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Objective: There are different geographic origins of Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radixs (AKRs) sold in the market with different quality. This study aims to establish a rapid analysis method to distinguish the different geographic origins of AKRs and to realize the rapid evaluation of their quality. Methods: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS) method was utilized to acquire the constituents' information of AKRs from different geographic origins. MSE data and Progenesis QI software were employed to identify the chemical constitutes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to comparing MS data to find the chemical markers of AKRs from different geographic origins. Results: Twenty-three components were detected and 17 out of them were identified, including diester-diterpenoid alkaloids, monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids , and amine-diterpenoid alkaloids. Three pairs of isomers were detected and two of them were distinguished by the retention time of standard samples. Thirteen chemical markers were screened out through PCA and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis. Through detecting Napelline or isomer of Napelline (m/z 360.2530) and Aconifine (m/z 662.3170), AKRs from inner Mongolia autonomous could be screened. According to the existence of benzoylaconine (m/z 604.3108) and Indaconitine (m/z 630.3159), it could be confirmed that the AKRs are from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous. AKRs that cannot detect compounds above-mentioned could be from Liaoning or Shanxi Province. Conclusions: The chemical profile could be used not only to distinguish the AKRs from different geographic origins but also to identify the true and false of AKRs. This study lays a foundation for the study of efficacy and toxic of AKRs.

Objective: Quality control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) begins with the chemical basis elucidation. The root of Stephania tetrandra has long been utilized as an antirheumatic, analgesic, and diuretic TCM, Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix (STR; Fang-Ji). Powerful analytical strategies enabling its multicomponent characterization is still rare. Methods: A rapid, reliable, and enhanced profiling approach, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS) and automatic peak annotation facilitated by computational matching of in-house library, was established and utilized to characterize the multicomponents from STR. A knockout strategy was utilized by automated valve switching to overcome the interference of predominant peaks. Results: Good chromatographic separation was achieved within 17 min on a reversed-phase BEH C18 column eluted with acetonitrile/0.1% ammonium hydroxide in water, while data-independent high-definition MSE (HDMSE) in positive mode was applied to acquire the MS2 data by using a VionTM IM-QTOF instrument, which in theory, could cover all the profiled precursor ions. An in-house library of 163 compounds was established and incorporated into the UNIFITM platform. By feat of these efforts, we were able to identify or tentatively characterize 76 alkaloids from the methanolic extract of STR, including 14 aporphine-type, four morphine-type, 48 bisbenzylisoquinoline-type, seven tetrahydroprotoberberine-type, one protopine-type, one benzylisoquinoline-type, and one other. Four-dimensional information, such as the retention time, collision cross section (CCS), high-accuracy MS1 and MS2 data, for each component was provided. Conclusions: The systematic multicomponent characterization of STR was accomplished with high coverage, high degree of automation, and high reliability.

Objectives: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic (ICG) strip assay will be developed for the rapid and high-throughput detection of atrazine (ATZ) in medicinal herbs. Methods: A monoclonal antibody against ATZ was obtained after the immunization of mice, cell fusion, and hybridoma screening, and the antibody was used to develop direct competitive ELISA (dcELISA) and the ICG strip assay. Results: Both dcELISA and ICG strip methods were established, optimized, and validated for the detection of ATZ in Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome, Astragali radix, and Isatidis radix. dcELISA had a half-maximum inhibition concentration of 10.56 ng/mL (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome), 7.6 ng/mL (Astragali radix), and 8.15 ng/mL (Isatidis radix). The limit of detection (LOD) of the ICG strip assay was 12.5 ng/mL (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix et rhizome), 12.5 ng/mL (Astragali radix), and 6.25 ng/mL (Isatidis radix) in different herb matrices. Due to the recognition characteristics of the monoclonal antibody for the pesticides ATZ, propazine, sebuthylazine, and prometryn, the detection results of real samples by the two immunoassays were confirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which proved the accuracy and reliability of the established methods. Conclusion: The proposed dcELISA and ICG strip methods were suitable for the rapid, convenient, and high-throughput detection of ATZ in these medicinal herbs.

Objective: In this study, the hepatotoxic components of Polygoni multiflori Radix and Polygoni multiflori Radix Praeparata (known as Heshouwu [HSW] and Zhiheshouwu [ZHSW] in China, respectively) were screened, isolated, and identified. Materials and Methods: The ethanol extracts of HSW and ZHSW were separated into 80 fractions according to their polarity in the preparation liquid phase. Chang liver cell line was used to screen the toxic components of HSW and ZHSW in vitro. The obtained toxic mixture was further collected, isolated, and identified to confirm the hepatotoxic compounds of HSW and ZHSW. Results: The identifid hepatotoxic compounds include 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, emodin, physcion-8-O-β-d-glucoside, physcion, and citreorosein, the fist two among them were the main components of HSW and ZHSW. After processing of HSW, the contents of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside and emodin in ZHSW were signifiantly decreased. Conclusions: The traditional processing with herb has signifiant effects on the components, especially the toxic components, in the extract of HSW and is an effective method to reduce its toxicity.

Objective: To investigate the network pharmacology of anti-tumor Chinese medicinal formulae and explain the synergistic mechanism of various active ingredients of Chinese medicinal formulae. Methods: We collected the anti-tumor Chinese medicinal formulae and chose several single herbs with the top frequency for further study. The chemical constituents of these herbs were downloaded from databases CNPC and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and were analyzed to set up the anti-tumor material basis. The genes regulated by these constituents were retrieved in Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated database and Comparative Toxicogenomics database. Results: We collected 65 anti-tumor Chinese medicinal formulae, and 4 single herbs were selected, including Licorice, Radix astragali, Panax ginseng, and Radix scutellariae, which consist of 172, 70, 293, and 92 known constituents, respectively. The constituent–gene network, protein–protein interaction network, gene–pathway enrichment network, and gene–disease network were constructed. Moreover, molecular docking was employed to clarify the interactions between active constituents and key drug targets (PTG2, epidermal growth factor receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, estrogen receptor 1, mammalian target of rapamycin, AKT1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 [MAPK1], peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, and MAPK8). Most of the constituents could act on multiple targets, whose structures mainly belong to alkaloids, flavonoids, and their glycosides, organic acids, or dianthrone, and their representative chemical constituents include narcissus glycosides, rutin, dauricine, scutellarin, baicalin, isoschaftoside, and leucovorin. Conclusion: The network mechanism of the effective constituents from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for anti-tumor therapy was partially uncovered by using statistical methods, network pharmacology methods, and molecular docking methods. This study will provide important information for new drug design with multiple targets for anti-tumor therapy.

Objective: The so-called granules for prescription have been developed about 20 years ago as a new form of modernizing and simplification of the classical decoction common in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice. Due to actual problems in Germany/Europe, which are caused by the lack of quality monographs and judicial classification of granules for prescription, the aim of the study was a comparison of the chemical composition of commercial granules versus decoctions. Taking an example, decoctions, commercial granules, and organic extracts of two well-established TCM herbal drugs, Scrophulariae Radix and Xanthii Fructus, were examined in their specific composition. Methods: Using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for fingerprint analysis of different batches of herbal drugs and samples from various suppliers of Xanthii Fructus and Scrophulariae Radix were critically examined. The decoctions were prepared according to traditional rules, while the granules were dissolved in water in accordance with actual regulations. Furthermore, organic extracts of the plant material were examined and compared with aqueous extracts. Results: It could be demonstrated, that in some cases, there are remarkable differences in the specific composition between granules from different suppliers, the classical aqueous decoction and the organic extract used for the HPTLC fingerprinting. On the other hand, few examples exist for good comparability of decoctions and commercial granules. Conclusion: After critical evaluation of the above results, it can be questioned, if there is a so-called phytoequivalence between decoctions and commercial granules for prescription used in TCM practice.

Flavonoids are a major component in the traditional Chinese medicine Radix Ilicis Pubescentis. Previous studies have shown that the administration of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids is protective in cerebral ischemia. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined whether the total flavonoids extracted from Radix Ilicis Pubescentis prevent or ameliorate neuronal damage following transient ischemic attacks. Therefore, Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids question and the potential underlying mechanisms. Thus, beginning 3 days before the induction of a mouse model of transient ischemic attack using tert-butyl hydroperoxide injections, mice were intragastrically administered 0.3, 0.15, or 0.075 g/kg of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids daily for 10 days. The results of spectrophotometric analyses demonstrated that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids enhanced oxygen free radical scavenging and reduced pathological alterations in the brain. Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids reduced hippocampal neuronal damage and cerebral vascular injury in this mouse model of transient ischemic attack. These results suggest that the antioxidant effects of Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids alleviate the damage to brain tissue caused by transient ischemic attack.

Previous studies have shown that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a neuroprotective effect, but it remains unclear whether Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a synergistic effect with the recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mobilized bone marrow stem cell transplantation on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rat ischemia models were administered 0.3, 0.15 and 0.075 g/kg Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids from 3 days before modeling to 2 days after injury. Results showed that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids could reduce pathological injury in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of Nissl bodies increased, Bax protein expression decreased, Bcl-2 protein expression increased and the number of CD34-positive cells increased. Therefore, Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids can improve the bone marrow stem cell mobilization effect, enhance the anti-apoptotic ability of nerve cells, and have a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Among the various treatment methods for stroke, increasing attention has been paid to traditional Chinese medicines. Buyang Huanwu decoction is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of stroke. This paper summarizes the active components of the Chinese herb, which is composed of Huangqi (Radix Astragali seu Hedysari), Danggui (Radix Angelica sinensis), Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong), Honghua (Flos Carthami), Taoren (Semen Persicae) and Dilong (Pheretima), and identifies the therapeutic targets and underlying mechanisms that contribute to the neuroprotective properties of Buyang Huanwu decoction.

An awareness pertaining to the variations in root morphology in primary teeth is highly important among clinicians to render best treatment and in the maintenance of these teeth in the oral cavity. Primary mandibular second molars usually have two roots with three canals. Very rarely an additional supernumerary root occurs and when this extra root is situated mesiobuccally it is referred as radix paramolaris (RP) and when it is present distolingually to the main distal root it is called as radix entomolaris. Most of the times, this extra root remain undiagnosed due to its overlapping with the main mesial root on radiographic examination leading to endodontic failures. The aim of this paper is to present two cases of RP in primary mandibular second molars and to describe its clinical significance.