超高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱快速分析人参根中的皂甙化合物

建立了超高效液相色谱-飞行时间质谱快速分析人参根部提取物中的皂甙类化合物的方法。色谱柱为HSST3超高效液相色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8μm);以15 mmol/L甲酸铵水溶液-乙腈为流动相,采用二元梯度洗脱的方式对人参主根的皂甙提取物进行分离。基于待测目标物的多级质谱碎片离子、精确质量等信息,结合9种人参皂甙标准化合物的多级质谱碎片离子质谱图,共鉴定出人参主根提取物中27种皂甙类化合物。在确定的条件下,以9种人参皂甙标样为研究对象,进行了全面的方法学考察,发现它们的线性范围分别为0.33～9.00 mg/L(Rg1),0.11～9.00 mg/L(Re),0.02～2.00 mg/L(Rf),0.07～6.00 mg/L(Rg2),0.04～3.00 mg/L(Rb1,Rb3),0.22～6.00 mg/L(Rc),0.04～9.00 mg/L(Rb2,Rd);在中等加标浓度时,经内标物峰面积校正的9种皂甙标准化合物的峰面积的相对标准偏差(RSD)不高于11.3%;低、中、高3个质量浓度加标水平的回收率范围分别为90%～100%、98%～104%及96%～103%;最低检出限为3.5～18.5μg/L。该方法具有高分辨、快捷、简便、可靠等特点,并成功地应用于分析同一产地、不同生长时间的人参干燥主根中皂甙的差异。可以预计此方法可进一步应用于各种人参原料和制品中皂甙的快速测定。

HPLC/LTQ-FTMS用于白参中的丙二酰基人参皂苷的研究

在15mM甲酸铵作为流动相添加剂条件下,采用HPLC/LTQ-FTMS实现了白参样品中酸性人参皂苷的优化分离。根据高分辨质谱、多级质谱信息,结合保留规律验证,在白参萃取液中共检测和识别了八种丙二酰基人参皂苷,包括丙二酰基人参皂苷Rg1、Re、Rf、Rb1、Rc、Rb2、Rb3和Rd。

Traditional Chinese Medicine-Based Subtyping of Early-Stage Type 2 Diabetes Using Plasma Metabolomics Combined with Ultra-Weak Photon Emission

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is increasing rapidly worldwide.Because of the limited success of generic interventions,the focus of the disease study has shifted toward personalized strategies,particularly in the early stages of the disease.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is based on a systems view combined with personalized strategies and has improved our knowledge of personalized diagnostics.From a systems biology perspective,the understanding of personalized diagnostics can be improved to yield a biochemical basis for such strategies;for example,metabolomics can be used in combination with other system-based diagnostic methods such as ultra-weak photon emission(UPE).In this study,we investigated the feasibility of using plasma metabolomics obtained from 44 pre-T2DM subjects to stratify the following TCM-based subtypes:Qi-Yin deficiency,Qi-Yin deficiency with dampness,and Qi-Yin deficiency with stagnation.We studied the relationship between plasma metabolomics and UPE with respect to TCM-based subtyping in order to obtain biochemical information for further interpreting disease subtypes.Principal component analysis of plasma metabolites revealed differences among the TCM-based pre-T2DM subtypes.Relatively high levels of lipids(e.g.,cholesterol esters and triglycerides)were important discriminators of two of the three subtypes and may be associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.Plasma metabolomics data indicate that the lipid profile is an essential component captured by UPE with respect to stratifying subtypes of T2DM.The results suggest that metabolic differences exist among different TCM-based subtypes of pre-T2DM,and profiling plasma metabolites can be used to discriminate among these subtypes.Plasma metabolomics thus provides biochemical insights into system-based UPE measurements.

Comparative Transcriptional Profiling and Preliminary Study on Heterosis Mechanism of Super-Hybrid Rice

Heterosis is a biological phenomenon whereby the offspring from two parents show improved and superior performance than either inbred parental lines. Hybrid rice is one of the most successful apotheoses in crops utilizing heterosis. Transcriptional profiling of F1 super-hybrid rice Liangyou-2186 and its parents by serial analysis of gene expression （SAGE） revealed 1183 differentially expressed genes （DGs）, among which DGs were found significantly enriched in pathways such as photosynthesis and carbon-fixation, and most of the key genes involved in the carbon-fixation pathway exhibited up-regulated expression in F1 hybrid rice. Moreover, increased catabolic activity of corresponding enzymes and photosynthetic efficiency were also detected, which combined to indicate that carbon fixation is enhanced in F1 hybrid, and might probably be associated with the yield vigor and heterosis in super-hybrid rice. By correlating DGs with yield-related quantitative trait loci （QTL）, a potential relationship between differential gene expression and phenotypic changes was also found. In addition, a regulatory network involving circadian-rhythms and light signaling pathways was also found, as previously reported in Arabidopsis, which suggest that such a network might also be related with heterosis in hybrid rice. Altogether, the present study provides another view for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying heterosis in rice.

Systems biology of resilience and optimal health:integrating Chinese and Western medicine perspectives

Western science has been strong in measuring details of biological systems such as gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, and has generally followed a bottom up approach with regard to explaining biological phenomena. Chinese medicine in contrast has evolved as a top down approach in which body and mind is seen as a whole, a phenomenological approach based on the organization and dynamics of symptom patterns. Western and Chinese perspectives are developing towards a ‘middle out' approach. Chinese medicine diagnosis, we will argue, allows bridging the gap between biologists and psychologists and offers new opportunities for the development of health monitoring tools and health promotion strategies.In this paper, health, resilience and stress concepts are explored from an integrated systems biology perspective. This is followed by a discussion about measuring aspects of health and resilience. Then the issue of how to integrate different types of data is discussed. Semi-quantitative modeling appears to be very suitable and looks promising for building integrated health models. The challenge for the future lies in applying those models in developing personalized health monitoring and advice systems that will tempt people to lead more healthy lives.

Systems response profiles to two Rehmanniae Radix formulae in metabolic syndrome patients

Objective: To explore the effects of two Rehmanniae Radix formulae in patients with metabolic syndrome(Met S), a randomized controlled study was conducted.Methods: Met S patients were randomly assigned to receive either a classic Rehmanniae Six Formula(R6, or ‘Liu Wei Di Huang Wan') or a novel multi-herbal Rehmanniae Radix containing formula SUB889 for 8 weeks. Western medicine related clinical parameters, Chinese medicine defined symptoms and syndromes as well as metabolomic profiles were evaluated at different time points.Results: R6(n = 20) and SUB889(n = 20) showed similar effects on Met S regarding the improvement of clinical parameters(waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure) and Qi/Yin deficiency(p < 0.05). Decreased levels of cholesteryl esters, phosphatidylcholines, triglycerides and sphingomyelins were found in the R6 group, while SUB889 formula resulted in increased levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glucose metabolism intermediates(malate, fumarate and pyruvate).Conclusions: R6 and SUB889 have similar effects on the treatment of Met S by improving Chinese medicine and Western medicine defined clinical outcomes. R6 is more effective in improving lipid profiles compared to SUB889. The exact mechanisms of the two formulae on Met S remain to be elucidated.

Optimizing Growth Conditions for Digoxin Production in Digitalis lanata Ehrh

Objective: Digoxin is a therapeutic cardenolide widely used to treat various heart conditions such as atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation and heart failure in both Western as well as Chinese medicine. Digoxin is extracted from cultivated Digitalis lanata Ehrh. plants, known as Mao Hua Yang Di Huang in Chinese medicine. This manuscript presents two studies that were conducted to optimize the cultivation conditions for digoxin production in the TCM Mao Hua Yan Di Huang in a greenhouse under GAP conditions.Methods: Two experiments were designed in which 4 growth conditions were compared. Levels of digoxin, gitoxin, digitoxin, α-acetyldigoxin, β-acetyl-digoxin were measured using HPLC-UV and compared between the conditions.Results: Normal soil, no CO_2 enrichment combined with a cold shock was found to be the optimal condition for producing digoxin in the first experiment. Gitoxin content was significantly lower in plants grown in this condition. Mechanical stress as well as the time of harvesting showed no statistically significant differences in the production of cardenolides. In the second experiment the optimal condition was found to be a combination of cold nights, sun screen, fertilizer use and no milled soil.Conclusion: This study shows that digoxin production can be increased by controlling the growth conditions of D. lanata Ehrh. The effect of cold was important in both experiments for improving digoxin production. Cultivating Chinese herbal medicines in optimized greenhouse conditions might be an economically attractive alternative to regular open air cultivation.

A SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY VIEW OF THE BIOACTIVITY OF THE EXTRACT FROM RHIZOME DIOSCOREA NIPPONICA MANKINO

Key for worldwide acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is the ability to provide scientific evidence combined with a quality control system based on the bioactive ingredients.Modern scientific technology tools are now available to accomplish standardization of TCM products in order to achieve a high level of efficacy and safety,enhancing the introduction into the