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[ Objectives ] To investigate the inhibitory effect and possible mechanism of essential oil from Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix on microglia activation induced by lipopolysaccharide $ LPS ). [ Methods ] The LPS-induced microglia activation model was established and treated with different doses of essential oil from Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix. MTT assay was used to detect cell viability, ELISA to detect IL-6 secretion, RT-PCR to detect mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-1, NF-kB, and IkBcc, Western blotting to detect the protein expression of IL-6, IL-1,NF-kB, IkBcc, and their phosphorylated products. [ Results] Compared with the norma control group, the model group showed increased IL-6 content $ A<0.01), upregulated mRNA and protein levels of IL-6, IL-1", and NF-kB $ A<0.01), and elevated ratio of P-IkBcc/IkBcc $ A < 0. 05). Compared with the model group, 4 and 2 xg /L essential oil from Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix reduced the content of IL-6 $ A < 0. 05), while 4, 2, and 1 xg /L essential oil from Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6, IL-1 and NF-kB to varying degrees $ A < 0. 05 or A < 0. 01), up-regulate the mRNA expression of IkBcc $ A <0. 05 or A <0.01), and decreased the ratio of P-IkBcc/IkBcc $ A <0.05 or A <0.01). [ Conclusions] Essential oil from Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix can inhibit LPS-induced microglia activation, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-kB/IkBcc signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To provide theoretical foundation for protection and utilization of Sophora flavescens in Guizhou. [Methods] Con tents of alkaloids ad flavonoids in S. flavescens from different habitats of Guizhou Province were studied by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. [Results] The content of alkaloids in S. flavescens was 15.60% in Dafang County, Bijie City and 15.20% in Sinan County, Tongren City, obviously higher than that of other habitats. The content of flavonoids in S. flavescens from Laoyingshan Town, Liupanshui City was the highest, reaching 15.70%. [Conclusions] There were big differences between various habitats in the contents of alkaloids and flavonoids in S. flavescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To study the main active components, targets and related pathways of Ningmitai capsule for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) based on network pharmacology. [Methods] The chemical components of Ningmitai capsule were collected through literature search, and the relevant target information of the components was sorted out. The UTIs-associated targets were also screened out using DisGeNET database and GeneCards database. Cytoscape 3.6.1 software and STRING platform were used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and MCODE plug-in in this software was used to analyze the action pathway and key targets of Ningmitai capsule for the treatment of UTIs. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of key targets was conducted using David database, and the component-target-pathway network diagram of Ningmitai capsule for the treatment of UTIs was established. [Results] A total of 37 active compounds, including salicylate, ferulic acid, baicalin, quercetin, apigenin and ellagic acid were screened from seven TCM components of Ningmitai capsule. There were 26 possible targets related to the treatment of UTIs, such as NFKB1, JUN, CTNNB1 and STAT3, which play an important role for the treatment of UTIs through prostate cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer and other signaling pathways. [Conclusions] The study provides a theoretical basis for the study of the mechanism of Ningmitai capsule in the treatment of UTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The aim was to determine the optimum process for the extraction of volatile oil from Alpinia zerumbet fruit. [Methods] Steam distiilation was used to extract volatile oil from A. zerumbet fruit. Based on the single factor tests, an orthogonal test was designed to explore the effects of solid-liquid ratio, soaking time, extraction time and grinding degree of material on the extraction rate. The composition of volatile oil from A. zerumbet fruit was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the relative mass fraction of each component was determined by peak area normalization. [Results] With volatile oil yield as the index, the optimum extraction process was determined: solid to liquid ratio of 1:10, soaking time of 0.5 h, grinding degree of passing through 24-mesh sieve and extraction time of 5 h. A total of 29 compounds were isolated. Among them, the contents of a-terpinene (24. 894%), 1, 8-terpadiene (15.527%) and α-pinene (6. 982%) were relatively high. [Conclusions] The optimized extraction process for volatile oil from A. zerumbet fruit is stable and reasonable. Under the optimum extraction process, the extraction effect of volatile oil from A. zerumbet fruit was the best. The chemical components of volatile oil from A. zerumbet fruit were determined by GC-MS as α-terpinene (24. 894%), 1, 8-terpadiene (15.527%) and α-pinene (6.982%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]