药用植物金荞麦中黄酮类化合物积累的时空变化规律

目的 探究药用植物金荞麦不同生育期各器官中黄酮类化合物积累的时空分布规律,为金荞麦合理采收、资源化利用和高价值开发提供科学依据。方法 以根茎繁殖不同生长年限的金荞麦为研究对象,在不同生育时期采集根、茎、叶、花器官,采用高效液相色谱法测定各器官样品中儿茶素、表儿茶素、芦丁和总黄酮含量。结果 随着金荞麦生育期推进,植株不同器官的黄酮类化合物积累增加,以秋季地上部分枯萎后的含量最高;不同生育时期叶片中的儿茶素、表儿茶素、芦丁和总黄酮含量均显著高于根茎和茎秆（P<0.05）。不同器官间儿茶素、表儿茶素、芦丁和总黄酮含量差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,花中儿茶素、芦丁和总黄酮含量最高;表儿茶素含量在茎秆中最低。黄酮类物质含量在根茎不同部位差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,表儿茶素和总黄酮含量在根茎不同组织部位表现为须根>韧皮部>根茎（不含须根）>木质部（P<0.05）,儿茶素和芦丁分别在须根和韧皮部含量最高。1年生与2年生金荞麦植株不同器官的黄酮类化合物含量差异无统计学意义。结论 在不考虑产量的前提下,根茎繁殖金荞麦种植1年即可采收,适宜采收期为11月上旬。     

儿茶药材化学成分分析——反相高效液相色谱法测定儿茶中儿茶素和表儿茶素的含量

目的：测定儿茶中主要成分儿茶素及表儿茶素的含量。方法：采用反相高效液相色谱法,以儿茶素及表儿茶素为对照品。结果：按选定的色谱条件,儿茶素及表儿茶素分别在０２５６～１２８、０７２８～３６４１μｇ范围内线性良好。２种成分的平均加样回收率分别为１００１％和９６０％,ＲＳＤ分别为２４％和２７％（ｎ＝５）。结论：本方法操作简便、快捷,重现性好。     

大叶钩藤中表儿茶素含量的测定

目的：充分利用中药钩藤的植物资源,测定并比较大叶钩藤Ｕｎｃａｒｉａ ｍａｃｒｏｐｈｙｌｌａ Ｗａｌｌ．的叶和钩茎中的表儿茶素含量。方法：利用ＲＰ－ＨＰＬＣ测定。结果：钩藤钩茎中含表儿茶素０．３８％,叶中含０．８２％。结论：大叶钩藤中含有较多的表儿茶素,叶中含量大于钩茎中含量。     

Bioguidage search of active compounds from Waltheria indica L. (Malvaceae) used for asthma and inflammation treatment in Burkina Faso

Waltheria indica is used in traditional pharmacopeia in Burkina Faso for the treatment of asthma and conditions of inflammation. To evaluate its pharmacological properties and isolate the active compounds, a study through a bioguided phytochemical approach was conducted. This search was guided by a two‐level investigation. First, we evaluated the impact of various fractions on the activity of enzymes involved in smooth muscle contraction (PDE4A1α) and inflammatory processes (PLA₂, 5‐LOX). Second, we investigated the inhibitory effect of fractions on isolated rat trachea. The initial hydroalcoholic extract from roots of W. indica (HA), n‐hexane fraction (F₁), dichloromethane fraction (F₂), ethyl acetate fraction (F₃), residuary fraction (F₄) reduced enzyme activity of PDE4A1α (inhibition of 22–42% at 50 μg/mL), 5‐LOX (60–80% at 10 μg/mL), and PLA₂ (42–94% at 100 μg/mL). On isolated rat trachea, only HA, F₃, and fractions obtained from F₃ by chromatography on silica gel column, using dichloromethane/methanol, dose dependently inhibited contraction induced by acetylcholine. IC₅₀ was 1051 μg/mL for HA and comprised between 181 and 477 μg/mL for F₃ and its fractions. The most active fractions were purified and led to the identification of (‐)‐epicatechin. (‐)‐epicatechin from W. indica dose dependently inhibited PLA₂ (IC₅₀ = 154.7 μm ) and 5‐LOX (IC₅₀ = 15.8 μm ). In conclusion, both inhibition of PDE4A1α, 5‐LOX, and PLA₂ activities and rat trachea relaxation by W. indica validate its use in traditional management of asthma and other conditions of inflammation. These effects should be, at least in part, attributed to the presence of (‐)‐epicatechin in roots of W. indica.     

Radical Scavenging Evaluation of Green Tea Extracts

The free radical scavenging activity of Thea sinensis leaf extract was evaluated with a chemical test involving diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). The hot aqueous green tea extract demonstrated antiradical activity comparable with rutin and vitamin E used as a standard. Liquid–liquid fractionation monitored by scavenging radical bioassay followed by preparative high pressure liquid chromatography led to catechin derivatives. The antiradical activity of the main component of tea leaves was identified as epigallocatechin gallate the major component demonstrating activity.     

Effect of green tea extract on advanced glycation and cross-linking of tail tendon collagen in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes leads to modification of collagen such as advanced glycation and cross-linking which play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. We have investigated the effect of green tea on modification of collagen in streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) induced diabetic rats. To investigate the therapeutic effect of green tea, treatment was begun six weeks after the onset of diabetes and green tea extract (300 mg/kg body weight) was given orally for 4 weeks. The collagen content, extent of advanced glycation, advanced glycation end products (AGE) and cross-linking of tail tendon collagen were investigated. Green tea reduced the tail tendon collagen content which increased in diabetic rats. Accelerated advanced glycation and AGE in diabetic animals, as detected by Ehrlich's-positive material and collagen linked fluorescence respectively were reduced significantly by green tea. The solubility of tail tendon collagen decreased significantly in diabetic rats indicating a remarkable increase in the cross-linking, whereas green tea increases the solubility of collagen in diabetic rats. The present study reveals that green tea is effective in reducing the modification of tail tendon collagen in diabetic rats. Thus green tea may have a therapeutic effect in the treatment of glycation induced complications of diabetes.     

Inhibition of matrix-proteases by polyphenols: chemical insights for anti-inflammatory and anti-invasion drug design

Flavanols--a class of plant polyphenols abundant in tea leaves and grape seeds and skins--have been found to inhibit some matrix-proteases instrumental in inflammation and cancer invasion, such as leukocyte elastase (LE) and gelatinases. In order to establish the relationship between chemical structure and activity, 27 different flavonoids (antocyanidins, dihydrochalcones, dihydroflavonols, flavanolignans, flavanols, flavones, flavonols and isoflavones) and other compounds with anti-oxidant properties were evaluated for their potential in blocking LE and gelatinase activities. LE activity was measured using a chromogenic substrate: from comparison of the different levels of inhibition, it was deduced that a crucial role in inhibition might be played by a galloyl moiety or hydroxyl group at C3, three hydroxyl groups at B ring, one hydroxyl group at C4', and a 2,3-double bond. Gelatinase activity was measured using the gelatin-zymography assay, and its inhibition showed that three hydroxyl groups at the A or B ring, or, for non-planar molecules, a galloyl moiety at C3 could be determinant. This comparative study is proposed as a basis for designing new molecules with enhanced anti-proteolytic activities, and no or reduced side-effects, for use in hindering inflammation, cancer invasion and angiogenesis.     

高效液相色谱-电化学检测法测定金荞麦饮片中表儿茶素的含量

目的:建立可测定金荞麦饮片中表儿茶素含量的高效液相色谱-电化学检测法。方法:采用DiamonsilC₁₈(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm)柱,流动相甲醇-0.1 mol.L^-1磷酸盐缓冲液(1∶3,pH 2.5),流速1.0 mL.min^-1,柱温35℃,参比电极ISAAC(in-situ silver/silver chloride),工作电极玻碳电极,检测电位+600 mV。结果:表儿茶素的线性范围为0.004 875～1.56μg,r=0.999 9;平均回收率为100.7%,RSD 1.9%(n=5)。9批不同市售来源的金荞麦饮片中表儿茶素的含量存在差异。结论:该方法重复性好,可以用来测定金荞麦饮片中表儿茶素的含量。     

Insulin-like effect of (-)epicatechin on erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Changes in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been reported in diabetes mellitus that have been linked to certain brain defects. The erythrocyte membrane AChE is reported to be similar to AChE present in the brain. 2. Epicatechin, a member of a group of polyphenolic compounds collectively known as "catechins" that are present in tea and belong to the flavonoid family, has been reported to possess insulin-like activity. 3. In the present study, the in vitro effect of (-)epicatechin and/or insulin was tested on erythrocyte membrane AChE in normal and type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to test the efficacy of (-)epicatechin to mimic insulin in its effect on erythrocyte membrane AChE. 4. Acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly lower in type 2 diabetic patients than in normal controls and in vitro insulin treatment restored this activity to normal levels. Epicatechin (1 mmol/L) also caused an elevation in AChE activity in diabetic erythrocytes, an effect that was similar to the effect of insulin. 5. Epicatechin has a pronounced insulin-like effect on erythrocyte membrane-bound AChE in type 2 diabetic patients; however, the mechanism of action of epicatechin remains speculative.     

(−)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the spontaneous firing of rat locus coeruleus neuron

(−)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a tea catechin, has been known to cause many biological actions, such as anxiolytic and hypotensive effects in behavioral studies. However, to date, few reports investigate its neuronal modulation. In this study, intracellular recording was used to test the neuronal modulation of different catechins on locus coeruleus (LC) neuron, which has been demonstrated to be affected by cardiovascular function regulation and stressful events. Several catechins (1–1000 μM) were tested, including: (−)catechin (C), (−)catechingallate (CG), (−)epicatechin (EC), (−)epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), (−)epigallocatechin (EGC) and EGCG. The results showed that catechins EC, ECG, EGC and EGCG could inhibit the spontaneous firing of the LC neurons; furthermore, these catechins show potency and efficacy in the order of EGCG > ECG > EC ≈ EGC. Among the tested catechins, EGCG was the most potent in inhibiting LC's spontaneous firing with IC₅₀ of 20.5 μM. This caused us to further examine the EGCG's desensitization and tolerance properties. When continuously administering EGCG at 1–300 μM for 20 min, no acute desensitization appeared. However, repeated applications of 300 μM EGCG at 5 min each time showed different results. The second and third applications induced less responses compared to that of the first application, suggesting a development of tolerance towards EGCG in inhibiting LC neuronal activity. Our data suggest that EGCG can inhibit LC neuron's spontaneous firing in a dose-dependent manner, with developed tolerance only when high concentration of EGCG is repeatedly applied.