Survey on resources of Ephedra plants in Xinjiang

The resources of wild Ephedra plants in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were surveyed. Ephedra plants mainly grow on the fringes of the Taklimakan Desert and Gureban-tonggute Desert. We found six genotypes of Ephedra przewalskii growing widely in Xinjiang. Three genotypes of Ephedra intermedia were limited to the northern and eastern parts, and Ephedra regeliana scattered in the northern part of Xinjiang. These Ephedra specimens were analyzed for DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA, internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, chloroplastic DNA, trnL intron and trnL-trnF intergenic spacer. Intraspecific variation of the nucleotide sequence in E. przewalskii was found in different habitats. Norephedrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and methylephedrine contents of the specimens were determined. Although Ephedra intermedia of all three genotypes contained ephedrine alkaloids, ephedrine alkaloids were not detected in E. regeliana and E. przewalskii.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequence of the non-coding region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast of Ephedra plants in China

Twenty-four Ephedra plants belonging to 8 species grown in the northern and western parts of China were phylogenetically analyzed for their non-coding DNA sequences, internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as well as trnL intron and intergenic spacers between trnL and trnF (trnL/ trnF) of the chloroplast. Based on the ITS sequences, the 8 species could be divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (Ephedra intermedia, E. sinica, E. przewalskii), Group 2 (E. equisetina, E. monosperma, E. gerardiana), and Group 3 (E. likiangensis, E. minuta). The species classified into Group 1 grow mainly in the north, Group 3 in the south and Group 2 in the center, suggesting their genetic and geographic relationships. A specific primer set was designed to classify the 3 groups by routine PCR. Combined analysis of ITS and trnL/ trnF differentiated the 8 Ephedra species.     

近红外漫反射光谱法结合CP-ANN和PLS高通量分析草麻黄药材

目的:建立草麻黄药材的近红外漫反射光谱高通量分析方法。方法:测量草麻黄样品的近红外漫反射光谱(near infra-red diffuse reflectance spectra,NIRDRS),应用化学计量学技术进行光谱处理和数据预处理,分别建立并验证草麻黄药材的产地和采摘时间判别对向传播人工神经网络(counter-propagation artificial neural network,CP-ANN)模型及麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱含量预测偏最小二乘(partial least square,PLS)模型。结果:草麻黄药材的产地和采摘时间判别CP-ANN模型的验证样品预测准确率分别为100.0%和80.0%;麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱含量预测PLS模型的验证样品预测均方根误差(root mean square errors ofprediction,RMSEPs)小,分别为1.12和0.236,预测值与参考值的相关系数(correlation coefficients)大,分别为0.9721和0.9309。结论:采用所建方法能同时对草麻黄药材的产地和采摘时间进行准确判别,对其麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的含量进行准确预测。该方法准确、快速,无需特殊的样品处理,也不使用化学试剂。     

十二种国产麻黄的品质评价

本文应用高效液相色谱法对我国24个产地所产的12种麻黄生药进行了六种生物碱的定量分析,这六种生物碱是:麻黄碱(ephedrine),伪麻黄碱(pseudoephedrine),去甲基麻黄碱(norephedrine),去甲基伪麻黄碱(norpseudoephedrine),甲基麻黄碱(methylephedrine)和甲基伪麻黄碱(methylpseudoephedrine)。根据分析结果,对这些麻黄生药的品质作出了评价。     

内蒙西部草麻黄中生物碱的动态研究

本文应用高效液相色谱法研究了内蒙西部草麻黄主产区麻黄生物碱的动态变化。样品均采自该区两个固定观测区(5M~2以内),数量多,目前已成为定期供应工厂提取地区。在一般年份,生长期间麻黄碱与伪麻黄碱之比几乎平行,其总生物碱的含量在7月和10月初达高蜂,较之其它地区高(约2.5％)。     

Survey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephedra </Emphasis>resources in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and their genetic diversity

More than 400 species of medicinal plants grow in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, including Ephedra plants. To investigate the wild Ephedra plant resources in the area, we surveyed the medicinal plants and collected 71 specimens from 18 collecting sites to analyze their genetic variation. The DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS 1 and 2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and a noncoding sequence of chloroplast DNA (trn L/F) were analyzed. This DNA data analysis and external morphological features were used to confirm the species of the specimens, and it was found that E. intermedia was the major species in the area and that E. gerardiana and E. przewalskii were present sporadically. Although it inhabits a relatively small area in comparison with the northwestern Chinese provinces, the DNA sequence of E. intermedia in the Northern Areas of Pakistan was significantly more heterogeneous than the same species grown in those neighboring regions. Most of the E. intermedia specimens contained more than 0.7% ephedrine alkaloids, fulfilling the requirement of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia; thus, the Ephedra plants in the area are a genetic and medicinal resource of great importance.     

A comparative study of commercial samples of ephedrae herba

A total of 22 commercial Ephedra herba samples which belonged to EPHEDRA SINICA, E. INTERMEDIA, E. EQUISETINA, and E. DISTACHYA, respectively, were collected from the Taiwan herbal market. The contents of the six ephedrine alkaloids - ephedrine (E), pseudoephedrine (PE), methylephedrine (ME), methyl-pseudoephedrine (MPE), norephedrine (NE), and nor-pseudoephedrine (NPE) - in these samples were determined by capillary electrophoresis and were found to differ greatly among the samples. Generally, E. SINICA was superior (1.594 +/- 0.467%) and E. INTERMEDIA was inferior (1.210 +/- 0.372%). Among the individual constituents, the sum of E and PE contents in each sample was about nine-tenths of the total alkaloids, and the ratios of E/PE, ME/MPE, and NE/NPE in the given species were definite and could be used to aid in identifying the origin of the herbs. The alkaloid contents were found to be higher in the internodes of the herbs and in those items with thin stems, more powdery and less fibrous characters. There were no indications for alkaloids in the roots of the plants.     

HPLC-UV法同时测定麻黄中5种麻黄生物碱的含量

目的建立同时分离检测麻黄中麻黄碱(Ephedrine)、伪麻黄碱(Pseudoephedrine)、去甲麻黄碱(Norephedrine)、去甲伪麻黄碱(Norpseudoephedrine)和甲基麻黄碱(Methylephedrine)的含量测定方法。方法采用HPLC-UV法,色谱柱:苯基柱(Alltima Phenyl,250mm×4.6 mm,5μm);流动相:0.02 mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液-乙腈(96∶4);流速:0.6 ml/min;检测波长:210 nm;柱温:25℃。结果 5种生物碱在13.5 min内即可达到完全分离,E在2.000 8～40.016 0μg/ml线性关系良好;PE在1.003 6～20.072 0μg/ml线性关系良好;NME在0.199 2～3.984 0μg/ml线性关系良好;NMP在0.200 0～4.00 0μg/ml线性关系良好;ME在0.200 4～4.008 0μg/ml线性关系良好。各生物碱的平均回收率均在92%～104%(RSD≤5.76%)。结论本方法可操作性强,简便快速,分离效果好,重现性好,可为麻黄及含麻黄的中西药制剂提供有效的检测手段。     

Sequence analysis of chloroplast chlB gene of medicinal Ephedra species and its application to authentication of Ephedra Herb

Chloroplast chlB gene encoding subunit B of light-independent protochlorophyllide reductase was amplified from herbarium and crude drug specimens of Ephedra sinica, E. intermedia, E. equisetina, and E. przewalskii. Sequence comparison of the chlB gene indicated that all the E. sinica specimens have the same sequence type (Type S) distinctive from other species, while there are two sequence types (Type E1 and Type E2) in E. equisetina. E. intermedia and E. prezewalskii revealed an identical sequence type (Type IP). E. sinica was also identified by digesting the chlB fragment with Bcl I. A novel method for DNA authentication of Ephedra Herb based on the sequences of the chloroplast chlB gene and internal transcribed spacer of nuclear rRNA genes was developed and successfully applied for identification of the crude drugs obtained in the Chinese market.     

Concentrations of ephedra alkaloids and caffeine in commercial dietary supplements

Dietary supplements that contain Ma Huang (ephedra alkaloids) and guarana (caffeine) are widely marketed and used in the U.S. for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement, despite a lack of adequate research on the pharmacology of these botanical stimulants. We developed and applied a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method to quantitate the various ephedra alkaloids found in dietary supplements that contain Ephedra species. The quantities of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedine, methylpseudoephedrine, and caffeine were determined for 35 commercial dietary supplements and compared with the amounts listed on the product labels. The total ephedra alkaloid content ranged from 5.97 mg to 29.3 mg per serving. Two supplement brands did not list the quantity of ephedra alkaloids on the label, and four did not list the amount of caffeine per serving. Of the products tested, 31% contained > 110% of the total ephedra alkaloids listed on the label, and 6% of the supplements contained < 90% of the listed amount. For caffeine, 86% of the product lots that listed the caffeine amount contained less than 90% of the labeled quantity. No products contained > 110% of the declared caffeine content. The total ephedra alkaloid content varied significantly from lot to lot in 5 of 9 products. Three product brands contained proportions of alkaloids that exceeded amounts reported for E. sinica, including one that was 98% ephedrine, one that had 10% norpseudoephedrine, and one that contained an average of 13% methylephedrine. We conclude that product inconsistency is common among some commercially available dietary supplements that contain ephedra alkaloids and caffeine.     

HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS法优选麻黄中麻黄碱的提取工艺

目的优选麻黄中麻黄碱的最佳提取工艺。方法水煎法获得麻黄药材总提取物,反相高效液相色谱-电喷雾-飞行时间串联质谱选择离子对法测定总提物中麻黄碱的含量,正交设计优选最佳提取工艺。结果方法检测限为0.05μg·mL-1,线性范围为0.005～0.5mg·mL-1;麻黄碱最佳提取工艺为:加30倍量水,75℃加热40min,提取4次。结论该检测方法灵敏、准确,可用于复杂体系中麻黄碱的测定;水煎法经济、绿色、无污染,可作为麻黄碱等生物碱类物质的提取方法。     

Studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephedra</Emphasis> plants in Asia. Part 6: Geographical changes of anatomical features and alkaloids content of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephedra sinica</Emphasis>

Ephedra sinica Stapf is the main botanical origin of the Chinese herbal drug Mahuang, Ephedra Herb. Eighty-five samples of E. sinica, collected across eastern China, Mongolia, and Buryatia (Russia), were studied anatomically and chemically to elucidate the local variations and the relation between environmental factors and the variations. The results showed that samples grown in more arid conditions tended to have a more sinuous epidermis, more cuticular tubers, and more subepidermal fiber bundles anatomically, and contained more total ephedrine alkaloids. These samples also had a high pseudoephedrine content. These results imply that Ephedra Herb with good quality should be collected from arid fields, and the chemical quality can be estimated by observing the anatomical characteristics.     

Genetic diversity of Ephedra plants in mongolia inferred from internal transcribed spacer sequence of nuclear ribosomal DNA

Ephedrae herba has been used for treating colds, relieving coughs and asthma from ancient times. We previously reported the distribution of Ephedra sinica, E. equisetina, E. przewalskii, E. regeliana, E. monosperma and Ephedra sp. in Mongolia, and among them E. sinica and E. equisetina were potential new resources of Ephedrae herba of Japanese pharmacopoeia grade, based on our field survey and subsequent molecular and chemical assessments. However, the Ephedra population in southwestern areas showed a high possibility of having hybrid origins. Further field surveys in southwestern areas, and sequence analysis of the partial nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region, besides trnK and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene regions, were conducted in order to obtain detailed evidence of hybridization status. As a result, the distribution of E. glauca in western area and E. lomatolepis in western-most area was confirmed. The ITS sequences from all 8 Ephedra species collected in Mongolia were roughly divided into 5 types (types I-V). Type II sequence, having several additive nucleotides, was found in Ephedra sp., E. glauca, E. regeliana and E. sinica, which provided useful information for tracing hybrid origins. Morphological, genetic and distribution evidence suggested that the hybridization of Ephedra species occurred widely in southwestern Mongolia, and several Ephedra species including E. przewalkskii and E. intermedia were involved in these events. Integrated with our previous report, trnK-, 18S- and ITS-types from pure lines of each species are proposed. In addition, we propose a practicable method for detecting additive peaks on a direct sequencing electropherogram.     

RP-HPLC法测定麻黄配方颗粒中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的含量

目的：建立用反相高效液相色谱法测定麻黄配方颗粒中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱含量。方法：采用BonChrom—C18柱。流动相为乙腈-0．02mol/L磷酸二氢钾-磷酸（5：95：0．1）,柱温为35℃,检测波长为207nm,流速为1．0ml／min。结果：盐酸麻黄碱线性范围0．03305-0．3966μg,r=0．9999,平均回收率为100．42％,RSD为1．78％（n=6）;盐酸伪麻黄碱的线性范围为0．023～0．276μg,r=0．9997,平均回收率为99．27％,RSD为2．05％（n=6）。结论：本法重复性好,可作为麻黄配方颗粒中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的定量分析方法。     

毛细管区带电泳法测定麻黄中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的含量

目的建立测定麻黄中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱含量的毛细管区带电泳（CZE）法。方法以200 mmol.L-1硼砂-500 mmol.L-1硼酸溶液（1∶1,v/v）含2 mg.mL-1庚烷磺酸钠和0.4%（v/v）乙腈为背景电解质（BGE）,石英毛细管（75 cm×75μm）,有效分离长度60 cm,运行电压15 kV,紫外检测波长210 nm,重力进样20 s（高度10 cm）,以苯甲醇作内标,对麻黄中的麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱进行定量分析,以两者含量为参量对10批麻黄进行系统聚类分析并进行质量评价。结果麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的相对峰面积（Ai/Ar）与各自的质量浓度C（mg.mL-1）呈良好的线性关系,两者的平均回收率分别为100.4%和100.9%。结论该法准确可靠,操作便捷,可用于麻黄中麻黄碱和伪麻黄碱的含量测定。     

The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification of ephedra DNA in dietary supplements

As part of a continuing research effort to develop chemical and genetic authentication profiles of botanicals, an investigation was performed with the goal to detect, identify and verify Ephedra sinica Stapf DNA in dietary supplements such as plant mixtures and tablets/capsules. We amplified and sequenced the chloroplast psbA-trnH spacer from 21 Ephedra spp. and from two of their closest relatives, Gnetum gnemon L. and Welwitschia mirabilis Hook. Based on sequence comparisons, we identified regions unique to all of the Ephedra spp. samples analyzed. We concluded that the psbA-trnH spacer sequence could be used as a molecular marker. Based on this spacer sequence, we designed Ephedra spp.-specific primers that can help to identify Ephedra spp. DNA in plant mixtures containing as little as 1/1,000 part of Ephedra spp. tissue. We used a DNA extraction method that allows for quick DNA isolation from plant mixtures for PCR analysis.     

Comparison of contents of five ephedrine alkaloids in three official origins of Ephedra Herb in China by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present paper, a fast and economical HPLC method [on a Phenomenex Polar-RP column with a solution of (phosphoric acid:triethylamine:dibutylamine:water = 0.40:0.1:0.2:499.3) and methanol] is developed, and applied for the determination of norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, ephedrine (E), pseudoephedrine (PE) and methylephedrine (ME) in 64 samples of three species from main habitats in China. Quantitation data showed that total alkaloid content in Ephedra equisetina Bge. (2.708 ± 0.642%) is higher than that in E. sinica Stapf. (1.365 ± 0.624%) and E. intermedia Schrenk et C. A. Mey. (1.537 ± 0.746%), but the range of total alkaloid content in each species is so wide that the ranges of the three species greatly overlap. The contents of E, PE and ME are different among the three species. The ratio E/total alkaloid content and ratio E/PE as well as E and ME contents can be used for identification of E. sinica, E. intermedia and E. equisetina from one another.     

Determination of ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra natural products using HPLC on a pentafluorophenylpropyl stationary phase

In this study a pentafluorophenylpropyl (PFPP) stationary phase was applied to the fast and reliable qualitative and quantitative analysis of ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra plant material and derivatives. A Discovery HS F5 column (150mmx4.6mm i.d., 5microm) was used, with an isocratic mobile phase composed of ammonium acetate (7mM) in acetonitrile-water (90:10, v/v), at a flow rate of 1.0ml/min. The column temperature was set at 45 degrees C. UV detection was set at 215 and 225nm. The total analysis time was 16min. The validation parameters, such as linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision and specificity, were found to be highly satisfactory. Sonication and microwave extractions were compared in order to optimize the yield of the target analytes. Under the optimized extraction conditions (based on two cycles of sonication with methanol at 40 degrees C for 15min), different matrices containing Ephedra were successfully analyzed for their alkaloid content. The method was applied to the analysis of standard reference materials (SRMs) containing Ephedra. Furthermore, the developed technique allowed the simultaneous determination of ephedrine alkaloids and synephrine, the main phenethylamine alkaloid of Citrus aurantium, that has replaced Ephedra in dietary supplements used in the treatment of obesity. The results indicated that this procedure is suitable for the phytochemical analysis of Ephedra plant material and extracts, and can be applied to demonstrate the label claims for product content, including the absence of ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra-free products.     

色谱法在麻黄生物碱手性分析中的研究进展

生物碱为麻黄中的主要活性兼毒性成分,以3对互为光学非对映异构体的苯异丙胺类生物碱形式存在,这些生物碱不仅对与对之间的药理作用存在显著差异,而且互为非对映异构体的一对生物碱之间作用也不同.此外,通过合成途径获得的几种麻黄生物碱,总是掺杂少量的相应对映体,这些对映体由于失去活性而以杂质的形式存在.因此,为有效合理地控制麻黄及麻黄制剂的质量,应对所存在的异构体分别进行测定.近几年,麻黄生物碱的手性分析成为研究的热点.将近年来麻黄生物碱手性分析的色谱方法进行综述,主要包括高效液相色谱法、气相色谱法、毛细管电泳法,并对各方法的优劣进行讨论.