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Through a series of methodology investigations, we established a new method for simultaneous analysis of epimedins A, B, C, icariin and baohuoside I in Epimedii Folium by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Meanwhile, using Icariin as an internal reference substance to establish the relative correct factors and relative retention values of Epimedins A, B, C and Baohuoside I to Icariin, then using the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) model, the five analytes can be quantitatively determined in Epimedii Folium and its processed products as well as Kanggu Zengsheng capsule only by measuring the content of icariin in the corresponding samples. All these analysis are completed in the same chromatorgraphic conditions. This paper played the part of demonstration role in the popularization and application of QAMS method established in a single herb to the proprietary Chinese medicines containing this herb., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Radix Scutellariae (RS) is a herbal medicine with various pharmacological activities to treat inflammation, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, etc. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and selective UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of 10 flavonoids - scutellarin, scutellarein, chrysin, wogonin, baicalein, apigenin, wogonoside, oroxylin A-7-O-glucuronide, oroxylin A and baicalin - from RS aqueous extracts in rat plasma with propyl paraben as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column using gradient elution with the mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode using electrospray ionization in negative mode. The validated method showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (r >0.9935). The intra- and interday assay variabilities were <9.5% and <12.4% for all analytes, respectively. The extraction recovery ranged from 71.2 to 89.7% for each analyte and IS. This method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic comparision after oral administration of crude and wine-processed RS aqueous extracts. There were significant differences in some pharmacokinetic parameters of most analytes between crude and wine-processed RS. This suggested that wine-processing exerted effects absorption of most flavonoids., (© 2014 The Authors. Biomedical Chromatography published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ascending and descending theory is a core principle of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories. It plays an essential role in TCM clinical applications. Some TCM medicine has specific properties, which could alter the inclination and direction of their actions. The properties of the ascending and floating process of one herbal medicine are affected by means of herb processing. Wine-processing, which is sautéing with rice wine, is one of the most popular technologies of herb processing. Wine-processing increases the inclination and direction of its actions, thereby producing or strengthening their efficacy in cleaning the upper-energizer heat. Radix scutellariae, the dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is a well-known TCM used for the treatment of inflammation, pyrexia, jaundice, etc. Recently, wine-processed Radix scutellariae was normally applied in clinical studies for the treatment of upper-energizer syndrome. In order to investigate the effects of wine-processing on ascending and descending of Radix scutellariae, the comparative study of distribution of flavonoids in rat tissues of triple energizers (SanJiao-upper, middle, lower jiao) after oral administration of crude and wine-processed Radix scutellariae aqueous extracts was carried out., Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly assigned to two groups and orally administered with crude and wine-processed Radix scutellariae aqueous extracts, respectively. At different pre-determined time points after administration, the concentrations of compounds in rat tissue homogenate were determined, and the main tissue pharmacokinetic parameters were investigated. Tissue pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC0-t, t1/2, Tmax and Cmax were calculated using DAS 2.0. An unpaired Student t-test was used to compare the differences in tissue pharmacokinetic parameters between the two groups. All the results were expressed as arithmetic mean±S.D., Results: The parameters of Cmax and AUC0-t of some flavonoids in wine-processed Radix scutellariae were remarkably increased (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) in the rat upper-energizer tissues (lung and heart) compared with those of the crude group. However, in the rat middle- and lower-energizer tissues (spleen, liver and kidney), the Cmax and AUC0-t of some flavonoids were significantly decreased (p<0.05, p<0.01) compared with the crude group. The main explanation for these differences seems to the effects of wine-processing on ascending and descending theory., Conclusions: All of these differences in the distribution of triple energizers after oral administration of crude and wine-processed Radix scutellariae aqueous extracts may lead to the increase of efficacy on the upper-energizer tissues and were in compliance with the ascending and descending theory. Therefore, wine-processing was recommended when Radix scutellariae was used for cleaning the upper-energizer heat and humidity. The obtained knowledge can be used to evaluate the impact of these differences on the efficacy of both the drugs in clinical applications and might be helpful in explaining the effects of wine-processing on ascending and descending theory., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To establish a quantitative method for determination of cirsilineol in Herba Artemisiae Scopariae collected in Autumn., Method: Sample was extracted with methanol, and cleaned up with polyamide column. ODS column was used with methanol-acetonitrile-0.5% acetic acid solution (24:19:57) as mobile phase. Detection wavelength was 347 nm., Result: Cirsilineol in sample solution was well separated. Linearity of cirsilineol was good (r = 0.9998) in range of 0.1-0.8 microgram. The average recovery was 101.3%, RSD of repeatability was 3.04%., Conclusion: This method can be used for quality control of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae collected in autumn and its preparations.