Flavonoid and dianthranoid levels of the St.-John's-wort flowering tops

Dried flowering tops of Hypericum perforatum L. (16 batches) and H. maculatum (3 batches) were studied according to the harvest period. The mean levels of the flavonoid and dianthranoid compounds were respectively: total flavonoids 3.20 and 3.92%, hyperoside 0.87 and 2. 12%, rutin 0.54 and 0.02%, isoquercitrin 0.48 and 0.75%; total dianthranoids 0.14 and 0.13%, hypericin 0.04 and 0.02%, pseudohypericin 0.08 and 0.11%. The flavonoid and dianthranoid levels were higher in young flowering tops of H. perforatum. 3 commercial batches were also examined for a comparative study. Pharmacopoeial specifications are proposed for a revision of the monograph "St.-John's-wort".     

HPLC-ELSD测定不同产地路路通药材中路路通酸的含量

目的考察不同产地路路通中路路通酸的含量。方法路路通样品经过无水乙醇超声处理后,采用HPLC—ELSD测定不同产地路路通中路路通酸的含量,Diamonsil C18色谱柱,以甲醇-0．7％醋酸溶液（85：15）为流动相,流速1．0min^-1,柱温30℃,漂移管温度45℃,载气为N2,流速3．5min^-1采用外标两点法计算含量。结果路路通酸在0．058—0．580g·L^-1浓度范围内有良好线性关系（r=0．9997）,平均加样回收率为98．9％,RSD为1．25％。结论各产地路路通中路路通酸含量有明显的差异,湖北各地路路通有较高的路路通酸,有开发利用的价值。     

28批次扁咽口服液中肉桂酸的含量测定

目的建立测定扁咽口服液中肉桂酸含量的高效液相色谱法,考察扁咽口服液的内在质量。方法色谱柱为Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18(4.6 mm×150 mm,5μm),流动相为甲醇-1%冰醋酸溶液(50∶50),流速为1.0 mL/min,检测波长为285 nm,柱温为30℃。结果肉桂酸在0.005 1～0.202 9μg范围内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系(r=0.999 9)。平均加样回收率为99.94%,RSD为1.16%(n=6)。结论本方法测定扁咽口服液中肉桂酸的含量,操作简便,结果准确。同时提示应建立有效的质量控制标准,以保证临床用药安全、有效。     

Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid toxicity and glutathione levels in various organs of the rat

Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TC) (a precursor of intracellular cysteine) was administered to rats at 50 mg/kg and at 400 mg/kg by an i.p. route and at 800 mg/kg per os, and the levels of glutathione (GSH) in gastric mucosa, gastric wall and liver were determined. GSH levels in the eyes were measured after oral administration of TC. No changes in GSH levels were observed at 50 mg/kg from 1 to 48 h. An initial increase of liver GSH levels was followed by a decrease (up to 12 h) at 400 mg/kg i.p. After oral administration of 800 mg/kg an initial increase of GSH levels in the liver and gastric mucosa was followed by a decrease (up to 24 h); the GSH levels in the gastric wall showed a persistent decrease. No significant changes were seen in the GSH levels of the eyes.     

Increases in plasma dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels in decapitated mice after exposure to various stresses

This study investigated changes in plasma levels of the dopamine metabolite dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in decapitated mice in response to the variable stresses of restraint, restraint and water immersion, and foot shock. DOPAC levels, but not norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) levels, increased upon exposure to these stresses. Plasma DOPAC levels measured using the decapitation method in rats were then compared with those measured using the catheter method. The NE and EPI levels in plasma measured using the decapitation method were much higher than those using the catheter method under basal conditions. In contrast, differences in the levels of DOPAC in plasma were smaller than those of NE and EPI under basal conditions using in both methods; furthermore parallel changes in plasma DOPAC levels occurred during restraint and water immersion stresses. These results indicate that the plasma DOPAC levels measured in mice using the decapitation method were clearly increased by the different stresses. Furthermore, in rats there were correlations between the decapitation and catheter methods for plasma levels of DOPAC. Thus the change in plasma DOPAC levels measured using the decapitation method is a good indicator of stress responses involving sympathoneural activity.     

Autoxidation of brain homogenates from various animals as measured by thiobarbituric acid assay

INTRODUCTION: The TBARS assay has been well recognized for determination of lipid peroxidation and oxidative injury in biological samples including brain homogenates. In general, the homogenates are freshly prepared using rat brains as the tissue sources. In this study, we compared the rates of spontaneous lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates obtained from bovine, canine, hen, rat, and swine. In addition, the influences of lyophilization process and storage time up to six months at -20 degrees C without the freeze-thaw cycle were also determined in the swine brain preparations. METHODS: The standard assay for thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was performed at 37 degrees C, using spectrophotometry to quantify the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. RESULTS: Rat brain homogenate exhibited the highest autoxidation rate (0.128+/-0.002 microM/min) whereas the bovine brain exhibited the lowest rate (0.032+/-0.001 microM/min). Swine brain homogenate could be kept at -20 degrees C up to 3 months without a significant increase in rate of autoxidation. Lyophilization caused a significant increase in the autoxidation rate of brain homogenate. However, the autoxidation rates of the lyophilized preparation were quite comparable throughout the six-month freezing time. DISCUSSION: Swine brain was a good candidate for tissue source in the TBARS reaction. The homogenate could be kept in the lyophilized form under the storage condition at -20 degrees C without the freeze-thaw cycle in the dark for at least six months.     

Principal constituents from flowering aerial parts of wild pansy

Dried flowering aerial parts of 12 harvested batches and 9 batches of commercial origin from Viola arvensis Murray were examined. The levels of principal compounds averaged respectively: total flavonoids 2.86 and 1.63%, rutin 1.15 and 0.57%, violanthin 0.80 and 0.82%, violarvensin 0.75 and 0.20%, mucilage 21.5 and 16.5%, total ashes 10.6 and 14.8%, potassium 2.75 and 2.85% and also salicy lic acid 0.11 and 0.09%. Saponins were not detected. Specifications were discussed for an European Pharmacopoeial monography.     

Changes of differentiation and proliferation in k562 cells with various levels of knockdown of cationic amino acid transporter 1

We recently showed that arginine transport via cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1), which transports arginine, lysine, ornithine, and histidine, is essential for erythropoiesis. In the present study, to confirm the importance of both arginine and CAT1 in erythropoiesis, we investigated the relationship of arginine uptake activity and differentiation and proliferation of blood cells by knockdown of the CAT1 gene using shRNA. Five short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-transfected K562 cell clones, in which the CAT1 mRNA expression level is decreased, and a vector-transfected clone were obtained. The differentiation to erythrocytes and proliferation of K562 cells were decreased by knockdown of CAT1. In addition, the initial uptake rate of [(3)H]arginine was decreased in the shRNA-transfected cell clones. The ratio of differentiation of CAT1-knockdown K562 cells was well correlated with the uptake activity for arginine by the cells (R(2)=0.59). These findings indicate that CAT1 is directly involved in erythropoiesis through supplying arginine to the blood cells.     

Kinetics of serum aminosalicylic acid levels

A mathematical model, involving three consecutive first order reactions, has been applied to already existing experimental material in order to explain the hourly variation in serum levels obtained after administration of varying repeated doses of different preparations of p-aminosalicylic acid to human volunteers. The model closely agrees with the experimental data for all the orally administered preparations concerned, and the differences in blood levels for different preparations can be explained in terms of the values attributed to the parameters involved in the model. The same model adequately describes the elimination of aminosalicylic acid from the blood after a single intravenous infusion provided that the initial blood level attained does not exceed about 11 mg/100 ml., but fails at higher values. In the latter instance a second order model gives a good fit to the experimental curves. The increase in serum levels found experimentally for the same subjects during the first weeks of prolonged treatment with phenyl-p-aminosalicylate corresponds to a change in the values of the parameters for the elimination from the blood only.     

Effects of various levels of dietary selenium on hybro-type chicks

Sodium selenite was fed in the diet in concentrations of 3, 1 and 0.50 ppm to hybro-type chicks for 4 weeks from the age of 7 d. The chemical's effects on growth and tissues were investigated. One and 3 ppm dietary levels of selenium caused depression of growth, fatty change, focal necrosis, congestion of the sinusoids and slight fibroplasia in the liver, congestion and degeneration and/or necrosis of the cells of the proximal renal tubules and of the cardiac muscle fibers and hemorrhage in the thigh and breast. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the activity of sorbitol and glutamic dehydrogenases (SDH and GDH) and in the concentration of potassium, and a decrease in the levels of total protein, calcium and zinc in the serum. Susceptibility to hemorrhage and damage to kidneys and liver persisted for 3 weeks after the test diet was withdrawn. One-half of 1 ppm-selenite meal produced no adverse effects on the chicks.