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Fresh ginseng was irradiated with 60Co-γ or an electron beam at the dose of 2 and 4 kGy and stored at 2 °C. The quality of ginseng was evaluated after 60 and 120 days. Results suggest that when the storage time was 120 days, 2 kGy EI-treated ginseng had the lowest decay rate. During the 2 storage periods, the amounts of most of 9 ginsenosides decreased with an increase in the irradiation dose. The total saponin content of both 60Co-γ-irradiated and EI-treated samples decreased with an increase in the irradiation dose. Significant (P < 0.05) upregulation of total polysaccharide content was observed in the 4 kGy EI samples after storage. Samples irradiated at 2 or 4 kGy by electron beam irradiation had the highest concentration of total saponin and ginseng polysaccharides, respectively. Levels of most of 17 amino acids decreased with the increasing irradiation dose. Exposure to irradiation doses up to 4 kGy affected the amino acid content of fresh ginseng. Ginseng irradiated at 4 kGy by 60Co-γ irradiation and stored for 120 days had a significantly higher activity of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the total concentration of nucleosides and nucleobases between irradiated and un-irradiated ginseng samples (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the combination of a lower irradiation dose and low temperature is an optimal condition for extending the shelf-life of fresh ginseng without detriment to its ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three polyacetylenes were isolated and purified from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC for the first time by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography using a two‐phase solvent system composed of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:31:1:31, v/v/v/v) and high‐performance liquid chromatography with an Agilent ZORBAX® SB‐C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm). After separation by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography, we obtained 3.5 mg of platetyolin A, 4.1 mg of platetyolin B, and 18.1 mg of lobetyolin with purities of 97.2, 96.7, and 96.9%, respectively. The purity of each compound was assessed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and the chemical structures were evaluated by high‐resolution electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Among the isolated compounds, platetyolin A and platetyolin B are newly reported compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed counter-current chromatography was applied for the first time for the separation and purification of bioactive compounds contained in the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. Silica gel column chromatography was first used to obtain three composition-enriched target fractions from a crude J. mandshurica methanol extract. Three independent high-speed counter-current chromatography processes were then used to further isolate 13 bioactive compounds, namely, six galloyl glucose derivatives, three flavonones, three naphthoquinones, and ethyl gallate. The isolates were identified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet and NMR spectroscopy, and compared with literature data. Their purities were determined to be >94.6% by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, based on the total phenolic content and results of a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test, the methanol extract and two of the three initial fractions were observed to be rich in phenolic compounds and exhibit good free radical scavenging abilities, while nine of the isolated compounds exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity, superior to that of butyrate hydroxy-toluene and comparable to that of gallic acid. The results of this research confirm the effectiveness of high-speed counter-current chromatography for the separation of compounds contained in extremely complex samples, and provide a basis for the further utilization of J. mandshurica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preparative high-speed countercurrent chromatography method was successfully used for the isolation of five minor flavones from Polygonum cuspidatum flowers. Among them, three compounds were obtained from P. cuspidatum for the first time. A twin two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (1:6:3:6, v/v/v/v) and petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (2:4:3:3, v/v/v/v) was developed. Compounds were obtained from the fraction B and fraction C prepurified by silica gel column chromatography. Five minor compositions, 6.8 mg of hesperidin, 11.2 mg of phloridzin, 4.9 mg of luteolin, 5.3 mg of hyperin, and 3.7 mg of luteoloside were obtained from 140 mg of the fraction B and 110 mg of fraction C with a purity of 95.3, 96.4, 98.0, 96.8, and 95.3%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of these compounds were identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) is often used as a medical and food resource in China. The present study was designed to investigate the features and effects of polysaccharide from Astragalus membranaceus (WAP) on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). WAP was mainly composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose and glacturonic acid, with glucan, arabinogalactan and RG-I regions, and it showed loosely irregular sheet conformation. WAP decreased the inflammatory cell infiltration of colon in AAD rats, increased propionate and butyrate production, improved metabolic levels, adjusted the diversity and composition of gut microbiota, increased the relative abundance of Pseudomonas, and decreased the relative abundance of Allobaculum and Coprococcus. In conclusion, WAP contained different types of polysaccharide regions and sheet three-dimensional conformation, while it ameliorated AAD by recovering the colon structure, adjusting the gut microbiota, and improving the SCFAs levels. The results can provide some data basis for natural products to alleviate the side effects related to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a sensitive hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) method was developed to determine pseudojervine (PJV), veratrosine (VTS), jervine (JV), veratramine (VTM), veramarine (VA) and veratroylzygadenine (VTG) in rat plasma. Separations were carried out using LC–MS/MS with a Chrom Matrix HP amide column (5 m, 10 cm × 3.0 mm i.d.). The mobile phases were (A) 0.01 mm formic acid and (B) acetonitrile. Good linearity was found for all analytes (R2 > 0.995) in the concentration range from 5 to 1000 μg/L with LLOQ at 5 μg/L for VTM and VTS; and from 1 to 1000 μg/L with LLOQ at 1 μg/L for PJV, JV, VA and VTG. Accuracy of the assay varied from 90.5 to 108.1%. The extraction recovery and matrix effect of six analytes ranged from 72.2 to 95.5% and from 79.2 to 98.4%. According to the stability test, six analytes in rat plasma were stable during the analysis process. On the basis of validation of the assay, the pharmacokinetics of the six steroid alkaloids were investigated after oral administration of Lilu extracts to rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-soluble polysaccharides in antler velvet were extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation. The content was determined by a phenol-sulfuric acid colorimetry. After hydrolysis and derivatization, the various monosaccharide compositions of water-soluble polysaccharides from different parts of the antler velvet after different processing methods were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The results showed that the water-soluble polysaccharide contents in wax slices, powder slices, gauze slices and bone slices of the boiled antler velvet were 1.74, 1.67, 1.03 and 1.13 g/kg, respectively, whereas those of the freeze-dried antler velvet were 2.77, 3.07, 1.22 and 3.20 g/kg, respectively. The water-soluble polysaccharide contents in in the same four parts of the antler velvet processed antler velvet without and with blood were 1.55, 1.78, 0.96, 0.77 g/kg, and 1.69, 1.64, 1.01, 1.31 g/kg, respectively. Eight monosaccharides (mannose, glucosamine, ribose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, aminogalactose, glucose and galactose) were detected in the compositions of water-soluble polysaccharides in the antler velvet by using different processing methods. For the same part, the monosaccharide contents in the boiled antler velvet were lower than those in the freeze-dried antler velvet, and the monosaccharide contents (except those of glucosamine and aminogalactose) in the antler velvet processed without blood were lower than those in the antler velvet processed with blood. For different parts processed with the same method, the monosaccharide contents in wax and powder pieces were higher than those in gauze slices and bone pieces. This study provides a theoretical reference for velvet processing and product development.

Three polyacetylenes were isolated and purified from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC for the first time by high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-phase solvent system composed of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:31:1:31, v/v/v/v) and high-performance liquid chromatography with an Agilent ZORBAX® SB-C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm). After separation by high-speed counter-current chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, we obtained 3.5 mg of platetyolin A, 4.1 mg of platetyolin B, and 18.1 mg of lobetyolin with purities of 97.2, 96.7, and 96.9%, respectively. The purity of each compound was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography and the chemical structures were evaluated by high-resolution electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Among the isolated compounds, platetyolin A and platetyolin B are newly reported compounds., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

An ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction (ILUAE) method was developed for the extraction of the two forsythosides, namely forsythosides I and A from the leaf of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. Three kinds of l-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different alkyl chain and anion were investigated. The results indicated that ionic liquids showed remarkable effects on the extraction yields of forsythosides. In addition, several ILUAE ultrasonic parameters, such as the solvent concentration, solvent to solid ratio and extraction time have been optimized. Under these optimal conditions (e.g., with 0.6 M [C6MIM]Br, solvent to solid ratio of 15 mL/g and extraction time of 10 min), this approach gained the highest extraction yields of forsythoside I (0.89%) and forsythoside A (10.74%). Meanwhile, forsythosides in the ILUAE extract were separated and purified successfully through the high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system consisting of ethyl acetate-ethanol-acetic acid-water (4 : 1 : 0.25 : 6, v/v). 5.4 mg of forsythoside I and 59.7 mg of forsythoside A were obtained from 120 mg of the prepurified sample in one-step separation, with the purity of 96.1 and 97.9%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and (13)C NMR., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To study Chrysanthemum morifolium dry matter accumulation and absorption characteristics of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at different growth stages., Method: Through the field experiment and the sampling analysis, the absorbing capacity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as the growth of plant at different growth stages in Ch. morifolium were analyzed., Result: The dry matter accumulation reached 70.4% of the total accumulation within 60-150 days after transplantation. Dry matter mainly distributed in leaf within 60 days after transplantation, the distribution ratio in the stem was higher than that in leaf within 60-150 days after transplantation, the highest distribution ratio was the flower, and the second was the root within 150-210 days after transplantation. The accumulative capacity of N, P and K by Ch. morifolium was lower within 45 days after transplantation, which only accounted for 16.14%, 13.39% and 10.19% of total absorptive capacity, respectively. But it increased rapidly within 45-150 days after transplantation, which accounted for 71.86%, 63.81% and 62.94% respectively. The nitrogen accumulation was slower, while the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium was increased rapidly, within 150-210 days after transplantation. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was different within different organs in different growth stages. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was mainly distributed in stem and leaf, within 150 days after transplantation, then transferring to the flower and root, the transferring efficiency was N > P > K., Conclusion: the absorption capacity of K was the highest, followed by N and P. The N : P205 : K2O ratio was 1 : 0.88 : 1.58. Correlation analysis showed that dry matter accumulation and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulation correlated positively. For producing 1g dry matter, Ch. morifolium needed to absorb 5.198 1 mg N, 4.329 5 mg P205 and 7.138 5 mg K20 from soil and fertilizer.

Three flavones were prepared, isolated and purified from Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). A two-phase solvent system composed of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (2:4:3:3, v/v/v/v) was used. Within 6 hours, 10.1 mg of heseridin, 49.8 mg of 5,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone and 50.6 mg of 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone with their purities over 97.0% were obtained from 4.0 g of the crude extract of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae in one-step elution under the conditions of a flow rate of 1.70 mL/min, 800 r/min and the detection wavelength of 280 nm. The obtained fractions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and identified by mass spectrometry (MS), 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C-NMR. The results indicate that HSCCC is a powerful technique for the purification of flavones from Citrus reticulata Blanco.

Objective: To study the dynamic changes of dry material accumulation and platycodin D content in Platycodon grandiflorum in different planting densities., Method: Five different planting densities M1 (4 cm x 25 cm), M2 (6 cm x 25 cm), M3 (8 cm x 25 cm), M4 (10 cm x 25 cm) and M5 (12 cm x 25 cm) were designed in the plot experiment. The individual and colony biomass accumulation, dry material distribution, root yield and platycodin D content were measured in different stage., Result: In a certain density range the individual biomass in P. grandiflorum obviously declined with increasing density with the exception of biomass M2 > biomass M3. On the contrary, the colony biomass increased with the increasing density. Dry material accumulation in each organ in P. grandiflorum in different planting densities showed significance (P<0.05). The dry material distribution in organs in the different planting densities showed significance (P<0.05), and the dry material distribution in flower and fruit reached the minimal level in M2, in the same planting density the distribution in root reached the maximal; The dry material in stem, flower and fruit obviously declined with the increasing density, while the dry material in leaf increased. The individual root output increased with the increasing density, and it reached the highest in M2. The colony root yield increased with the increasing density. The platycodin D content in P. grandiflorum reached the highest in M2., Conclusion: The result showed that a suitable planting density is very important to P. grandiflorum dry material accumulation and distribution, root yield, platycodin D content and colony yield.

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of four acetophenones, namely 4-hydroxyacetophenone (I), 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone (II), baishouwubenzophenone (III) and 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (IV), in Radix Cynanchi bungei. The HPLC with photodiode array (PDA) detection was carried out on a Symmetry-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with CH3OH-H2O (26 : 74, v/v) as the mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and 30 degrees C. The compounds I , III, IV were monitored at 280 nm, and the compound II was at 224 nm. Four acetophenones (I - IV) had good linearities (r = 0.999 6 - 0.999 9) at the ranges of 0.080 - 0.560 microg, 0.080 -0.560 microg, 0.100 - 0.700 microg and 0.092 -0.644 microg, respectively. The average recoveries were from 98.0% to 104.0% with relative standard deviations (RSD) ranging from 0.8% to 2.6%. The method is of quick, simple and accurate. The method can be used for the quality control of this product.