathological damages in each QSHYD-treated group were significantly less than those in the untreated group. The TG and FFA contents in liver tissues in each QSHYD-treated group were significantly decreased. The FAS, ACCase and malonyl-CoA concentrations in liver tissues of the high QSHYD-treated group were reduced markedly as compared with the untreated group. High- and medium-dose of QSHYD could significantly increase ADP content in serum and AMPK, CPT-1 and AdipoR2 contents in liver tissues. Conclusion: QSHYD can affect the ADP-FFA pathway by increasing the content of serum ADP, which may be one of its important mechanisms in preventing and treating NAFLD in rats.

Determination of Total Ash and Acid-insoluble Ash of Chinese Herbal Medicine Prunellae Spica by Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2009 Jul; 129(7): 881-6Rao Y, Xiang BRapid and accurate determination of total ash and acid-insoluble ash of Chinese herbal medicine would be valuable for the quality illustration because current approaches are laborious and time-consuming. This study investigated the feasibility of near infrared spectroscopy in predicting simultaneously the total ash and acid-insoluble ash contents of Prunellae Spica (one of the most widely used Chinese herbal medicine). Samples were collected from ten different geographic regions and scanned under the near-infrared spectroscopy region (4000-12000 cm(-1)). Models between the spectral data and the results of reference analysis were developed, and subsequently validated. Calibration models based on partial least squares were accurate for the prediction of total ash (R(2)=0.914; standard errors of prediction=0.373), and acid-insoluble ash (R(2)=0.905; standard errors of prediction=0.452).

Usage of herbal medications in patients undergoing IVF treatment in an Irish infertility treatment unit.

Ir J Med Sci. 2009 Jun 30; Shannon J, El Saigh I, Tadrous R, Mocanu E, Loughrey JBACKGROUND: Usage of herbal and complimentary medicines by patients presenting for procedures that require the use of anaesthetic agents is common. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of herbal medication usage among female patients attending for assisted reproduction procedures involving the use of sedative or hypnotic agents. METHODS: Questionnaire-based survey carried out over a 6-month period from January to July 2007. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of patients admitted regular use of herbal medications, with 38% of patients having taken herbal preparations in the 3-month period prior to their attendance for treatment. No patient taking herbal preparations had discussed the use of these products with the attending anaesthetist or fertility specialist prior to attending for the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The usage of herbal medications with potential for serious adverse effects is high in this unique patient population. Education of both healthcare providers and patients is indicated.