Search

Astragali radix (AR) is not only a traditional Chinese medicine, but also a good tonic that is often consumed by people and has good disease prevention and health care effects. Due to the complex composition of AR and the interaction of different chemical components, it presents challenges in quality control. In this study, a gradient elution tower plate theory suitable for gradient elution was firstly established, followed by HPLC analysis combined with quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) and multi-markers assay by monolinear method (MAML) for accurate content determination of the indicator components (calycosin-7-O-β- D -glucoside and formononetin) in AR. FTIR and DSC are also used to collect the fingerprints of AR and quantize them to obtain the structural information inside the substance. The established fingerprints were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using the systematic quantitative fingerprint method (SQFM) and chemometrics, and the characteristic parameters of the three fingerprints were investigated in relation to the macro-quantitative similarity (Pm) using the Pearson correlation analysis. Finally, the coefficient of variation weighted mean method (CVWMM) was used to synthesize the evaluation results and establish the HPLC–FTIR–DSC quality control system, which is more objective and reasonable. The results showed that the calculated results of QAMS and MAML were basically consistent with those of an external standard method. Pm had the function of representing the overall fingerprint information of the samples for quantitative evaluation. SQFM combined with CVWMM successfully differentiated the quality grades of 35 batches of AR samples. The combination of the three analytical methods resulted in the effective improvement of the quality evaluation of AR compared with a single method in terms of accuracy and completeness. This study provides a novel and comprehensive strategy for quality consistency evaluation of AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzene, well known as a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, can lead to increasing risk of cancer, bone marrow failure as well as other serious diseases. Benzene has been classified as carcinogenic to humans with no recommended safe level of exposure. In this study, the influence of time-of-day on benzene metabolism has been tentatively explored in a mouse model based on direct real-time breath analysis by using membrane inlet single photon ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MI-SPI-TOFMS). The exhaled breath of eight mice was monitored at a time resolution of less than 20 s after intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection of benzene in the morning, afternoon and evening on different days, and two rounds of experiments were carried out in total. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as total exposure AUC 0-∞ (h ng/mL), peak level C max (ng/mL), time of peak level t max (h), and terminal half-life t 1/2z (h) were calculated and discussed. The values of individual parameter varied greatly among the eight mice, e.g., AUC 0-∞ in the morning of the first round of experiment ranged from 10.66 to 162.17 h ng/mL and the mean ± SD was 103.72 ± 99.72 h ng/mL ( n = 8). Significant difference has also been observed between two rounds of experiments, implying the damage in the liver caused by the benzene exposure. However, there is no significant difference among the results from the morning, afternoon and evening for each round of the experiment. In our follow-up study, the influence of time-of-day will be further investigated, in which the metabolites of benzene as well as endogenous metabolites will be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control mode of standard preparation (SP) and quantitative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of Fufanggancao tablets (FFGCTs) combined with the quantification of five markers were successfully developed and applied to the precise and accurate assessment of the quality consistency of 145 FFGCTs from nine manufacturers. The profiling was determined by reversed-phase HPLC at 220 nm wavelength, where the reference fingerprint (RFP) of the FFGCTs reserved as standard preparation was established. Subsequently, the SP-RFP was considered as the evaluation standard, and a systematic quantitative fingerprint method was applied to the integrative quality discrimination of 145 batches of FFGCTs, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Besides, the chromatographic systematic error of quantitative fingerprints was corrected by the double marker calibration method. The results showed that the qualities of the FFGCTs from the nine manufacturers were completely qualified. Moreover, all raw herb fingerprints and the simulated sample were determined by using the combined chromatographic conditions applied to the FFGCTs, which helped identify the source of the profiling peaks in the preparation and establish the correlation between the raw herb fingerprints and the preparation fingerprints. This eventually aided the intelligent prediction of the quality of the preparation or raw herbs and effective prevention of the inputs of inferior raw materials. In addition, we employed the ultraviolet full fingerprint dissolution method to differentiate the FFGCTs from five manufacturer dissolution, in which the rationality of the preparation process was evaluated. The method is feasible and accurate, and it can be applied to evaluate the quality and process technology consistency of FFGCTs. This paper provides a fundamental standard preparation evaluation mode and the basic operation procedure for the quality consistency assessment of traditional Chinese medicine.

The radial thin layer chromatography (RTLC) is a chromatographic method for the simple, rapid and efficient separation of samples from the center along the radial direction. Simple device was assembled to separate the alkaloids contented in Zhusha Anshen Pills (ZSASP). Based on the theory of thin layer chromatography, the test was designed to compare the separation efficiency of radial chromatography and general thin layer chromatography. The RTLC is faster, more efficient, more economical, and more suitable for the separation of high polar samples like alkaloids as proved. The theoretical root of the high separation efficiency of radial thin layer method was explored, which also provided new methods and ideas for theoretical innovation.

In order to build the fusion models, the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) fingerprints of scutellariae radix (SR), rhei radix et rhizoma (RRR), coptidis rhizoma (CR) and their synthesizing fingerprints were developed in this study. After exploring the consistency between the fingerprints of compound synthesizing fingerprints (CSF) and the sample, the quality of traditional Chinese medicine preparation was predicted intelligently using CSF. HPLC coupled with diode array detector was used to obtain chromatograms of SR, RRR, CR and Yi Qing Tablet (YQT) samples at 268 nm. Meanwhile, the quality of CSF and the 15 batches of YQT samples was evaluated by systematically quantified fingerprint method (SQFM) qualitatively and quantitatively. The chromatograms showed that CSF covered the main fingerprints' information of each herb and the 55 common peaks of CSF covered the main information of the 50 common peaks in YQT sample. The evaluation results showed that among the 15 batches of YQT samples, only YQT-S01 was grade 5 and the others were all above grade 3. Most of the CSFs were grade 2 or grade 1 except CSF-2 which was grade 6. The fingerprints of Chinese herba preparation could be replaced by CSF to achieve a novel pattern for predicting the quality of TCM preparation intelligently by studying the relationship between the standard fingerprints and the CSF, and simultaneously developing first-class evaluation software.