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Objective: To study the effect of inorganic fertilizer on the heavy metal and harmful element residues, the content of total ginsenoside and yield of ginseng., Methods: Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used for determinating the content of lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and chrome atomic fluorescence spectrometry for arsenic, antimony and mercury. The content of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 was determined by HPLC., Results: Compared with the blank ginseng, the ginseng in the normal fertilization did not significantly increase the content of heavy metals. The heavy metals and harmful elements of ginseng met the requirement of Chp 2010., Conclusion: Appropriate fertilizer could help the growth of ginseng. Compared with the production, it should focus more on the content of total ginsenoside.

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) method coupled with a principal component analysis (PCA) was developed and applied toward identifying donkey-hide gelatin, bovine-hide gelatin, pig-hide gelatin, tortoise shell glue, and deerhorn glue. The UPLC-MS data of the trypsin digested samples were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) in order to classify these five gelatins. Additionally, marker peptides given by the loadings plot of PCA were identified based on a comparison of recorded LC-MS data with a previously reported database of the corresponding gelatin variants. The results from this study indicate that the proposed method is reliable, and it has been successfully applied to the identification of variants of gelatins commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a serious clinical symptom, occurring as the end result of all kinds of chronic kidney disease and its pathophysiological mechanism is not yet well understood. We investigated the metabolic profiling of urine samples from CRF model rats to find potential disease biomarkers and research pathology of CRF., Methods: An animal model of CRF was produced by adenine. Metabolic profiling of the urine was performed by using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-TOF/MS). Acquired data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) for differentiating the CRF and the normal control groups. Potential biomarkers were screened by using S-plot and were identified by the accurate mass, isotopic pattern and MS(E) fragments information obtained from UPLC Q-TOF/MS analysis., Results: 12 metabolites in urine were identified as potential biomarkers. Adenine-induced CRF rats were characterized by the increase of phytosphingosine, adrenosterone, tryptophan, 2,8-dihydroxyadenine, creatinine, and dihydrosphingosine together with the decrease of N-acetylleucine, 3-O-methyldopa, ethyl-N2-acetyl-L-argininate, dopamine, phenylalanine and kynurenic acid in urine. The altered metabolites demonstrated perturbations of amino acids metabolism, phospholipids metabolism and creatinine metabolism in CRF rats., Conclusion: This work shows that metabonomics method is a valuable tool in CRF mechanism study and assists in clinical diagnosis of CRF., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rhaponticin (Rheum L.) demonstrates a variety of pharmacological activities, including antitumor, antithrombotic and antioxidant effect. However, there is no information describing the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and metabolism of rhaponticin after intravenous administration., Results: UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS and UHPLC-multistage tandem MS methods were developed for the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and metabolism of rhaponticin in rats. The metabolite of rhaponticin, rhapontigenin, a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450, was confirmed by UHPLC-multistage tandem MS. The plasma profile of rhaponticin and rhapontigenin was determined by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. The results showed that rhaponticin was rapidly distributed and eliminated from rat plasma. The absolute oral bioavailability of rhaponticin was calculated to be 0.03%. The plasma concentrations of rhapontigenin rapidly increased and gradually eliminated after intravenous administration., Conclusion: The present pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and metabolism studies of rhaponticin will provide helpful information for development of suitable dosage forms and clinical references on rational administration.

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method with diode array detection was developed for simultaneous analysis of eight ginsenosides (ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, Rd) and one lignan (schizandrin) in Sheng-mai injection, a traditional Chinese medicine prescription widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (1.8 microm, 100 mm x 2.1 mm i.d.) using a linear gradient elution over 28 min with a mixture of water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. All calibration curves showed good linearity (r2 > 0.9998) within the test ranges. Validation proved the repeatability of the method was good and recovery was satisfactory. The validated method was successfully applied to 12 batches of Sheng-mai injection. The results showed that there was a great variation among different samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) further proved considerable variations among the samples from different factories and suggested that schizandrin, ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 might have the greatest influence on the variation of 12 samples. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the UPLC method proposed was very useful for the analysis and quality evaluation of Sheng-mai injection.

Objectives: Aristolochic acid (AA) nephropathy, first reported as Chinese herbs nephropathy, is a rapidly progressive tubulointerstitial nephropathy that results in severe anemia, interstitial fibrosis and end-stage renal disease. Tubulointerstitial injury was studied in a rat model of AA nephropathy to determine whether ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) treatment prevents early renal injury in rats with aristolochic acid I-induced nephropathy., Methods: Early renal injury via renal interstitial fibrosis was induced in rats by administration of aristolochic acid I (AAI) solution intragastrically for 8 weeks. Ninety-six rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 24/group): (1) control (2) AAI (3) AAI + ergone (10 mg/kg) and (4) AAI + ergone (20 mg/kg). Blood and urine samples were collected and rat were sacrificed for histological assessment of the kidneys on at the end of weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8., Key Findings: AAI caused progressive elevation of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, potassium, sodium, chlorine, proteinuria and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Ergone suppressed elevation of blood urea, nitrogen, creatinine, proteinuria and urinary NAG to some degree, but the AAI-ergone-treated group did not differ from AAI-treated group for body weight, serum potassium, sodium and chlorine. The progress of the lesions in the kidney after AAI administration was also observed by histopathological examinations, but kidneys from rats of AAI-ergone-treated group displayed fewer lesions., Conclusions: Ergone treatment conferred protection against early renal injury in a rat model of AA nephropathy. Early administration of ergone may prevent the progression of renal injury and the subsequent renal fibrosis in AA nephropathy., (© 2011 The Authors. JPP © 2011 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Based on the phase and composition analysis of 56 batches of samples, the present paper showed that hydrozincite, just as smithsonite, should be named as the mineralogical origin of medicinal galamina. Galamina was proved to be polymineral aggregation by electron probe micro-analysis, which was constituted by various mineral particulates, such as hydrozincite, smithsonite, zinc oxide, dolomite, etc. It is hydrozincite but not smithsonite that is the current mainstream mineral of commercial galamina. Both hydrozincite and smithsonite should be calcined to turn into zinc oxide when they were used as medicine. As a provider of medical galamina, essentially the zinc oxide, hydrozincite is appropriate.

Rapid resolution liquid chromatography/tandem multi-stage mass spectrometry (RRLC-MS(n)) and rapid resolution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC/MS/MS) methods were developed for the identification and quantification of ergosterol and its metabolites from rat plasma, urine and faeces. Two metabolites (ERG1 and ERG2) were identified by RRLC/MS(n). The concentrations of the ergosterol were determined by RRLC/MS/MS. The separation was performed on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 with the mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid). The detection was carried out by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 7-2000, 6-2000 and 8-7500 ng/mL for plasma, urine and faecal homogenate, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision values (RSD) were below 10%. The method was applied to the pharmacokinetic properties and elimination pathway of ergosterol in rats., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Thirteen different magnetitum samples were analyzed by FTIR, and the FTIR fingerprint was set up with them. Processed samples and the crudes were compared with the fingerprint. It was found that all the similarities of the samples are more than 0.97. The similarities and the correlation coefficients of the processed samples are decreased. The FTIR fingerprint could be used for evaluating the quality of magnetitum for commodities.

The phenomenon known as "matrix-induced enhancement effect" is not only observed in the analysis of pesticides in food, but also in Chinese herbs. Several approaches have been proposed to overcome the matrix-induced effect, but each method has serious limitations. Compared with standard calibration methods, the procedure with adding analyte protectants offers a more convenient and effective route to solve the problem. In the current study, we have analyzed 195 types of pesticides in Chinese herbs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the compounds that are susceptible to matrix effect were picked up and confirmed. In addition, several analyte protectants were evaluated and the most effective combination was determined. D-ribonic acid-γ-lactone (2 mg/ml) and D-sorbitol (1 mg/ml) were shown to be the best analyte protectants for the analysis of most pesticides., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) from many medicinal plants has been demonstrated to possess a variety of pharmacological activities in vivo and in vitro, including cytotoxic, diuretic and immunosuppressive activity. Metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies on rat were conducted for ergone. Rapid resolution liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem multi-stage mass spectrometry (RRLC-APCI-MS(n)) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) methods were applied for the identification and quantification of ergone and its metabolite from rat plasma, faeces and urine. A metabolite was identified by RRLC-DAD-APCI-MS(n): 22,23-epoxy-ergosta-4,6,8(14)-triaen-3-one (epoxyergone). The concentrations of the analyte with its metabolites were determined by HPLC-FLD at excitation wavelength of 370 nm and emission wavelength of 485 nm. The samples were deproteinized with methanol after addition of camptothecin as internal standard (IS). The analysis was performed on a Diamonsil C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm x 5 microm) with a mobile phase gradient consisting of methanol and water at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The assay was linear over the concentration range of 42-1500, 36-7500 and 42-1500 ng mL(-1) for plasma, faecal homogenate and urine respectively. The absolute recoveries were found to be 97.0+/-1.2%, 98.1+/-0.7% and 96.6+/-1.8% for plasma, faecal homogenate and urine respectively. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 10%. The previous HPLC-MS/MS method is not affordable for most laboratories because of the specialty requirement and high equipment cost. However, the HPLC-FLD method is economic and operating simply for quantitative determination of ergone and its metabolite in rat plasma, faeces and urine. In addition, liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap multi-stage mass spectrometry is becoming a useful technique for ergone metabolite identification., (2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To isolate and elucidate the structure of the constituents of the extract of Lonicera japonica., Methods: The compounds were isolated and repeatedly purified on TLC, silica gel column chromatography, and gel column chromatography. The structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties, MS and NMR., Results: Seven compounds were obtained and elucidated as luteolin (I), luteoloside (II), quercetin (III), quercetin-3-0-beta-D-glucoside (IV), quercetin-7-0-beta-D-glucoside (V), rutin (VI), chlorogenic acid (VII)., Conclusion: Compound V is isolated from this genus for the first time.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of the extract with water from Forsythia suspensa., Methods: The compounds were isolated and repeatedly purified on TLC, silica gel column chromatograph, gel column chromatography, and preparative HPLC, and the structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and NMR., Results: Eight compounds were obtained and elucidated as stearic acid(I), ursolic acid(II),p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid(III),3-(4-ehtoxoy-3-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid(IV),isolariciresinol(V), epipinoresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucoside(VI),(+)-epipinoresionl(VII),(+)-pinoresinol(VIII)., Conclusion: Compound III is isolated from this genus for the first time.

A fast and sensitive HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) in rat plasma. The plasma sample containing ergone and ergosterol (internal standard) were simply treated with acetone to precipitate and remove proteins and the isolated supernatants were directly injected into the HPLC-APCI-MS/MS system. Chromatographic separation was performed on a 1.8microm Zorbax SB-C18 column (100mm x 3.0mm) with a 97:3 (v/v) mixed solution of methanol and 0.1% aqueous formic acid being used as mobile phase. Quantification was performed by multiple selected reactions monitoring (MRM) of the transitions with (m/z)(+) 393-268 for ergone and (m/z)(+) 379-69 for the IS. The method was validated in the concentration range of 5-1600ng/mL for ergone. The precision of the assay (RSD%) was less than 10.5% at all concentrations levels within the tested range and adequate accuracy, and the limit of detection was 1.5ng/mL. The absolute recoveries of both ergone and ergosterol from the plasma were more than 95%. The developed method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the drug in SD rats.

Polyporus umbellatus is a widely used anti-aldosteronic diuretic in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A new, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) and high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS/MS) method for quantitative and qualitative determination of ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one(ergone), which is the main diuretic component, was provided for quality control of P. umbellatus crude drug. The ergone in the ethanolic extract of P. umbellatus was unambiguously characterized by HPLC-APCI, and further confirmed by comparing with a standard compound. The trace ergone was detected by the sensitive and selective HPLC-FLD. Linearity (r2 > 0.9998) and recoveries of low, medium and high concentration (100.5%, 100.2% and 100.4%) were consistent with the experimental criteria. The limit of detection (LOD) of ergone was around 0.2 microg/mL. Our results indicated that the content of ergone in P. umbellatus varied significantly from habitat to habitat with contents ranging from 2.13 +/- 0.02 to 59.17 +/- 0.05 microg/g. Comparison among HPLC-FLD and HPLC-UV or HPLC-APCI-MS/MS demonstrated that the HPLC-FLD and HPLC-APCI-MS/MS methods gave similar quantitative results for the selected herb samples, the HPLC-UV methods gave lower quantitative results than HPLC-FLD and HPLC-APCI-MS/MS methods. The established new HPLC-FLD method has the advantages of being rapid, simple, selective and sensitive, and could be used for the routine analysis of P. umbellatus crude drug.

Methods for determination of heavy metals and harmful residues in traditional Chinese medicine injection were established. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used for determination of lead, cadmium and copper, atomic fluorescence spectrometry for arsenic and mercury. The preprocessing method was optimized. The average recoveries of 5 elements were between 91% and 112% while the precisions were less than 2%. The determination limit of lead, cadmium, copper, arsenic and mercury were 0.28, 0.014, 0.49, 0.19, 0.061 microg x L(-1), respectively. The proposed method was simple, sensitive, accurate and reliable, and could be used widely.

Objective: To find out hydrolysis regularity of aconitine., Method: Aconitine was air-tighted and hydrolyzed in water for 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 h. The hydrolysis products were analyzed by HPLC-MS. A major hydrolysis product was isolated by alumina oxide column chromatography, and identified by 1H and 13C-NMR spectra., Result: HPLC-MS analysis shows that the major hydrolysis products are benzoylaconine and aconine. The hydrolysis can mostly be completed within 20 hours., Conclusion: Diester aconitum alkaloid can be changed to monoester aconitum and aconine alkaloids. Under the controled condition benzoylaconine is a major hydrolysis products.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Phlomis younghusbandii., Methods: Compounds were isolated from the ethanolic extract by silica gel column chromatography, and their structures were identified by physical and chemical evidences and spectral methods., Results: Eight compounds were isolated and identified respectively as 8-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester (1), shanzhiside methyl ester (2), phlomiol (3), 2-butoxy-2-(hydroxymthyl) tetrahydro-2H-3,4,5-pyrantriol (4), sesamoside (5), pulchelloside-I (6), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) and daucosterol (8)., Conclusion: All the compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Heterosmilax yunianensis., Methods: The compounds were isolated and repeatedly purified with chromatograph and the structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis., Results: Eight compounds were obtained and elucidated as beta-sitosterol (I), glycerol monopalmitate (II), daucosterol (IIl), hexacosanoic acid (IV), 5-hydroxymethyl furaldehyde (V), hergapen (VI), ursolic acid (VII), liquiritigenin (VIII)., Conclusion: They have been isolated from this plant for the first time, and IV - VIII are obtained from the plants of Heterosmilax for the first time.

Objective: To establish the characteristic fingerpint from Phlomis younghustbandii., Methods: The different collecting time and county samples of Phlomis younghusbandii were determined by HPLC., Results: The HPLC-FPC of Phlomis younghusbandii was set up by establishing 14 common peaks. Accuracy, stability and repeatability of the method were good., Conclusion: The peaks in the spectrum were all separated perfectly, which met the regulation of HPLC-FPC.

The aim of the study was to look for the chemical constituents of the herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum. The herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum was extracted with 70% EtOH. The isolation and purification was performed with a combination of multi-column chromatography and the structure was determined by spectral analysis. The flavonoid compound was obtained and elucidated as kaempferol-7-O(4"-(E)-p-coumaroyl-)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It is a new flavonoid compound.

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents and establish a quantitative method of Mallotus apelta., Method: Compound was isolated by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and Pre-HPLC chromatography. Its structure was identified by physicochemical properties and spectral evidences. The content of M. apelta was determined by HPLC. Chromatographic conditions included Inertsil ODS-3 C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) and the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol-water (24:76). The detection wavelength was set at 335 nm., Result: One compound was isolated from n-butanol extract of the M. apelta and its structure was identified as vicenin II. The calibration cure was linear in the range of 0.053-10.60 microg (r = 0.9999), the average recovery was 99. 32%, RSD 1.82% (n = 6)., Conclusion: The compound was isolated from this plant for the first time. The method to determine the content of vicenin II by HPLC was established for the first time. This method is simple, accurate and reliable.

Objective: To investigate the levels of 5 pyrethroid pesticide residues in two kinds of Chinese traditional medicines, i.e. Hirudo, Hippocampus., Methods: 11 samples of Hirudo and 5 samples of Hippocampus were collected and identified. The 5 pyrethroid pesticide residues in samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction to remove the interferences of co-extractives, and then were analyzed by gas chromatorgraph (GC) equipped with an electron capture detector, qualified by the chromatographic peak's retention time and quantified by the external standard method., Results: The 5 pyrethroid pesticied residues were not detected in 5 samples of Hippocampus. Among 11 samples of Hirudo, the Cypermethrin were detected in all samples, and Fenvalerate were detected in 4 samples without exceeding the limit., Conclusion: The result suggest that the Hippocampus are not contaminated by the residues of 5 pyrethroid pesticides. The precaution procedure should be taken to control pyrethroid pesticide residues in Hirudo.

By comprehensively reviewing the origin and history of Niuhuang Jiedu Wan and its "derivatives", we studied the clinical records of realgar, investigated its clinical usage, dosage, efficacy, and toxicity in the literatures. We pinpointed the factors that might be associated with safety problems of Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Wan) and other traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations containing arsenic substances. In this article we also put forward suggestions for strengthening the surveillance and administration of similar TCM preparations.

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Balanophora spicata., Method: Various chromatographic and spectral techniques were used to isolate the constituents and elucidate their structures., Result: Eight compounds were isolated from whole plant of B. spicata and elucidated as balanophorin A (1), balanophorin B (2), beta-amyrin acetate (3), monogynol A (4), lupeone (5), caffeic acid ethyl ester (6), catechin (7), 1-O-(E)-caffeoyl-3-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (8), respectively., Conclusion: Compounds of 1-8 were obtained from B. spicata for the first time and the compound 4 was isolated from this genus for the first time.

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of the papaverine content in Qiangli Pibalu by HPLC., Method: A C18 column with a solvent system of acetonitrile-0.02 mol x L(-1) sodium dihydrogen phosphate (0.2% triethylamine, phosphoric acid, at pH 3) (25:75) and UV detection 240 nm were used. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was maintained at 40 degrees C., Result: There was a good linear relationship between the absorption value and the concentration in the range of 0.020 2-0.100 5 microg for papaverine. The average recovery rates were 99.1% (RSD 2.3%)., Conclusion: The method is simple, accurate and can be used to determine the contents in Qiangli Pibalu.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in root of Phlomis medicinalis., Method: The compounds were isolated and repeatedly purified on macroporous resin, silica gel column chromatography, TLC and Prep-HPLC and the structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and NMR spectra., Result: Eight compounds were obtained and elucidated as 5-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-4, 6-dimethylphthalide (1), 4-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (2) and six iridoid glucosides: 6-O-acetyl-shanzhiside methyl ester (3), 8-O-acetyl-shanzhiside methyl ester (4), shanzhiside methyl ester (5), sesamoside (6), phloyoside II (7) and dehydropentstemoside (8)., Conclusion: All the compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time and 1 and 3 were obtained from the plants of Phlomis for the first time.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in seeds of Helicia nilagirica., Method: The ethanol extract was seperated by petroleum ether, dichloromethane, n-butanol in sequence, then isolated by silica gel column chromatography. The structures were identified and elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis., Result: Five compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane and n-butanol extracts, identified as p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (1), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), gallic acid (3), helicide (4), 4-formylpymyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5)., Conclusion: All the compounds except IV were isolated from the plant for the first time. The compounds I, II and III were isolated from the genus Helicia for the first time.

Background: Aristolochia species are nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Recent studies showed that aristolochic acid (AA) could induce acute renal failure and tubular lesions in several species and available evidences demonstrate the unequivocal role of AA in so called Chinese herbs nephropathy., Methods: A series of AA derivatives isolated from Aristolochia spp. were analyzed for their nephrotoxic potential using the neutral red dye exclusion assay in cultures of LLC-PK(1) cells. The structural relationships between AA I and its analogues were compared with their cytotoxic effects to predict structural determinants for AA toxicity. Further, caspase-3 assay was performed on toxic compounds to determine if caspases, the enzymes that play a critical role in apoptosis are involved in AA-induced cytotoxicity., Results: AA I was found to be most toxic followed by AA II, AA VIIIa, and AA Ia in decreasing levels of toxicity. The other compounds, nitrophenanthrene carboxylic acid analogues of AA I, aristolactams, and other derivatives did not exhibit considerable toxicity. The results showed significant relationships between cytotoxicity of AA compounds and the localization of functional groups in their structure. Analogues containing hydroxyl groups diminished cytotoxicity. The demethylated analogues of AA I are markedly less active. The negative impact on cytotoxicity was found on nitroreduction of AA I. AA induced caspase activation was also observed., Conclusion: These cytotoxic data suggest that the nitro and methoxy groups are critical determinants of nephrotoxicologic potency of AA.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in the Galeobdolon chinense., Method: The chemical constituents were separated by means of chromatogrophy, and their structures were identified by spectra of FAB-MS, IR, UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, HMQC and HMBC., Result: Two compounds were obtained and identified as galeobdoside (I) whose structure was apigenin-7-O-beta-D-(6'-p-hydoxy-cinnamoyloxy)-mannoside and verbascoside (II)., Conclusion: Compound I was a new compound and compound II was obtained from this plant for the first time.

Objective: To establish a method for determining nucleosides (adenoside and guanoside) in Siweilingzhi Mixture by HPCE., Method: Adenoside and guanoside were separated within 25 min using an 20 mmol.L-1 borate buffer with 30 mmol.L-1 SDS and 5% Ethanol (adjusted to pH 10.0 with sodium hydroxide solution), with an operation voltage of 10 kV, temperature of 20 degrees C and a hydrodynamic injection time of 15 s. Seperations were carried out in a fused-silica capillary 75 microns id x 57 cm (effective length 50 cm) with peak detection by direct UV at 254 nm., Result: Regression equation of adenoside and that of guanoside were Y = 0.0705 + 0.01707X (r = 0.9995) and Y = 0.0232 + 0.01864X (r = 0.9999) respectively. The average recovery rate was 99.22% (RSD = 3.66%) and 104.3% (RSD = 1.91%) respectively. Nine samples were determined with the method., Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid and accurate with good repeatability and it can be used to determine nucleosides.

Objective: To determine Verbascoside in Galeobdolon chinense., Method: HPLC method was used, with the column packed with Kromasil C18(4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microns). The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and 1% acetic acid in a ratio of 13:87, and the ultraviolet wavelength was set at 350 nm., Result: The average recovery was 97.0%, the RSD being 1.69%., Conclusion: This method is sensitive and reliable. It can be used to determine being Verbascoside in Galeobdolon chinense.

Objective: To demonstrate the chemical constituents of Alyxia sinensis., Method: The constituents were isolated by column chromatography and identified by advanced physical and spectral analysis., Result: Eight compounds have been isolated and elucidated as bauereny acetate(18), scopletin(19), liriodendrin(20), pinoresinol-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(21), daucosterol(22), flaxetin(23), esculin(24), aseculin(25)., Conclusion: These compounds were found from the plant for the first time, and compound 20,21,23-25 were found from Alyxiae genis for the first time, and compound 18 is firstly been isolated from natural source.

Objective: To demonstrate the chemical constituents of Alyxia sinensis., Method: Phytochmical experiment was carried out, using column chromatograph technologies., Result: Five compounds have been isolated from the petroleum ether soluble part of the stems of A. sinensis. Their structures have been elucidated respectively as heptatriacontane(1), octatriacontane(2), 20-noatriacontannone(3), 20-nonatriacontanone(4), 20-tetraacontanoe(5), physcion(6), emodin(7), chrysophanol(8), coumarin(9), stigmasterol acetate(10), beta-sitosterol acetate(11), lupeol(12), betulin(13), stigmasterol(14), beta-sitosterol(15), ursolic acid(16), oleanolic acid(17)., Conclusion: All these compounds are firstly been isolated from A. sinensis. And compound 5-9, 10, 11 are also been separated from Alyxiae genus for the first time.