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Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia., Methods: We randomly assigned 300 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to a trial (n = 156) and a control group (n = 144) to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g, tid) combined with clomiphene (50 mg, qd) and clomiphene alone (50 mg, qd), respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, we determined sperm concentration, the percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm, sperm motility, and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), followed by evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qilin Pills with the pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses as the secondaty therapeutic indexes., Results: Compared with the baseline, both groups of patients showed remarkably improved semen parameters and hormone levels after treatment (all P < 0.01). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of medication, statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups in sperm concentration ([17.06 ± 2.24] vs [15.07 ± 2.48], [22.10 ± 2.65] vs [18.11 ± 2.97], and [28.13 ± 3.59] vs [21.21 ± 3.60] x 10(6)/mL, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm ([15.03 ± 2.39] vs [13.08 ± 2.51], [21.08 ± 3.16] vs [16.04 ± 3.05], and [28.08 ± 4.70] vs [20.14 ± 4.74]%, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ([30.10 ± 5.07] vs [26.21 ± 3.96], [38.08 ± 5.64] vs [30.07 ± 4.80], and [48.04 ± 6.49] vs [35.28 ± 4.77]%, P < 0.01), sperm motility ([42.04 ± 4.86] vs [40.29 ± 4.19], [52.05 ± 5.58] vs [48.03 ± 4.40], and [65.03 ± 5.13] vs [56.67 ± 4.99]%), the FSH level ([7.75 ± 1.38] vs [7.20 ± 1.17], [10.83 ± 1.23] vs [9.10 ± 1.32], and [14.22 ± 0.84] vs [12.06 ± 1.45] IU/L, P < 0.01), the LH level ([10.05 ± 1.68] vs [9.18 ± 1.54], [13.96 ± 1.68] vs [11.99 ± 1.71], and [19.01 ± 2.42] vs [15.86 ± 2.08] IU/L, P < 0.01) and the T level ([19.19 ± 192] vs [18.34 ± 1.79] [21.06 ± 1.63] vs [20.06 ± 1.56], and [24.63 ± 1.06] vs [22.03 ± 1.49] nmol/L, P < 0.01). The pregnancy rate in the patients' spouses was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (1.92 vs 0.69, 4.81 vs 3.47, and 11.54 vs 8.33%, P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in drug tolerance between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed., Conclusion: Qilin Pills combined with clomiphene can evidently improve the seminal quality and hormone level of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events. However, its long-term efficacy and tolerance deserve further clinical investigation.

A rapid resolution liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC-ESI-MS(n)) method has been firstly developed and validated for simultaneous determination of six bioactive flavonoids in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP). The antiproliferative activities of the six flavonoids in CRP, namely naringin, hesperidin, nobiletin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone, tangeretin and 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone, were evaluated and compared by Cell Counting Kit-8 Assay. Quantification was carried out on an Agilent triple quadrupole LC-MS system using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The established method was successfully applied for determination of the six flavonoids in samples collected from different regions in China. Compared with the reported analytical methods, the RRLC-ESI-MS(n) method is powerful in quantitative analysis of multi-component in terms of time savings and sensitivity. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was also performed to differentiate and classify the samples based on the contents of the six characteristic flavonoids. The HCA results indicated that Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' samples could be easily distinguished from other CRP samples. The developed RRLC-ESI-MS(n) method combined with HCA might be utilised as a quality control method for CRP., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines with great medicinal and dietary values. In this work, we developed an approach utilising rapid resolution liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC-ESI-MS/MS) for the identification and profiling of chemical composition in CRP. On the basis of RRLC retention times, cochromatography with available authentic standards, mass spectral fragmentation patterns and literature information, a total of 41 chemical compounds, including 4 flavone-C-glycosides, 7 flavonoid-O-glycosides and 19 polymethoxyflavones were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterised in CRP. The occurrence of 1 flavone-C-glycoside and 3 cyclic peptides in particular has not yet been described. The results indicated that the developed method could serve as a rapid, effective tool for structural characterisation of chemical constituents in CRP., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS(n)) has been developed for structural characterization and identification of multi-constituents in Yiqing Capsule, a well-known combined herbal remedy prepared from the extract mixtures of Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Radix Scutellariae. The UPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent ZorBax SB-C(18) column (4.6 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) and gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid solution and acetonitrile in 16 min. Based on their retention times and mass spectra in comparison with the data from standards or references, a total of 29 compounds including 3 phenolic acids and 4 anthraquinones from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, 8 alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis and 14 flavonoids from Radix Scutellariae were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized in the complex system. The MS data and fragmentation information of two isomers of feruloylquinic acid were first reported in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and in Yiqing Capsules. This study is expected to be accepted as an effective and reliable pattern for comprehensive and systematic characterization of this commonly used Chinese herbal preparation., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: To establish chromatographic fingerprint of Pericarpium Citri Reticultae from Guangdong province by HPLC and comparison of citrus herbs similarity with different strains and different origin, it was expected to fix standard of quality control., Methods: 26 samples' analysis was performed on Diamonsil C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile-1% acetic acid,fingerprint was finished in 65 min, the monitoring wavelength was at 330 nm with the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min., Results: Establishing the fingerprint of Pericarpium Citri Reticultae from Guangdong province, 17 common peaks were found in the HPLC fingerprints from different sources, the similarity of Pericarpium Citri Reticultae from Guangdong province above 0.975 and quite different for different origin drugs., Conclusion: This method is simple, accurate with good reproducibility, and can be used specifically for the quality control of Pericarpium Citri Reticultae from Guangdong province.