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Dingzhi Xiaowan is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine in treating depression, which is a similar formula of Kaixinsan. In this research, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)) method was established to analyze the metabolites of Dingzhi Xiaowan in depressive model rat plasma, bile, urine and feces. After we established Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats and orally administrated Dingzhi Xiaowan, rat plasma, bile, urine and feces samples were collected and prepared. Using Waters Cortects UPLC C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.6 μm), acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid mobile phase gradient, these samples were analyzed and 33 metabolites of nine bioactive compounds were detected and tentatively identified by Metabolynx. Among the 33 metabolites, three metabolites were identified from plasma sample, three came from bile sample, and 27 metabolites were identified from urine and feces samples. This approach provided a rapid method for characterizing the metabolites of Dingzhi Xiaowan and gave the truly active structures and the action mechanism of their antidepressant effects.

Compound 1, a triterpenoid saponin from Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf showing potential anti-tumour activity, was hydrolysed into two deglycosyl derivatives (2 and 3) by Alternaria alternata AS 3.6872. Both these derivatives are new compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and optical rotation spectral data. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver cells by Cell Counting Kit 8 colorimetric assay.

Three new triterpenoid saponins, 1- 3, together with two known saponins, 4 and 5, were isolated from the rhizome of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Saponins 1, 2, 4, and 5 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines, namely, Hela human cervical carcinoma cells, EJ human bladder tumor cells, HepG-2 human hepatoma cells, and BCG human gastric carcinoma cells with IC (50) values in the range of 1.9-4.8 µM., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the aerial part of Cercis chinensis., Method: The constituents of C. chinensis were separated with various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analysis and physico-chemical properties., Result: Nine compounds were isolated from C. chinensis. They were identified as 3-O-methylquercetin (1), quercetin (2), (2R,3R)-3, 5, 7, 3', 5'-pentahydroxyflavan (3), 3', 5, 5', 7-tetrahydroxyflavanone (4), [+]-taxifolin (5), (2R)-naringenin (6), friedelin (7), beta-sitosterol (8), daucosterin (9)., Conclusion: compounds 1 and 3-7 were isolated from the genus Cercis for the first time.